All Obituaries

John Joseph Pitonyak, 93, died Wednesday June 20, 2018 at St. Mary’s Home East in Erie, PA. He was born October 17, 1924, on the family farm in Bitumen, PA, son of the late Joseph and Eva (Pitonyak) Pitonyak.  A veteran of World War II, John enlisted in April 1943 in the U.S. Army and went ashore on Utah Beach, Sugar Red Sector, near St. Mere Eglis on D- Day plus 33. He served through October 1945, most of that time in Europe. He was proud to have served in General...

Joyce L. (Emig) Osiecki, 74 of Lake City, passed away on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at Pleasant Ridge Manor.  She was born February 3, 1944 in Meadville, a daughter of the late Lawrence A. and Mildred (Berrier) Emig.  She graduated from Cambridge Springs High School in 1962. She had worked for home health care and worked in purchasing for various companies and lastly had been employed by Greenbriar Inc. in Fairview, as a Purchasing Manager.  She was a member...

John  E. Hornyak, 92, of Girard, passed away on Saturday June 16, 2018 at Pleasant Ridge Manor.     He was born in Newton Falls, OH,  March 12, 1926, a son of the late John and Anna (Surdenik) Hornyak.   As a young man, on March 11, 1944 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served aboard the USS APL-42 in the South Pacific in World War 2. He was awarded the Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal....

Evelyn J. Koford, 88, of Girard, went to be with her Lord on Monday, March 26, 2018 at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.  She was a lifelong resident of Girard, born July 28, 1929, the daughter of the late John F. and Thora (Jenson) Koford.  Evelyn graduated from Girard's Rice Avenue Union High School in 1947. Following high school she attended and graduated fromVilla Maria. She was employed and retired from St. Vincent Health Center in Erie.  She was...

Paul  Skapura, 61, of Girard passed away on Wednesday May 30, 2018 at St. Vincent Health Center following a brief illness.      He was born on August 2, 1956 to Michael and Florence (Wasiulewski) Skapura in Erie.      Paul graduated from Girard High School in 1974.While in school, he was a member of the Wrestling and Cross-Country teams and was President of the Chess Club. Following graduation he attended the Ivy School of...

Charles E. “Chuck” Leffingwell, 86 of Girard, passed away on Monday, June 4, 2018 at Pleasant Ridge Manor, surrounded by his family.  He was born February 7, 1932 in Meadville, a son of the late Charles and Blanche (Guenther) Leffingwell.  Chuck graduated from Meadville High School in 1950. Following high school he enlisted in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict. He served aboard the USS St. Paul (CV-73). He was awarded the China Service Medal, The...

 J. William Pustelak, 79, of Girard, passed away on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at UPMC Hamot, following a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family.  He was born in Erie, June 13, 1938, a son of the late Joseph E. and Susan B. (Gruzosky) Pustelak.  Bill graduated from the Rice Avenue Union High School in 1956, where he was a well known football player for the “Yellow Jackets.” He loved drag racing when young and began his working career at North...

Mary M. (Postas) Surovick, age 102 of Girard, passed away on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at her family home.  She was born in Carteret, N.J., a daughter of the late John and Margaret (Muldavom) Postas.  Mary moved to Erie as a young girl with her family. She graduated from Villa Maria High School and later lived in Albion following her marriage to John Surovick. She moved to Girard with her family and had resided there the remainder of her life. She worked at Marx...

Susan I. (Martek) Jacobs, 66 of Lake City, passed away on Wednesday May 16, 2018 at St. Vincent Health Center, following an extended illness.  She was born December 27, 1951 in Buffalo, NY, a daughter of the late Gerald and Irene (Wolicki) Martek.  Susan graduated from the Cheektowaga Central High School in 1970. She later furthered her education graduating from Mercyhurst University with an Associate Degree in Business Administration and also studied Accounting at...

Patricia L. (Martin) Hites, 87 of Lake City, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at St. Vincent Health Center.  She was born in Erie, November 18, 1930 in Erie, a daughter of the late Carl H. and Hannah (Sullivan) Martin.  Pat began her education at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Erie, later graduating from Strong Vincent High School in 1949. She worked at the former Halle’s Department Store in Erie and later at the Westwood Racquet...