All Obituaries

CANFIELD - Barbara Julia McClay Shaffer, 84, passed away peacefully Friday morning, June 18, 2021, at her home in Canfield, surrounded by family. Barbara was born Dec. 20, 1936, and was a daughter of the late Mary Welcomer McClay and John J. McClay. She attended St. Patrick Elementary School in Youngstown and graduated in 1954 from Ursuline High School. She loved spending summers during her high school years working at Idora Park. Barbara later attended Youngstown University and was...

YOUNGSTOWN - Mavis Irene Breetz, 97, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Friday morning, June 18, 2021, at Liberty Health Care Center in Liberty Township. Mavis was born Dec. 10, 1923, in Youngstown, and was a daughter of the late Harold and Elizabeth McLaughlin Tharp. She was raised in Youngstown, was a graduate of East High School, and lived for 50 years in Campbell for returning to Youngstown. Mrs. Breetz was a homemaker who devoted her life to raising and caring for her family....

WARREN - Brian G. Stringer, 59, passed away unexpectedly Thursday morning, June 17, 2021, at his home. Brian was born Oct. 8, 1961, in Warren, a son of Dallis G. and JoAnne Mateyko Stringer, and was a lifelong area resident. He was a 1979 graduate of Girard High School and later earned an associate’s degree in Automotive Technology and Business from Lima Technical College. Brian worked as a master tech for over 25 years at many auto dealerships throughout the area. Most recently, he...

GIRARD - Carl C. Heltzel, 66, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday evening, June 16, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. Carl was born Nov. 11, 1954, in Warren, a son of the late Robert and Mary Jane Hazzard Heltzel, and he was a lifelong area resident. He was a 1973 graduate of Gilmour Academy and graduated in 1977 from New England College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Carl worked for the past decade at Raymond James Financial Services,...

CUYAHOGA FALLS - Patricia Ann “Pat” Theis Heini, 76, formerly of Austintown, passed peacefully into eternal life late Sunday morning, June 13, 2021, at Akron Select Specialty Hospital with her family by her side. Pat was born July 7, 1944, in Youngstown, and was the daughter of the late William Theis and Wilhelmina Eberth Theis. She lived most of her life in Austintown until moving to Cuyahoga Falls in 2013 to be closer to family. She was a 1963 graduate of Austintown Fitch...

BERLIN CENTER - Karen Snyder, 69, passed away Saturday morning, June 12, 2021, at her home following a short and difficult struggle with cancer.  Karen was born April 6, 1952, in Chicago, and was the daughter of the late Arthur and Sophie Frankovic O’Gara.  She came to Youngstown as a young woman in 1972 after her marriage, raised her family, and later attended nursing school and Kent State University. Karen worked many jobs to support her family, and most notably she loved...

NILES - Roger P. Mowen, 72, passed away early Friday morning, June 11, 2021, at Washington Square Healthcare Center following a courageous battle with cancer. Roger was born June 2, 1949, in Alliance, a son of the late Robert and Martha Thorn Mowen, and was a lifelong area resident. He was a 1967 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and worked at General Motors Lordstown for 51 years, retiring in 2018. He was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving in Vietnam from...

MINERAL RIDGE - Jack R. Fry, 81, passed away May 24, 2021, at his home at Continuing Health Care following a lengthy illness. Jack was born May 1, 1940, and lived his life in Ohio. Mr. Fry worked at Northside Hospital, and he enjoyed playing cards and family gatherings (especially during the holidays). He also loved dining out with his wife. Jack will always be remembered for having a positive attitude and a pleasant demeanor, and there is one less of those kindly types left in...

AUSTINTOWN - Christopher Jay “Chris” Jones, 51, passed away early Thursday evening, June 10, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital from complications of Covid-19. Chris was born Nov. 21, 1969, in Youngstown, and was a son of Charles E. Jones, I and Patricia J. Sharpe Jones. He was a 1988 graduate of Chaney High School and lived his life in this area. Mr. Jones worked at the North East Ohio Correctional Center and was a correctional officer for the past two-and-a-half...

GIRARD - June J. Day, 82, passed away Thursday evening, June 10, 2021, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her family. June was born Aug. 3, 1938, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Martin and June Fitch Washington, and was a lifelong area resident. June worked for Truenorth in Hubbard for over 20 years, retiring in 2016. Mrs. Day was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Girard. She greatly enjoyed gambling, playing bingo, and playing cards with her friends. Most of all, June...