Bernie Soltis; 32; of Rostraver Township; died Monday; May 3; 2004; in his home. Born in North Charleroi on Dec. 22; 1971; he was a son of Bernard E. and Darla R. Bagay Soltis; who survive and reside in Rostraver Township. Bernie was the owner and manager of B&D Lawn and Tree Service for 15 years. He was a member of the Church of St. Anne in Rostraver Township. In addition to his parents; he is survived by one brother and sister-in-law; Craig M. and Nancy Soltis of Rostraver Township; three aunts and two uncles; Rita and Robert Morton of Eighty Four; George and Bernadette Soltis of Greensburg; and Betty Tilley of St. Leonard; Md.; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents; Margaret and Stephen Bagay; paternal grandparents; Mr. and Mrs. George B. Soltis; and one uncle; Benjamin Tilley. Friends will be received Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Thursday until 9:30 a.m. in the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; 580 Circle Drive; Sweeney Plan/Rostraver Township. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday; May 6 at 10 a.m. in the Church of St. Anne; Rostraver Township; with the Rev. Msgr. Nicholas A. Mitolo; presiding. Interment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery; Rostraver Township.

LaVerne L. Wasick; 88; of Lawrenceville; Ga.; formerly of Charleroi; died Saturday; May 1; 2004; in Briarwood Nursing Home in Atlanta; Ga. She was born March 25; 1916; in Elco; a daughter of the late Earl and Louisa Hanel Dwyer. She was Methodist by faith. Surviving are two daughters and a son-in-law; Carol and Jerry Valgora; of Toronto; Canada; and Sharen Dorcon; of Lawrenceville; Ga. Also survived by three grandchildren; Jay Valgora; of New York; N.Y.; Derek Valgora; of Philadelphia; and Kelly Dorcon Gibson; of Lawrenceville; Ga.; and three great-grandchildren; Tyler and Julian Valgora and Alexander Lewis Gibson. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Lewis Wasick; in 1996; three brothers; Earl; Wilber and Herbert Dwyer; and a sister; Elsie Juteux. Services will be held in the chapel of Belle Vernon Cemetery on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Bruce Northey officiating. In lieu of flowers; the family suggests contributions to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Research Foundation. Arrangements by CARL J. SPALLINO FUNERAL HOME; Charleroi.

Michael W. Steffey; 63; of Belle Vernon; died Sunday; May 2; 2004; in his home. A son of the late James E. and Dorothy Story Steffey; he was born June 6; 1940; in Pittsburgh. Catholic by faith; he was a lifelong resident of Belle Vernon. He had been a car salesman for many years at the former H&B Chevrolet-Cadillac garage in Charleroi and several other area dealerships. Mr. Steffey was a U.S. Air Force veteran from 1958 to 1966 and was awarded the U.S. Air Force Air Medal for meritorious achievement during military flights while assigned to duty at Yokota Air Base; Japan. Survivors include his former wife; Kathleen Lenio Steffey; two sons and daughters-in-law; Mark W. and Vanesha Steffey of Leominster; Mass.; and Matthew W. and Mary Jane Steffey of Fayette City; seven grandchildren; Christine L.; Matthew W. Jr.; Patrick J. and Mary Grace Steffey; all of Fayette City; and Tyler M.; Joseph R. and Ethan P. Steffey of Leominster; Mass. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by two sons; in infancy; and one granddaughter; Gabrielle M. Steffey; in 1999. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC. and CREMATION SERVICE; a Golden Rule Member Firm; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. A blessing service will be in the funeral home on Wednesday; May 5 at 11 a.m. with Fr. Lawrence Manchas officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Grace O’Neill Shannon; 92; of Allenport; entered into rest Saturday; May 1; 2004; in Mon Valley Hospital. She was born Dec. 22; 1911; in Vesta; a daughter of the late John and Emma Zehfuss O’Neill. She was a member of Allenport United Methodist Church; the United Methodist Women’s Association; and the Allenport Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law; William L. and Christy Shannon of Wrightsville Beach; N.C.; and Jack L. and Karen Shannon of Raleigh; N.C.; one daughter and son-in-law; Patricia E. and Terry Hancock of Gaithersburg; Md.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; William Shannon; one sister; Mildred McCormack; and two brothers; Bernard and George O’Neill. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in the ED MELENYZER FUNERAL HOMES INC.; Roscoe; where a funeral service will be held Tuesday; May 4 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Terry Teluch of the Allenport Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The family wishes to thank Dr. James Solan and Nurse Jan Booth; the caretakers from Diversified Home Services and Twin Oaks Home Care for their care and concern. Additionally; a special thanks to the wonderful neighbors in Allenport for their steadfast support and friendship.

Virgil R. Russ Mace; 87; of Monessen; died Tuesday; Feb. 3; 2004; in Beverly Health Care; Uniontown. He was born Nov. 2; 1916; in Charleston; W.Va.; a son of the late Clyde Mace and Bertha Goff Mace. He was Presbyterian by faith and had been an iron worker. In addition to his parents; Mr. Mace was preceded in death by three brothers; Clyde; Vernon and Russel; and two sisters; Ima Jean and Opal. He is survived by his wife; Gloria Hoffman Mace; and one niece; Gayle Shetterly of Vanderbilt. There will be no visitation and interment will be at the convenience of the family. The RHOME FUNERAL HOME INC.; 1209 Grand Blvd.; Monessen; a Golden Rule Funeral Home; is in charge of arrangements.

MICHAEL’S CREMAINS ARE BURIED IN CASKET WITH HIS WIFE;SARAH 7 GRANDCHILDREN & 8 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.

Sarah Elizabeth Culp Segin; 85; of Belle Vernon; Washington Township; died Sunday; April 25; 2004; at 10:40 p.m. in Mon Valley Hospital; Carroll Township. Born June 12; 1918; in Belle Vernon; she was the daughter of the late John and Ethel Firbank Culp. Mrs. Segin was a lifelong resident of Washington Township; was Protestant by faith; an avid bowler; and a retired; self-employed ceramic instructor. She is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law; Jonnie and Charles Bird of Perryopolis; Nancy Sue and Leonard Cole of West Newton; and Rosalie Segin of Belle Vernon; one sister and brother-in-law; Rosalie and Gerald Rhodaback of Belle Vernon; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Mrs. Segin was preceded in death by her husband; Michael Segin; in 1994; and one brother; John Culp. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; family owned and operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon (724-929-6183). Services will be held Wednesday; April 28 at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Wayne R. Boring of First Christian Church in Fayette City officiating. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. For those unable to attend; online condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home’s web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.

Gerald F. Claybaugh Sr.; 83; of Washington Township; died Sunday; April 25; 2004; at 9:50 a.m. in Jefferson Hospital. He was born Aug. 8; 1920; in Charleroi; a son of the late Robert and Margaret Barrett Claybaugh. He was a resident of Washington Township for the past 45 years. Mr. Claybaugh was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Belle Vernon and a 1938 graduate of Charleroi High School. He was a veteran of World War II; serving with the U.S. Army Air Force Medical Department in the Pacific Theater. Mr. Claybaugh was retired as a salesman with the former H&B Chevrolet in Charleroi. For the past four years; he attended the Donora Adult Center; which relocated in Monessen and was renamed the Acorn Adult Center. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law; Gerald F. Jr. and Carol Claybaugh of Charleroi; one daughter and son-in-law; Geraldine and Theodore Yowonske of Rostraver Township; four grandchildren; Ted Yowonske; Nicole Henson and husband Jody; Brodie Claybaugh and Brendan Claybaugh and wife Tracey; one brother and sister-in-law; Thomas and Florence Claybaugh of Charleroi; and one sister; Margaret Pasur of Texas. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his wife Justina Jessie Kostal Claybaugh; on June 19; 1990; one brother; Robert Claybaugh; and one sister; Betty. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; family owned and operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon (724-929-6183). A prayer service will be held Wednesday; April 28 at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home; followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Sebastian R.C. Church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Ronald Cyktor Jr.; parochial vicar; as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. On Tuesday; members of St. Sebastian Parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Gerald F. Claybaugh Sr. at 3 p.m.; and the Charleroi Knights of Columbus will conduct services at 7:15 p.m. in the funeral home. For those unable to attend; online condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home’s web site; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.