All Obituaries

EAST PALESTINE - Marshel M. “Mark” Scott, 64, passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 16, 2021, at his home following an 18-month battle with cancer. Marshel was born Sept. 26, 1956, in Lewiston, Maine, a son of Douglas and Gloria Hanson Scott. He came to East Palestine to live as a teenager, moved to California, and then later returned to East Palestine. Mark earned a GED after serving in the U.S. Navy, and worked in the steel tubing industry. He later was a truck driver for...

CANFIELD - John J. “Jack” Droney, 72, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, Jan. 14, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital following a brief illness. Jack was born Nov. 17, 1948, in Youngstown, a son of the late Francis and Therese Thurik Droney, and lived his life in this area. He was a 1966 graduate of Chaney High School, and honorably served in the U.S. Army National Guard and Reserves for four years in the 1970s. Mr. Droney worked for ODOT for over 25 years, and...

YOUNGSTOWN - Helen Ruscak, 93, of the city’s West Side, passed away peacefully early Thursday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2021, at Omni Manor after a long and fulfilling life. Helen was born Sept. 20, 1927, in Youngstown, the youngest of 11 children of the late John and Rosie Toth, and she lived her life in this area. After her marriage in 1950, she became a loving and beloved wife, mother, and homemaker who dedicated her life to raising and caring for her family. Mrs. Ruscak was a member...

BOARDMAN - Mary Lapushansky, 99, formerly of Rhoda Avenue on Youngstown’s West Side, passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, Jan. 12, 2021, at her home at Continuing Healthcare. Mary was born Jan. 2, 1922, in Europe in Poland, a daughter of the late John and Anna Iwanycka, and came to this area as a young woman on Aug. 14, 1949. After her marriage in 1954, she became a homemaker who also worked outside the home for the American Ukrainian Progressive Club on Waverly Avenue in...

AUSTINTOWN - Donald F. “Don” Tomasino, 79, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday evening, Jan. 12, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital after suffering an apparent heart attack. Donald was born Dec. 19, 1941, in Youngstown, a son of the late Frank V. and Anna Marie Mihalko Tomasino, and lived in the Mahoning Valley for most of his life. Don was a graduate of East High School and proudly served in the United States Army. He spent much of his working life as a...

AUSTINTOWN - HelenRae Gibson Tarantino, 73, loving wife and mother of three children, passed away early Monday morning, Jan. 11, 2021, at her home with her loving family by her side. HelenRae was born May 31, 1947, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late Kelan and Margaret Stoll Gibson.  She graduated in 1965 from Wilmington Area High School in New Wilmington, Pa. and attended Youngstown State University. On Dec. 14, 1974, she marred Ronald Tarantino. Together, they raised a daughter,...

MCDONALD - Stephen Firment, 89, passed away early Wednesday morning, Jan. 6, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital following a battle with COVID-19. Stephen was born Sept. 10, 1931, in McDonald, a son of the late Adam and Suzanna Hajmacher Firment, and was a lifelong area resident. He proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War, and worked for Ohio Edison in Niles for 25 and a half years, retiring in January of 1992. Mr. Firment was a member of Our Lady of...

GIRARD - Louis Patrick Brine, Sr., 92,  passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, Jan. 6, 2021, at Assumption Village in North Lima. Louis was born Feb. 27, 1928, in Girard, the son of the late Joseph and Rose Lorenzo Brine, and was a lifelong Girard resident.  He graduated from Girard High School and on July 12, 1950, married Ruth Holicki. Together, they had four children, Joseph, Louis Jr, Ruthann, and Susan.  Louis made a lifelong career of being a barber, joining...

CANFIELD - Marvin B. Ripple Jr., 71, passed away Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home. Marvin was born June 6, 1949, in Youngstown, a son of the late Marvin B. Sr. and Rose Romeo Ripple, and lived much of his life in this area. He was a 1967 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, honorably served two tours of duty in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. ...

AUSTINTOWN - Roberta Kay Gibson McNab, 72, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Monday morning, Jan. 4, 2021, at her home. Roberta, who was affectionately known to many as “BobbieDee,” was born May 17, 1948, in Uniontown, Pa., and was a daughter of the late Robert and Kathleen Talbert Gibson. She was a 1966 graduate of Albert Gallatin High School in Point Marion, Pa., and came to this area shortly after her graduation. BobbieDee was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother...