Obituaries by LocationMervis
Rosalyn Mervis, 79, died May 20 at Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community in Cranberry Township.
She is survived by two cousins, Seretta Segal and Faye Reidborg, both of Pittsburgh, and was preceded in death by her sister, Sally Boyle, and her nephew, Ian Alpern.
Ms. Mervis had a distinguished career in public service. She served in the United States Navy in World War II and rose to the rank of commander in the Naval Reserve.
After graduating from what was then Carnegie Institute of Technology summa cum laude in 1950, she earned her Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina in 1954 and her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1974.
She served as Director of Health Education for the Tuberculosis League and later Chief of Health Education for Allegheny County. At the time of her retirement in 1978, she was Research Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, and subsequently taught horticulture at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind.
A memorial service was May 30 at Sherwood Oaks.
Pender
John Pender, 92, of Mars, died June 3, at LAS St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars after an illness.
Born in Pittsburgh on Jan. 27, 1911, he was the son of the late Albert and Sarah Storey Pender.
He had worked at Crucible Steel and then was a warehouseman for F.W. Smallstig in Pittburgh and then as a custodian for K-Mart in Shaler Township.
He is survived by three sons, Gerald Pender of Mars, John Pender of Loudenville, Ohio, and Robert Pender of Mars; 14 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence Landsdale Pender, who died on Nov. 27, 1993, and by two brothers and two sisters.
Friends were received Thursday at McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home. Burial was in Mt. Royal Cemetery in Shaler Township.
Stang
Ruth Stang, 74, of Middlesex Township died May 31 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Born in Butler on July 20, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Charlotte and Samuel Shira Kind.
A 1946 graduate of Mars High School, she received a bachelor’s degree from Geneva College and a master’s degree from Slippery Rock State College.
She began her teaching career at Mars High School in 1949. After her children started school, she returned to teaching at the Penn Elementary School in Penn Township, where she taught fifth and sixth grade from 1965 until her retirement in 1993.
Ruth was a member of the Valencia United Methodist Church, where she served on the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and as a trustee. She was a member of the United Methodist Women, Glade Run Small Prayer Group, Bakerstown Missionary Circle, PSEA-R and Valencia Historical Society.
Ruth enjoyed solving crossword puzzles, playing cards, traveling, reading and, above all, spending time with her family.
Surviving are her husband of 52 years, Harold G. Stang, whom she married on June 27, 1950; two daughters, Cindy Knauff of Valencia and Linda Moore of Midland, Mich.; a son, Roy Stang of Greensburg; one sister, Vivien Zema of Lafayette, Ind.; and eight grandchildren, Chris, Ben and Andy Knauff of Valencia, Stephanie Moore of Durham, NC, Eric Moore of Cleveland, Ohio, Jeff Moore of Midland, Mich., and Lauren and Tom Stang of Greensburg.
Friends were received June 2 and 3 at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home. Funeral services were held June 4 at Valencia United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Nancy Zahn, pastor, officiating.
Burial was in Mt. Olive Cemetery in Adams Township.
Memorials may be made to the Valencia United Methodist Church Building Fund, 66 Almira St., Valencia, PA, 16059.
Weir
Merl P. Weir, 85, of Mars, died June 3 at his home after an illness.
Born in Clearfield County on Aug. 11, 1917, he was the son of the late George and Edna Beals Weir.
He retired after working for 30 years as a miner for Wildwood Coal Company and later worked at James Austin Company.
He was a member of the United Mine Worker’s Union.
Surviving are two daughters, Patricia Ann Weir of Morgantown, W. Va., and Janet Tate of Florida and two sons, James Weir of Pittsburgh and Merl Weir Jr. of Jackson Township.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Ann Mullen Weir, whom he married on Oct. 1, 1960, and who died on Feb. 14, 2002, and by a sister.
Friends were received at McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home Thursday. Burial was in Glade Run Cemetery in Middlesex Township.
Jordan
Barbara Sue Snow Jordan, 62, of Valencia, died Saturday at her residence after an illness.
Born in Butler on Sept. 17, 1940, she was the daughter of Louise Henry Snow of Valencia and the late Jacob D. “Smokey” Snow.
She had worked as a dietician at Fosnight’s Personal Care Home in Valencia and at Hair Wizards Beauty Salon in Mars.
She was affiliated with the Northway Christian Community in Wexford.
Surviving are her husband, William Jordan, whom she married Aug. 26, 2000; a daughter, Bonnie Sue Nichols of Mars; two sons, Allen Nichols of Butler and Dale Nichols of Mars; two step-sons, William Jordan Jr. of Shaler and Gregory Jordan of Cranberry Township; two step-daughters, Misty Bowman of South Carolina and Janice Damien of Virginia; three brothers, Rodger Snow of Mars, Russell Snow of Valencia and Gary Snow of West Deer; and five grandchildren, D.J., Amanda, Jacob, Tierney Louise and Shane Allen Nichols.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by Bonnie Dayle Snow.
Friends were received Sunday at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home. Funeral services were Monday at the home, with the Rev. Robert McCrumb, pastor of Mars United Presbyterian Church.
Burial was in West Union Cemetery in Pine Township.
Memorials may be made to Family Hospice, 250 Mt. Lebanon Blvd., Suite 203, Pittsburgh, PA, 15234.
Hughes
Lawrence Hughes Jr., 83, of Zelienople and formerly of Mars, died July 21, 2003, at Passavant Retirement and Health Center in Zelienople.
Born April 18, 1920, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Jane Dines Hughes. He was the husband of the late Dorothy Brandl Hughes, who preceded him in death on May 11, 1969.
He had retired from Home Life Insurance Company in Green Tree, where he had been a sales agent. He was a World War II Army veteran, a member of Mars VFW and had attended St. Kilian’s Catholic Church in Mars.
He is survived by two daughters, Marlene Sipp of Cranberry Township and Patricia Nold of Palm Harbor, Fla.; a brother, William Hughes of Coraopolis; a sister Jane Lijewski of Pittsburgh; and four grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a sister and two brothers.
Friends were received Thursday at Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Cranberry Township.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church in Cranberry.
Burial was in the Christ Our Redeemer Cemetery in Ross Township.
Rinaman
Emma Rinaman, 98, of Mars died July 26 at LAS St. John Lutheran Care Center in Mars.
Born in Pittsburgh on March 30, 1905, she was the daughter of the late August and Charolette “Lottie” Leonhardt Leipoldt.
A homemaker, Mrs. Rinaman was a member of the Mars Alliance Church and had belonged to the Mars AARP. She was an avid gardener.
Surviving are two daughters, Ruth Pierce of Lake Placid, Fla., and Patricia Madl of Mars, 17 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Rinaman, who died in 1973; a son, Charles Rinaman; and a daughter, Loretta Smith.
Friends were received Monday at McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home. Funeral services were Tuesday at the home, with the Rev. Paul Cope, her pastor, officiating.
Burial was in Mars Cemetery in Adams Township.
Memorials may be made to St. John Specialty Care Center, Mars, PA 16046, or the Mars Volunteer Fire Company, Mars, PA 16046.
Klatte
Jeanne Follette Klatte, 79, of Bradford Woods, died Sunday, July 27 at UPMC Cranberry Place. Born in Buffalo, N.Y. on Aug. 5, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Nancy Cain Follette.
She was a graduate of Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music. Klatte was a music teacher, organist and soloist for various churches.
She was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Presbyterian Church in Wexford. She was also a volunteer for North Country Meals on Wheels in Gibsonia.
Surviving are her husband Frank C. Klatte, whom she married on January 4, 1945; three daughters, Mrs. Millard (Cynthia) Blackman of Quincy, Mich., Mrs. James (Jeannie) Schulz of Mt. Lebanon and Mrs. Russell (Wendy) Carson of Economy Boro; two sons, Frank Klatte, Jr. of Robinson Twp. and Timothy Klatte of Bradford Woods. Also surviving are five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Robert and Frank Follette.
There will be no visitation. Friends are invited to a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9 at Mt. Pleasant United Presbyterian Church in Wexford.
Koepke
Elizabeth Koepke, 87, of Zelienople and formerly of McCandless and Ross Township, died July 28 at Passavant Retirement Center in Zelienople after an illness.
Born in Sharpsburg on March 14, 1916, she was the daughter of the late William and Emma Miller Koepke.
She was a retired executive secretary in the marketing department for Gulf Oil Company in Pittsburgh.
She was a lifelong member of the Mt. Zion Lutheran Center on Perrysville Ave.
Surviving are a brother, Dr. Howard Koepke of Zelienople; two nieces, Chrissan Goosen of Homer City and Elaine Koepke of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and a nephew, Kurt Koepke of Ocean City, Md.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at New Haven Court Community Room at Passavant Retirement Center, 100 Burgess Dr. in Zelienople Friday at 1:30 p.m. with the Rev. John Hoogerbrugge and the Rev. Robert Goosen officiating.
Private burial will be in Allegheny County Memorial Park in the Town of McCandless.
Memorials may be made to Passavant Retirement Center, Zelienople, PA, 16063.
Murgenovich
George Murgenovich, 81, of Cranberry Township, died Thursday at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wilkinsburg.
Born Aug. 6, 1921, in West Aliquippa, he was the son of the late Michael and the late Stella Ann Klipa Murgenovich.
Mr. Murgenovich was a member of St. Elijah Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church in Aliquippa.
He was a US Army World War II veteran and a member of Harmony Lodge 429 F&AM, Syria Shrine in Pittsburgh, Consistory of New Castle, VFW of Pennsylvania, where he was a former Adjudgent General, VFW of Beaver Falls, where he was a past commander, and Ambridge American Legion.
He was a former member of the Cooties.
He is survived by two sons, Michael Murgenovich of Monaca and Gregory Murgenovich of Ambridge; three daughters, Paulette Roberts of Crafton, Annette Mariotti of New Brighton and Millie Olszewski of Cranberry Township; a brother, Robert Murgen of Baden; a sister Millie Kamzelski of Conway; 25 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Viola Evaneal Webb Murgenovich, who died Sept. 17, 1996; two daughters; a granddaughter; a great-grandson and a sister.
Friends were received Saturday and Sunday at Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Funeral services were Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Fr. Stevan Stepanov officiating.
Burial was in Deer Creek Cemetery .
Any memorial contributions are asked to be made to ALS Association of Western Pennsylvania, 1 Station Square Dr., Suite 550, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219.
