Helen Bednar; 96; of Fayette City; died Saturday; Feb. 7; 2004; in Mt. Macrina Manor. She was born Sept. 19; 1907; in Washington Township; a daughter of the late Louis and Elizabeth Fesco Klinsky. She was a member of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church; Fayette City; and a member of the Church Handmaids and Rosary Society. She was preceded in death by her husband; Andrew Bednar; and a son; Andrew R. Bednar. She is survived by her children; Larry Bednar and wife Sharon of Cortland; Ohio; Martha DeFranceso and husband Michael of Fayette City; and Dorothy Valosen and husband John of Perryopolis; one daughter-in-law; Sylvia Bednar of Cortland; Ohio; two sisters; Irene Swaintek of Perryopolis and Jeanette Roman of Warren; Ohio; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Friends will be received at the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday; Feb. 11; until 9:30 a.m. when a blessing service will take place followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Spirit R.C. Church with the Rev. Father Leonard McAlpin officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers; the family requests memorial donations be made to Mt. Macrina Manor; 520 West Main St.; Uniontown; Pa. 15401.

Walter P. Ferencz; 81; of Lynnwood; Belle Vernon; died Saturday; Feb. 7; 2004; in Hallsworth House; Monessen. A son of the late William and Mary Ferencz; he was born in Monessen on May 25; 1922. Mr. Ferencz was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Belle Vernon; Fayette City American Legion Post 484; Naomi Athletic Club and Belle Vernon and Fayette City Golden Age Assemblies. A resident of Lynnwood for the past 62 years; he retired from the Monessen plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Co.; where he worked as a rigger and retired as an inspector. Mr. Ferencz was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Marines. Survivors include his wife of 62 years; Edythe Hoyes Ferencz; three sons and daughters-in-law; Rodney and Karen Ferencz of Beaufort; N.C.; William and Jean Ferencz of Dunlevy; and Michael and Janet Ferencz of Naomi; one sister; Margaret Cecelia of Monessen; five grandchildren; Susan Hill of Charleston; S.C.; Tech Sergeant Michael Ferencz; stationed in Germany; Alice Prokopovitch of McMurry; Adam and Marla Ferencz of Naomi; and two great-grandchildren; Garrett and Anna Hill. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by two brothers; Michael and William E. Ferencz; and one sister; Anna Canora. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC. and CREMATION SERVICE; a Golden Rule Member Firm; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Tuesday; Feb. 10; at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Fayette City American Legion Post 484 will meet in the funeral home to hold services Monday at 7 p.m.

Millie Turcheck; 85; of Fayette City; died Saturday; Feb. 7; 2004; in Mercy Hospital; Pittsburgh. She was born Oct. 25; 1918; in McKees Rocks; a daughter of the late Agnes Anderson. She was a member of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church; Fayette City; the Church Handmaids and the Rosary Society. She is survived by her husband of 63 years; Joseph Turcheck; and children; Joseph Turcheck and wife Jacqueline of Reston; Va.; and David Turcheck and wife Marianne of Belle Vernon; one brother; Kalcan Anderson of Garden City; Mich.; and four grandchildren; Anya; Rebecca; Paul and Casey. Friends will be received in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday; Feb. 10; until 9:30 a.m. when a blessing service will take place followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Spirit R.C. Church with the Rev. Father Leonard McAlpin as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

John Lowber Salko Sr.; 77; of Fayette City; died Thursday; Feb. 5; 2004; in his home. He was born Aug. 31; 1926; in Fayette City; a son of the late Peter and Mary Stephens Salko. He was a member of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church and the American Slovanic Club; both in Fayette City; and a life member of the National Rifle Association. Mr. Salko was a veteran of World War II; having served with the U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by one brother and sister; Mike Salko and Mary Calcek. Surviving is his wife; Virginia Yensick Salko; one daughter and son; Susan Mardis and friend Frank Pilipovich and John Salko Jr. and wife Renee; all of Fayette City; one sister; Mary Hopper of Chico; Calif.; one brother-in-law and sister-in-law; Edward Calcek of Charleroi and Jean Salko of Newell; one son-in-law; Lloyd Mardis of Fayette City; six grandchildren; Susie Carol Mardis; Heather Mae Mardis Davis and husband Ronald; Julie Renee Smith and husband Anthony; John Eric Salko and friend Merilee Melvin; Nichole Salko and friend Timothy Lynch and Lisa Marie Salko and friend Justin Gardner; and one great-grandson; Hunter David Gardner. Friends will be received at the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday; Feb. 7 until 9:30 a.m.; when a blessing service will take place followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Spirit R.C. Church; Fayette City; with the Rev. Fr. Leonard McAlpin as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A parish wake service will be held Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home.

Keith Skip Swearer; 71; of Belle Vernon; Rostraver Township; died Tuesday; Feb. 3; 2004; at 7:15 a.m. in Cherry Tree Nursing Center; Uniontown. Born July 14; 1932; in North Belle Vernon; he was a son of the late Harry and Georgina Robson Swearer. He was a lifelong resident of the Belle Vernon area and was retired from Corning Glass in Charleroi; where he worked as a store room attendant. Mr. Swearer was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He is survived by his wife; Edna Cole Swearer; to whom he was married 41 years; three daughters and two sons-in-law; Edna Johanna and Kenneth Menia of Coal Center; Sue Ellen and Jeffrey Morris of Donora; and Lori Ann Swearer; at home; three grandchildren; George Joseph Menia; Johanna Marie Menia and Crystal Sue Morris; one great-granddaughter; Hailey Marie Wright; one nephew; David Swearer and wife Christine of East Millsboro; one great-nephew; Joshua Swearer and wife Amanda of North Belle Vernon; and one great-great-nephew; Riley Swearer. He was preceded in death by his brother; Raymond Swearer. Visitation will be held Wednesday 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 (724-929-6l83). Services will be held Thursday; Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Paul Sandusky of First Christian Church of Brownsville officiating. Interment will be 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.

Helen J. Bost; 85; of Belle Vernon; Washington Township; died Saturday; Jan. 31; 2004; in Mon Valley Hospital Inc. She was born in Jefferson Township on July 22; 1918; a daughter of the late George and Teresa Grabiak Gogones. She is survived by two daughters; Betty Yowanske of Rostraver Township and Margaret Yensick of Belle Vernon; one sister; Theresa McCrory of Perryopolis; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her first husband; Harry McCrory; her second husband; Raymond Bost; and one sister; Betty Rongaus. Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; 580 Circle Drive; Sweeney Plan/Rostraver Township; where funeral services will be held Tuesday; Feb. 3; at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Richard Klein officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery; Rostraver Township. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Rostraver Public Library; 800 Fellsburg Road; Belle Vernon; Pa. 15012; or to Westmoreland Hospice.

Maria Ann Tonarelli; 82; of Charleroi; died Friday; Jan. 30; 2004; in Mon Valley Hospital. She was born in Rome; Italy; on Dec. 21; 1921. Mrs. Tonarelli was a member of Mary; Mother of the Church; the Christian Mothers and the Golden Agers; all of Char1eroi. She had worked for the former Charland of Speers; Magura’s Clothing Factory in Monessen; and retired in 1987 after 20 years as a seamstress with Brookvale in Monessen. Survivors include her husband; Albert Q. Tonarelli; one brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law; Fred and Marie Tonarelli of Belle Vernon and Shirley Tonarelli of Dunlevy; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters in Italy; and her first husband; Raymond Fischer. Friends will be received Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC. and CREMATION SERVICE; a Golden Rule Member Firm; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon. Friends will gather in the funeral home on Monday; Feb. 2 at 9:15 a.m. and proceed to Mary; Mother of the Church for a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

John Peter Narbut; 93; died peacefully at his home in Belle Vernon the morning of Thursday; Jan. 29; 2004. He was born Oct. 29; 1910; in Greensburg; and dedicated his professional life as a master mechanic and electrician to maintenance and safety in the coal industry. He retired with Consolidation Coal Company; where he helped plan and develop mines throughout southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He was an avid gardener. He is survived by his cherished wife of 70 years; Lillian Narbut; of Belle Vernon; his daughter; Kerin Yates of Allison Park; his son; Harold Narbut of New Hope; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters; and one brother. He was interred in Belle Vernon Cemetery in a private family service. Cards of sympathy are welcomed. In lieu of flowers; contributions may be made to: Belle Vernon Public Library; 505 Speers St.; Belle Vernon; Pa. 15012. The JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; Rostraver Township; handled the funeral arrangements.

Charles J. Pabis; 86; of Fayette City; died Wednesday; Jan. 28; 2004; in Mt. Macrina Manor; Uniontown. He was born Nov. 18; 1917; in Washington Township; Fayette County; a son of the late Mike and Julia Osikowicz Pabis. He was the owner of the Palms Bar in Fayette City and very active in politics in Fayette County. Mr. Pabis was a veteran of World War II; having served with the U.S. Air Force. He was preceded in death by two brothers; Mitchell and John Pabis; and one sister; Julia S. Pabis. He is survived by one sister; Genevieve Samek and husband Stephen of Belle Vernon; one sister-in-law; Esther Pabis of Monessen; four nephews; David S. Samek and wife Janet of Belle Vernon; Robert Pabis and wife Marsha of White Oak; Richard Pabis of Belle Vernon and J.C. Pabis of the state of California; one niece; Kathleen Zandarelli of Kentucky; one great-nephew; David M. Samek of Belle Vernon; and one great-niece; Renee E. Miklos and husband Barry of Charleroi. Friends will be received at the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday; Jan. 31; until 10 a.m. when a blessing service will take place in the funeral home with the Rev. Father Leonard McAlpin officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Anthony Queenie Laratta; 90; of Monongahela died peacefully Wednesday; Jan. 28; 2004; in Mon Valley Hospital. A son of the late Joseph and Mary Desmond Laratta; he was born in Belle Vernon on Nov. 30; 1913. Catholic by faith; Mr. Laratta was a life member of Belle Vernon Fire Company No. 2 and F.O.P. Lodge 87. He was an avid bowler in the Mon Valley. Mr. Laratta retired in 1978 from the Allenport Plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. and was a policeman for the Borough of Belle Vernon for many years. Formerly of Belle Vernon; he had resided in Monongahela for over 35 years. Survivors include his wife; Marie Petrunia Fine Laratta; three daughters and two sons-in-law; Laverne Lowe of Charleroi; Cynthia and Ted Barker of Lynnwood; and Joyce and Frank Minchello of Lynbrook; N.Y.; one step son; Jack Fine of New Eagle; one sister; Victoria DeCarlo; formerly of Brownsville; seven grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his first wife; Theresa Laratta; one brother; James Laratta; and one sister; Jean Spatafore. Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. 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 Saturday; Jan. 31; at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of the Belle Vernon Fire Company will meet in the funeral home to hold services on Friday at 7 p.m.