Obituaries

Dec 18, 2020

YOUNGSTOWN -  David R. Sowa, 56, of the city's Cornersburg area, passed away early Friday morning, Dec. 18, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital following a brief illness.

David was born on the Fourth of July, 1964, in Chicago, and was a son of the late Robert and Nadia Kovalchuk Sowa. David came to this area with...

Dec 18, 2020

GIRARD - Adrian "Agie" Dietz, 84, passed away Friday afternoon, Dec. 18, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Adrian was born Oct. 12, 1936, in Youngstown, and was a son of the late Aloysius and Gertrude Brown Dietz. He was raised by his father and step-mother, Millie Morosko Dietz, and lived on the North Side of Youngstown...

Dec 17, 2020

NORTH LIMA - Carol A. Cantor, 82, formerly of the city's South Side, passed away late Thursday morning, Dec. 17, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital from complications of COVID-19.

Carol was born May 18, 1938, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late John and Ann Rasinya Hassey, and was a lifelong area resident.

She...

Dec 17, 2020

YOUNGSTOWN - Kenneth James "Kenny" Gbur, 68, passed away Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, at his home at Canfield Healthcare Center in Cornersburg.

Kenny was born July 1, 1952, in Youngstown, and was a son of the late Martin and Julia Pruss Gbur.

Kenny served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, and had fun working as...

Dec 16, 2020

YOUNGSTOWN - Estelle A. Sudzina, 70, passed away Wednesday evening, Dec. 16, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital following a brief illness.

Estelle, who was known to many as "Debbie," was born Dec. 3, 1950, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Edward Usko and Estelle Morris Usko, and was a lifelong area resident.

She...

Dec 16, 2020

AUSTINTOWN – Edward J. Sebest, 90, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, Dec. 16, 2020, at Hospice House in North Lima, after a long and fulfilling life.

Edward was born March 29, 1930, in Youngstown, a son of the late Martin and Anna Bobeck Sebest, and lived most of his life in the Mahoning Valley. . He was...

Dec 15, 2020

CANFIELD -  Andrew J. "Andy" Smyczynski, 50, passed away late Tuesday evening, Dec. 15, 2020, at Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland following a two-and-a-half month battle with pancreatitis.

Andy was born April 5, 1970, in Kyonggi-Do, South Korea, and was a son of John and Myong Smyczynski. Andy came to America and the Mahoning Valley with...

Dec 11, 2020

NORTH LIMA - Patrick Tony Sheely, 71, formerly of Youngstown's South Side, passed away Friday evening, Dec. 11, 2020, at Hospice House after a battle with COVID-19.

Patrick was born March 11, 1949, in Youngstown, and was a son of the late William G. and Theresa Godaux Sheely. He was raised in Campbell, was a graduate of...

Dec 11, 2020

YOUNGSTOWN - Kimberly "Kim" Mills, 49, passed away early Friday morning, Dec. 11, 2020, with family by her side at her sister's home in North Jackson following a courageous fight with cancer.

Kim was born Feb. 26, 1971, in Youngstown, a daughter of Richard and Janet Scarsella Porter, and was a lifelong area resident.

She...

Dec 11, 2020

ANDOVER - Rita M. Martin, 70, formerly of Girard, passed away early Friday morning, Dec. 11, 2020, at Andover Village following a lengthy illness.

Rita was born Nov. 14, 1950, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Joseph R. and Jennie Ann DePinto Funge, and lived in the area for most of her life.

She...

Dec 10, 2020

CANFIELD - Theodore A. "Ted" Boggs, Jr., 74, passed away peacefully with family by his side Thursday morning, Dec. 10, 2020, at Briarfield Manor in Austintown.

Ted was born May 5, 1946, in Youngstown, and was a son of the late Theodore A. Boggs Sr. and Mary DePrim Boggs. He was a 1964 graduate of East High...

Dec 9, 2020

YOUNGSTOWN - Deborah C. "Debbie" Miller, 63, of the city's West Side, passed away peacefully late Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 9, 2020, at Hospice House with her daughter by her side, following a courageous seven-year battle with breast cancer. Debbie was born Nov. 13, 1957, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Homer and June Carroll Emerick, and was a...

Dec 9, 2020

GIRARD - Margaret C. Hughes, 81, passed away Wednesday morning, Dec. 9, 2020, at Liberty Health Care Center, following a brief battle with cancer.

Margaret was born July 8, 1939, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Terrence and Gladys Adams O'Neil, and was a lifelong Girard resident.

She was a 1958 graduate of Girard...

Dec 8, 2020

YOUNGSTOWN  - Eleanor P. Kunder, 89, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Eleanor was born March 29, 1931, in Cleveland, and was a daughter of the late Thomas and Caroline Joseph. She was raised in Diamond and was a graduate of Palmyra High School.

Mrs. Kunder worked in housekeeping...

Dec 6, 2020

AUSTINTOWN - Ann M. Kovalovsky, 74, passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, Dec. 6, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital.

Ann was born April 2, 1946, in Youngstown, and was a daughter of the late Leonard Vinkler and Ann Gunyula Vinkler. She was raised in Campbell, was a 1964 graduate of Ursuline High School, and lived her life...

Dec 5, 2020

AUSTINTOWN - Frances A. "Fran" Piersante, 90, passed away early Saturday morning, Dec. 5, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Fran was born May 13, 1930, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Ignatius and Amelia "Ljuba" Pacic Kunovic.

She was a Chaney High School graduate, and was a devoted wife and mother who dedicated...

Dec 4, 2020

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GIRARD - John F. "Jack" Licek, 63, passed away Friday evening, Dec. 4, 2020, at Select Specialty Hospital in Youngstown following a battle with COVID-19.

Jack was born March 5, 1957, in Youngstown, a son of the late John and Ruth Bowles Licek, and was a lifelong area...

Dec 4, 2020

CANFIELD - Sister Frances Marie Sopko, OSU, 93, died Friday afternoon, Dec. 4, 2020, at The Woodlands at AustinWoods. Sister Frances was born Josephine Ann Sopko on March 19, 1927, in Youngstown, the daughter of the late John and Anna Kacik Sopko.  She was raised in Youngstown and graduated from Ursuline High School in 1946. She entered the Ursuline...

Nov 29, 2020

GIRARD - Mary T. McInnis, 90, passed away peacefully Sunday evening, Nov. 29, 2020, at The Woodlands at AustinWoods in Austintown.

Mary was born March 6, 1930, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Andrew Fusco Sr. and Mary Fesketti Fusco, and was a lifelong area resident.

Mrs. McInnis leaves many nieces and nephews. Her...

Nov 28, 2020

AUSTINTOWN - Richard E. Vinkler, 79, passed away unexpectedly late Saturday afternoon, Nov. 28, 2020, at his home. Richard was born Feb. 7, 1941, in Youngstown, a son of the late Stephen and Mary Vinkler, and was a lifelong area resident. He was a 1960 graduate of Springfield High School, and was the owner/operator of the New Springfield Inn....