January 2024

Jason Eric McCallum, born July 24 1976, passed away on January 1st, 2024 in the comfort of his own home in Addison, New York.

Son of Kathy and Carlton (Butch) Davis and John and Cora McCallum, Jason spent 47 years (569 months) by the side of his family and friends. He always selflessly helped anyone and everyone he could.

Jason enjoyed creating joyous memories through laughing, making jokes, listening to music, and hosting bonfires and parties. He enjoyed spending his free-time grilling and smoking various meats to enjoy with his family on his Traeger grill while sipping an ice cold Budweiser, as well as collecting coins, and old war memorabilia.

He cared for and found a lifelong companionship in his “mans best friend” June. Only adding to the pack and his love with his 3 other dogs. Above all else Jason loved spending time with “his girls”, his wife Charlotte, daughters Abagail and Emily, and granddaughter Isabella.

Mark J. Viola, 65, of 181 Summer Street, Bradford, PA passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the Bradford Regional Medical Center.

Born January 28, 1958, in Bradford, he was the son of the late Henry M. and Marie Stella (Crupi) Viola.

He was a 1976 graduate of Bradford Central Christian High School.

On July 28, 1990, in First United Methodist Church he married Stephanie (Cornelius) Viola who survives.

Mark was a member of St. Bernard Church and the Italian Club.

Vi was employed by Coca Cola, later he worked for Dom Piganelli, at Always Green Landscaping. In 1992 he acquired the family business from his Uncle Joe Viola, Viola’s Restaurant on Brennan Street in the 5th Ward, a family business operated by the Viola family for three generations. Mark retired in June 2022, after owning the Restaurant for nearly 30 years.

George L. Songer, 88, formerly of Abbott Road, Bradford, PA passed away Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Chapel Ridge. 

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

Daughter, Mother, Grandmother

Susan J. Ward, 63, of Wellsville New York, and a former Cuba resident, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2023 at Wellsville Manor Care Center.

Born on October 4, 1960, in Cuba, she was a daughter of Richard and Marilyn Wells Abramowicz. 

Sue was a graduate of Cuba Central School Class of 1978.  She worked as a bartender and in customer service all of her life.  She loved people and her greatest accomplishment was to be a good friend. 

She will be remembered for always being helpful and living by the slogan “Life is what you make it.”  She enjoyed watching NASCAR and the times she attended in person at Watkins Glen.

Mildred G. “Millie” Olmstead, 99, of Elk Haven Nursing Home, St. Marys and formerly of Fairview Avenue, Johnsonburg, PA passed away early Thursday morning, January 4, 2024 at Penn Highlands-Elk following a brief illness.

She was born on November 24, 1924 in Butler, PA a daughter to the late Francis and Irene Burns Angert. On June 10, 1944 in Butler, she married Maurice A. Olmstead. He preceded her in death on July 16, 2017. 

Raised in Butler, Millie was a graduate of Butler High School and she and Maurice lived in Butler after their marriage until 1951. After moving to Johnsonburg and working other jobs, alongside her husband, they opened Olmstead’s Hardware and Olmstead’s Plumbing and Heating and operated it out of the storefront on Market Street until their retirement in 1996. 

         “beloved husband, father, and grandfather”

HEBRON CENTER, PA—James Frederick VanHorn passed away surrounded by his family in UPMC Cole, Coudersport, on Thursday, January 4, 2024.

James was born on Sunday, September 17, 1950, a son of Raymond Arthur and Grace Evelyn Burrows VanHorn.  On July 20, 1974 in Keating Summit, he married Starlette Haight, who survives.

Jim was employed at Pittsburgh Corning in Port Allegany for close to 40 years.  He owned and operated his own garage and towing company, J & S Auto in Sweden Valley, for years where he enjoyed meeting and talking with people.

Jim was known for his good humor,  tinkering in his garage with anything mechanical.  He shared his love of outdoors and horses with his wife of nearly 50 years.  He also loved visiting with family and his grandchildren.

Thomas E. Hayden, 73, of Emporium, PA passed away at Penn Highlands DuBois, DuBois, PA on Tuesday morning (January 2, 2024). He was born December 5, 1950 in St. Marys, PA a son of the late Edward L. and Marie Shores Hayden.

Tom graduated from Cameron County High School in the class of 1968. He retired from Pro America Premium Tools, where he served as the Emporium plant manager for many years.

Tom loved baseball (playing, coaching, umpiring, and watching), and he golfed as much as he possibly could. He was known for his humor, generosity, kindness, musical ability, dedication and mentorship to the athletes of Cameron County, story-telling, and his love for all things Emporium and Cameron County, Tom will be greatly missed. We are comforted that his faith was strong and that he has, indeed, gone Home.