Obituaries

Evelyn A. Cole, 83, of Bradford, PA passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the Bradford Ecumenical Home.

Born June 8, 1940, in Bradford, she was raised by her Aunt Edna and Uncle Carl Barton.

She was a 1959 graduate of Bradford Area High School.

Evelyn worked for many years at KOA Speer Electronics and went on to be the manager of Bell Warren Federal Credit Union, retiring in 2004.

Evelyn was a great example of love, patience, forgiveness, selflessness, and sacrifice.  She loved her time living in Mt. Jewett where she made many great friends. She was involved in the Methodist Church there and then when she later moved to Bradford, she became a member of the First Baptist Church. One of her greatest passions in life was being involved in the Cootiette Club. Cooties are dedicated members who perform duties involving aid to hospitalized veterans and those who are sick or injured at VA medical centers.

Evelyn spent her final years at the Bradford Ecumenical Home, where she was loved and adored by the staff.

Susan M. Wood, 72, of Bradford, PA passed away Monday, March 18, 2024, surrounded by her family.

Friends are invited to a Celebration of Susan’s Life on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 1:00 to 6:00 pm, in the Grace Lutheran Church.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenebeckcahill.com

Mary E. Culp, 87, of Warren, PA, died peacefully Wednesday afternoon, with her family at her bedside at Warren Manor Nursing Home, Warren, Pa.

A complete obituary will be announced when available through the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., Warren, PA

The Villages, FL- Marion Joseph Kwiatkowski “Loving Mother, Grandmother, Sister & Aunt”

Marion L. Joseph Kwiatkowski of The Villages went Home to her husband, daughter, grandson, parents, and siblings on Saturday, March 9, 2024, after a short illness.

Marion was born on April 26, 1928, in Cuba, NY and was the daughter of Robert Elmer and Eva Mae King Joseph. On July 5, 1947, she married John J. Kwiatkowski, son of Joseph and Sophia Kwiatkowski, who predeceased her on June 5, 1975.

Marion was raised to be strong and fiercely independent. She has also been described as fun and spunky! She began her life of hard work and diligence when she was named Salutatorian of the Class of 1946 of Cuba Central School.  She had an illustrious career in human resources and personnel management, working for 30 years in the Allegany and Rochester plants of Acme Electric. While in Olean, she was president of the Olean Zonta Club and a member of the former Saint Helen’s Church in Hinsdale, NY. She had a second career working 20 years for the State of Florida after moving there in 1983. Marion enjoyed bowling, golfing, ceramic class, and especially gardening. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family.

Charles R. “Chuck” Larson of Ridgway, PA passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at a considerably healthy age of 91.

He was born on October 24, 1932, and he shared the same birthday as his late wife, Marilyn Skagenberg. They married on October 25, 1958, in the United Methodist Church in Mentor, OH. He was the youngest son of Lars and Cora Spinney Larson.

Charles graduated from Brisbin High School (Woodward-Mashanning) and served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 until 1956. He enjoyed baseball and loved to “raise the Jolly Rodger!” He often recounted his time as a kid, losing his two front teeth and wishing them back for Christmas, the hard farm life, milking cows, and walking 8 miles as a Boy Scouts, even in the deep snow that doesn’t exist like it did “back in the day”. Chuck worked in A&P as a manager for many years through the 70’s and 80’s. He also worked at BILO and was a bartender at Ridgway Moose Lodge. He was a lifelong member of the Moose, American Legion, Lutheran, and Methodist Churches, and an avid donator to children’s hospitals, YMCA, vets, and wounded warriors.

Louise C. Seth, 75, of Bayard St. in Kane, PA passed away Monday (March 18) at her residence.  Born June 2, 1948 in Kane, she is the daughter of the late Sigfred and Mildred (Eckdahl) Pearson.  On April 8, 1967 in Wilcox, she married Lewis Seth, who survives.

Louise was a member of the Halton Church of Christ in Ridgway.  She was very outgoing and she loved to attend her grandchildren’s sporting events.  She also loved sitting on her front porch and having wine and wisdom with her friends which she truly cherished.

Gerald “Jerry” Bizzak, 74, of Greeves St., Kane, PA passed away Friday (March 15) at his residence.  Born May 10, 1949 in Kane, he is the son of late Joseph and Mary (Ulyan) Bizzak.  On Aug. 17, 1968 in Kane, he married Karen Anderson, who survives.

Jerry worked much of his life as a logger, he then owned and operated the West Side Grill for 16 years.  He also had worked as a carpenter.  He was a member of St. Callistus Catholic Church, the Kane Elks Lodge #329 and the Kane VFW Lodge #1132.  He bowled for many years and was also a long-time bowling team sponsor.

Susan M. Wood, 72, of Bradford, PA passed away Monday, March 18, 2024, surrounded by her family.

Born on September 12, 1951, in Bradford, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Ruth (Vasbinder) Wheeler.

She was a 1971 graduate of Bradford High School.

On December 1, 1973, in Bradford she married Steve Wood who survives.

She worked at Nick’s Red Hots, and later as a night aide for Beacon Light.

Ralph Skaggs, 85, of 10 Skaggs Drive, Bradford, PA passed away Monday, March 18, 2024, at his residence. 

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

                             Joyce Mangini

Joyce M. Reynolds Mangini, 92, of Warren, PA, died Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Warren General Hospital, Warren, PA. 

Joyce was born September 6, 1931, in Warren, PA.  She was the daughter of James and Grace Armstrong Reynolds.  She was a lifelong Warren area resident.  Joyce was a 1951 graduate of Youngsville High School.  She was employed with the former G.T.E. Sylvania and then was a nurse’s aide at Warren State Hospital, retiring from there after 25 years employment. She was an Avon sales lady.  Joyce was a member of First Methodist Church.  She enjoyed scrap booking, collecting antique coins, exercising, walking, and singing songs.  Her family was also the center of her life, and she enjoyed having a great sense of humor.

Smethport–Sandra Jean (Norman) Green 83, of Smethport, PA passed away Friday, March 15, 2024 at Olean General Hospital, Olean NY.

Sandra was born January 12, 1941 in Kane, PA, the daughter of Russell W. and Linda V. (Johnson) Norman. On July 21, 1962 in Smethport, PA, she married Roger W. Green, Jr. who died November 13, 2021. 

Sandra was lucky enough to grow up and be surrounded by family in Smethport.  Some of her very best friends were her cousins Diane, Cynthia, Johanna, Karen, Bob, Morris, Maribel and more.  Sandy and her close friend Kathy Edgar, as well as Carol, would spend time in a cabin below Water Street listening to music on a record player and writing songs, such as “A Dog in the Door Tonight”, which daughters Amy and Diane know the words to, to this day.  Sandy and Kathy remained lifelong friends.  Her sister Carol was not only a sister, but a best friend, always there for her from a young age, sewing clothes for her, looking out for her and later spending holidays and traveling together.  She was also close to John and his wife Barb, and they spent many holidays together at their parent’s home on Water Street.  Roger also enjoyed spending time with John, talking about hunting and outdoor adventures.

DONNA FRANCES LEHMAN              “beloved Aunt Donna”

COUDERSPORT, PA—-Donna Frances Lehman, 87, a lifelong resident of Coudersport, PA passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2024, after a brief illness.

Born on June 22, 1936, in Coudersport, PA, she was the daughter of the late Walter M. and Anna Brooks Lehman.

Donna was predeceased by her parents, her loving sister Alice Lehman Cizek, nephew Brian Neil Cizek, and brother-in-law Norman Cizek.

Raymond L. Foster:  Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather

Raymond L. Foster, 80, 4372 Mossbrook Road, Friendship, NY passed away on Monday March 18, 2024 at Jones Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness.

Born on December 30, 1943, in Cuba, he was a son of Clifton and Genevieve Sweeney Foster.  On August 18, 2002, in Cuba, he married the former Pamela J. Adams who survives.

Ray was a graduate of Friendship Central School.  He worked for Quaker State in Bradford, Pennsylvania prior to his retirement.  He also owned and operated his own farm, which was his favorite job.

Christine A. “Chris” Wendel, 81, of 123 Grandview Road, St. Marys, PA passed away at Penn Highlands Elk on Monday, March 18, 2024, following a lengthy illness. 

She was born on December 21, 1942 in St. Marys, a daughter of the late Arthur and Anna Herbst Miles. 

On September 7, 1963, at Queen of the World Church, she married the late Leander “Lee” Wendel, who preceded her in death on April 6, 2021. Together they shared more than 57 years of marriage. 

Chris was a graduate of Central Catholic High School and a member of Queen of the World Church. Always a very faithful woman, Chris could be found saying an afternoon prayer at 3:00 daily.  In her free time, she liked to read books on her Kindle and do crossword puzzles. In her younger years, she enjoyed bowling and painting. 

Over the years, she stayed active by going on walks and playing volleyball in her younger years. Chris loved to spend time with her family, and looked forward to her daily chats and FaceTime adventures with her granddaughter in Hawaii. She was a kind and loving mother, grandmother, and sister. 

Saundra Lee Sears Salerno, 85, passed away on March 17, 2024, in Largo, Florida of complications from dementia. The daughter of Walter and Gretta Sears of North Warren, she was born on June 2, 1938, and was an only child. Saundra graduated from Warren Area High School in 1956 and from Bryant Stratton College in Buffalo in 1958.

In July, 1960, she married Louis James Salerno of Warren and celebrated 46 years of marriage until his death in 2006. They lived in Texas while Louis was in the Army, then back to Warren and Corry for several years. Saundra was a legal secretary in Warren for Attorney Sam Bonavita in the 1960’s and ‘70s. They moved to St. Petersburg, FL in 1981 where she worked for Ohio Casualty Insurance until her retirement.

Brian A. Kelley, 53, of 31 Lafayette Avenue, Lewis Run, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2024, surrounded by his loving family, at Bradford Regional Medical Center.

Born November 3, 1970, in Bradford, he was a son of the late Donald and Suzanne (Bickel) Kelley. He was a 1988 graduate of Bradford High School.

On May 19, 2012, in Bradford, he married Ashley (Woodruff) Kelley who survives.

Brian was employed at Carrols LLC for 35 years.

Brian was a Limestone Winter Soccer League Coach. He enjoyed watching the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, and the New York Yankees. He liked gardening in his yard, four wheeling and most of all vacations with his family.

Beverly Ann Cobb, 81, of Lehigh Acres, FL, formerly of Bradford PA, passed away Thursday, March 14, 2024, at HealthPark Medical Center in Ft. Myers FL. 

Born May 12, 1942, in Bradford, she was a daughter of the late Ralph P. and Josephine V. (Pascale) Campogiani. She was a 1960 graduate of St. Bernard School. On August 26, 1961, she married Albert Ted Cobb Jr, who survives.

Beverly started her career working for the State of Pennsylvania. Later, she enjoyed a long career in commercial real estate with Chase Lincoln Bank. 

Bev was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bradford and St. Raphael Catholic Church in Lehigh Acres, FL.
 
Beverly cherished spending time with family. She found joy laughing and playing games with her beloved grandchildren. She was a dedicated volunteer at Hope Hospice in Lehigh Acres, FL and was a well-loved member of her community by her many friends. 

Elbertia O. Smoker, 103, of Emporium, PA passed away early Monday morning (March 18, 2024) at Guy and Mary Felt Manor, Emporium, PA. She was born April 6, 1920 in Arroyo, PA a daughter of the late Robert E. and Alice Eddinger George Coon. On November 24, 1970 in Emporium she married the late David Smoker. Elbertia married her first husband Paul H. Carlson on Sept. 28, 1938. and he died in September 1966.

She retired from Sylvania where she worked for over 29 years. During WWII she worked for Budd Manufacturing in Philadelphia. She had attended Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Emporium. She enjoyed crocheting, crafts and cross-word puzzles.

Wesley E. Schmidt, 45, of 727 Center Street, St. Marys, passed away following a courageous battle with liver disease, Sunday, March 17, 2024, at his residence.

He was born September 4, 1978 in Seattle, WA, son of Ethel Church Schmidt and the late Wayne Schmidt.  Wesley was a graduate of Stanwood High School, Class of 1997 and had a passion for anything involving computers.

Christine A. “Chris” Wendel, 81, of St. Marys, passed away on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Penn Highlands Elk following a lengthy illness. A Mass of Christian Burial for Christine A.

Wendel will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Queen of the World Church, 134 Queens Road, St. Marys, PA 15857 with Rev. Jeffery Noble, Pastor, officiating.  

Family and friends will be received at the Queen of the World Church on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 9:30 AM until the time of the Mass. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Lynch-Green Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 151 N. Michael Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.

Urbano “Ben” Principe passed away peacefully at Pinecrest Manor on Sunday, March 17, 2024, after a brief illness. 

Ben was born June 30, 1932, in Ridgway PA to the late Mary (Piccirillo) and John Prencipe. He grew up and caused trouble on Rock Street in Ridgway with his three brothers, Jim (Dorothy), Anthony (Marilyn) and John (Dolores) who all preceded him in death.

Benny attended Ridgway Area High School before joining the Army in 1949. It was there he completed his high school education and went on to become a proud member and paratrooper instructor of the 82nd Airborne Division. His service included time during the Korean Conflict although he remained stateside. He received an honorable discharge in December 1952. 

Also, during this time, he became the proud father of two wonderful children, Donna (Barry Harbin) & Steve (Tracy) Kash who remain in Georgia & Alabama respectively.

Upon returning to his hometown of Ridgway, PA, Ben met his sweetheart Joan (Carlson) at the downtown Market Basket where she worked. He chased her around until she said yes in 1959.  It was at this same time he began his career as a Beautician. 

Grace Lucy Daughenbaugh, 91, of New Jersey, formerly of Ridgway, died on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Garnet Medical Center after a brief illness.

She was born on March 4, 1933, in Ridgway, the daughter of the late Anthony and Lucy Capuano Raspatello.

On August 24, 1957, she married the late Marvin W. “Doc” Daughenbaugh, who preceded her in death on January 3, 1984.

Grace was a lifelong member of the area and a member of St. Leo Magnus Church. She and Doc were the proud owners of Circle D in Kersey and owned The Summit, where she hosted numerous memorable wedding receptions. Her dedication to her work was matched only by her unwavering love for her family. In 2017, at the age of 84, she retired and moved with her daughter and son-in-law to Greenwood Lake New York where she quickly became a special part of the village community.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Grace had a wide range of hobbies and interests that brought her joy. She found solace in baking, enjoyed watching game shows, indulged her creative spirit through painting, and savored moments spent playing cards and watching movies. One of her favorite pastimes was taking trips to the casino with her daughter and son-in-law.

Douglas D. Austin, 63, of Corry, Pa., passed away Friday, March 15, at the Corry Manor.

He was born Oct. 3, 1960, in Bradford, Pa., a son of the late Robert E. and Ermma “Billie” (Swackhammer) Austin.

Doug was raised and educated in Bradford and graduated from Bradford Area High School in 1978. After high school, he attended Mansfield State College and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Accounting. After college, he came back to Bradford and worked at Bradford Pipe and Supply as a threader and then for the Bradford Era as a newspaper deliverer. Eventually, Doug took over his family business, Austin’s Distributions and ran it for 30 years until he fell ill. At that time he moved into the Corry Manor, where he would be recognized for his warm smile and waving he gave to us all in the community.

Donald Wayne Botens:  Loving Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather

Donald Wayne Botens, 86, of 30 South Street, Cuba, NY passed away Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Olean General Hospital after short illness.

Born on June 13, 1937, in New Hudson, he was a son of Paul M. and Bernice M. Vaughn Botens.  On June 20, 1959, at the Cuba First Baptist Church he married the former RoseAnn Schryver who predeceased him on November 2, 2018. 

Wayne was a graduate of Cuba Central School.  He had worked at ACME Electric, Schryver’s Market in Cuba as a butcher, and last as a maintenance worker at Cuba Memorial Hospital from where he retired. 

He was a little league coach for 25 years coaching the dodgers and cardinals.  He was also good at building and fixing things, enjoyed reading and puzzles. 

He is survived by

Wesley E. Schmidt, 45, of 727 Center Street, St. Marys, PA passed away following a courageous battle with liver disease, Sunday, March 17, 2024, at his residence. 

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.

John A. Pellicano, Sr., age 91, of Mansfield, PA went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 9, 2024. He was born on February 17, 1933, to the late Biagio and Carmela (Tataro) Pellicano. 

John was a very proud Korean War Veteran with the United States Air Force and retiree from Corning Glass Works. He loved his coffee and visiting with family and friends. 

Paul Christopher Stanley, age 52, of Sterling, VA passed away suddenly at his home on Sunday, February 25 from natural causes. 

Paul was born August 5, 1971 in Corning, NY and grew up in Osceola, PA.