Jay Anderson of Warren, Pa. peacefully entered heaven, on April 3, 2025, after a life richly lived as a dedicated husband, father, and son.
Jay lived a great life full of fun, adventure, and a great sense of humor. Jay is loved by many friends and family, and although he had a short time on this earth, he is now our angel looking down on us. As an avid outdoorsman he accomplished many successful hunting and fishing excursions and taught the children his favorite trades. Jay was profoundly proud of his children’s personalities and accomplishments. He also enjoyed going to the beach, walking in the woods, riding his bike, and listening to music. He went by multiple nicknames such as “JJ”, “Jay Bird”, “Juicy Jay”, “Jayman”, and “Skinner”.
Please join family and friends on Saturday, April 12 from 1 to 3 PM at the Galeton Waterfront Park Pavilion in a celebration of love, and life for JoAnne Dingman.
Thank you and we hope to see you there, Rae-Ann and Karen Dingman
Frances “Fran” W. ZAPAR, 90, of Wellsville, NY, died Sunday, March 30, 2025 in the Hart Comfort House of Allegany County, Wellsville. Born April 26, 1934, in Long Island, NY, she was the daughter of Stanley G. and Helen Duda Wojculewski.
On November 10, 1973, in Vineland, NJ, she married Alexander J. Zapar, who survives. A 1952 graduate of Bridgeton High School, Bridgeton, NJ, she attended Cumberland County College. Fran was employed as office manager by Mahi Salam pediatric office in Downingtown for 25 years, retiring in 1999 and moving to their mountain home in Alma. She attended Yorks Corners Mennonite Church.
Patti L. WASHBURN, 61, of Cuba, NY, went to heaven to be with her mother on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 in UR Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville.
Born February 20, 1964, in Wellsville, she was the daughter of Leslie E. Sr. and Mary Knutowicz Jackson. On August 18, 2012, in Bolivar, she married Joseph Washburn, who survives.
Linda K. WISE, 78, of Greenwood, NY, loving mother, devoted grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away Monday, March 31, 2025 in Jones Memorial Hospital, Wellsville.
Born August 10, 1946, in Detroit, MI, she was the daughter of Edward and June Barr Birchall. In 2001, she retired after 25 years with Armstrong World Industries in Lancaster, PA.
Joan Olivia Thorpe, 92, of Warren, PA, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2025.
Family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 am on Wednesday April 9, 2025, in the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home Inc., 304 East Street Warren PA. Followed by a Graveside Service in Oakland Cemetery, Mohawk Ave.
Warren, PA at 11:30 with Rev. Elizabeth Thorpe, Officiating. Please visit www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com to view a full obituary.
Jennie L. Milford, 99, of Ridgway, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at UMPC Kane following a brief illness.
She was born on July 15, 1925, in Mt. Jewett, the daughter of the late Perry and Clara Swanson Hedlund.
Jennie was a devoted wife to her late husband, Leo E. Milford, whom she married on July 17, 1943. Together, they shared a remarkable 66 years of marriage.
Jennie was a lifelong resident of the area and a devout member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She shared countless adventures with her beloved partner, Leo, and together they explored the world through their love for cruising and traveling across the country. In addition to her love for travel, Jennie found joy in the simple pleasures of life, whether it was watching cardinals at her home or enjoying the thrill of a night out at the casino. Her greatest enjoyment came from spending time with her family, creating memories that will be treasured forever.
She is survived by a daughter, Carolyn Peterson and her husband Howard of Ridgway, 2 sons, Edward Milford and his wife Susan and William Milford, all of Ridgway, 10 grandchildren: Shelly, Beth, Amy, Laura, Chip, Dan, Karen, Kristen, Michael, and Jacob, 3 step-grandchildren: Colleen, Sherry, and Robert, and numerous great grandchildren. She is also survived by a special niece, Judy Haight, and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by 2 sister, Mildred Ludwig and Viola Anderson, 5 brothers; Axle, Perry, Gilbert, Jerome, and Lawrence Hedlund, and a step granddaughter, Cynthia Weaver
Funeral Services for Jennie L. Milford are being held privately by the family.
Burial will follow at Parklawn Memorial Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 215 Cook Ave, Ridgway, PA 15853.
Krise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 130 Center St., Ridgway, PA 15853, is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.krisefuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jennie L. Milford, please visit our flower store.
Clinton J. BIRDSALL, 75, of Westfield, PA, died Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in his home. Born May 11, 1949, in Westfield, he was the son of Edward C. and Orpha R. Miles Birdsall.
On December 22, 1968, in the Westfield, he married Erna Newcomb, who survives. A 1968 graduate of Cowanesque Valley High School, he served honorably with the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War. He was employed by CNG / Dominion. Clinton was a member of First Baptist Church, Westfield, PA.
Linda A. Safran, 76, of St. Marys, passed away at Elk Haven Nursing Home on Thursday, April 3, 2025, following a brief illness.
She was born on June 26, 1948 in St. Marys, a daughter of the late Thomas and Flora Schauer Bauer.
Linda was a faithful member of St. Marys Church, where she was a dedicated volunteer for many years. During her life she tried to help others as much as she could. She felt it was God’s will to help in the needs of others. A few things she did was volunteer at a nursing home where she became a surrogate daughter for a patient, was involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, was a Eucharistic Minister, donated her hair numerous times to Locks of Love, and tried to help people with their faith by creating artwork and placing prayers over the art. She earned her bachelors degree in Secondary Education /Mathematics from Lock Haven. She also worked on her Masters Degree in Library Sciences at Clarion University where she also worked and met her husband. In her free time, Linda enjoyed being a mother and raising her daughter to the best of her ability. She loved children and helping them learn. Her other interests included reading, cooking and health, sewing, gardening, and having Bible Study with her friends.
Linda V. Burks “beloved wife mother, grandmother, and sister”
Linda V. Burks, 74, of Shinglehouse, passed away in her home with her loving family by her side on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, after a long illness.
Born on Thursday, December 14, 1950 in Anchorage, Alaska, she was a daughter of Alden M. and Elizabeth J. Summerell Vandenboom. On May 31, 1969 in Orlando, Florida, she married Pat Burks, who survives.
Richard W. Schutz, Sr., 82, of 428 N. St. Marys Street, St. Marys, passed away with his family by his side Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at UPMC Shadyside Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.
Leonard M. Fermenic, age 87, of Wellsboro, PA, died on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
He was born on October 12, 1937 in Blossburg, PA, a son of the late Michael and Mary (Lynough) Fermenic and was the husband of the late Valerie (DeMusz) Fermenic. Leonard served in the US Army, was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Wellsboro, PA and had worked for many years at Mergenthaler, Wellsboro, PA.
Anne Catherine (Hinz) Recio of Riverview Heights passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Highland Park Nursing Center surrounded by her family.
The following obituary was written by Anne herself.
Anne was born in her home on October 13, 1929. She was one of sixteen children born to Andrew and Louise Hinz in Muenster, Saskatchewan, Canada. Anne graduated from St. Elizabeth’s hospital in Humboldt, Saskatoon as a registered nurse in 1954. She then nursed in hospitals in Hamilton, Bermuda, Phelps Memorial Hospital in Tarrytown, N.Y., Sloan Kettering Hospital on 68th St. New York City, and then part time for 26 years in ICU at Jones Memorial Hospital.
A Memorial Service for John C. VanSlander, who died February 24, 2025, will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 11 AM at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home.
Family and friends will be received at the funeral home on Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 10 AM until the time of the service. Military honors will be accorded by the St. Marys Servicemen’s Burial Detail.
Lynch-Green Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 151 N. Michael Street, St. Mary’s, PA, 15857 is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Frederick C. Galbreath, 75, of Bolivar, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Olean General Hospital with his family by his side. He was born March 28, 1950, in Shinglehouse, PA, the son of Arthur and Minnie (Bouer) Galbreath Sr. On October 11, 1997, in Bolivar he married Valerie “Lynn” Stives who survives.
Fred was raised in Shinglehouse, PA and New York City, and was a 1968 graduate of Glens Falls High School. He was first employed by Chris Perkins Contracting, and for many years he was a truck driver and heavy equipment operator for the Town of Wirt. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and the Yankees, and loved spending time with his grandchildren.
Robert “Jerry” Gabel, 76, of 1289 High Street, Bradford, passed away Monday, March 31, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Born May 5, 1948, in Meadville, he was a son of the late Rex and Inez (Winima) Gabel. He was a 1966 graduate of Bradford High School.
Jerry worked for Bradford Pipe and Supply, then 17 years as Production Supervisor at Graham Packaging until his retirement in 2010. He later did landscaping with Dom Piganelli “Always Green” Landscaping.
Linda V. Burks, 74, of Shinglehouse, passed away in her home with her loving family by her side on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, after a long illness.
Funeral arrangements, entrusted to the care of Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse, are incomplete and will be announced with a full obituary.
Carol Jane ENGLISH, 83, of Wellsville, NY, a free spirit with a heart full of adventure and a knack for making life a little more magical, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 29, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was a devoted mother, a cherished friend, and an eternal explorer and optimist.
Born on November 3, 1941, in Wellsville, Carol remained deeply rooted in her hometown, though her curiosity carried her far and wide. She took great pride and interest in her lineage, tracing her mother Ethel’s ancestry back to 16th-century England and her father Ervin’s to 17th-century Germany.
“beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother”
Grace M. Yentzer, 97, of Port Allegany passed away in her home with her loving family by her side on Sunday, March 30, 2025, after a long illness.
Born on Tuesday, February 14, 1928, in Shinglehouse, she was a daughter of Fred and Hazel Wheeler Osborne. On May 10, 1961 in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, she married Eugene A. Yentzer, who survives.
Genevieve R. “Gen” Aikens, 82, of Emporium, PA passed away at St. Vincent Hospital, Erie, PA on Monday morning (March 31, 2025). She was born July 24, 1942 in Barnesboro, PA a daughter of the late W. Russell and Velma “Betty” Cressley Orner. On September 2, 1961 in Barnesboro, PA she married the late Albert Aikens, Sr.
She retired from GKN where she had worked for many years. She was a lifetime member of the Emporium Fire Departments Ladies Auxiliary and was a member of the First Baptist Church.
