Frank Kurdilla;85;of Monessen;died Friday;Jan.14;2000;at 5 a.m.in Beverly Home Health Services;Uniontown. He was born Feb.18;1914;in Monessen;a son of the late Stephen and Mary Macik Kurdilla. A lifelong resident of Monessen;he was Russian Orthodox by faith. He retired in the 1970s from Homestead Works;where he worked as a machinist. A veteran of World War II;he served as a staff sergeant in the U.S.Army;where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross;having served as a gunner and radio operator. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1190 of Monessen. Besides his parents;he was preceded in death by two sisters;Marion Kurdilla and Anna Belle Edwards. He is survived by his wife;Virginia Richie Kurdilla;with whom he celebrated 52 years of marriage Aug.31;1999;one daughter;Candace Kurdilla;at home;two brothers; Michael and sister-in-law;Rosanne Kurdilla of Belle Vernon;John Kurdilla of Belle Vernon;a sister;Mrs.Eva Schippacasse of Michigan;numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.in the Stephen D.Yoney Jr.Funeral Home;First and Schoonmaker;Monessen. Services will be held Monday at 10 a.m.in the funeral home with the Very Rev.John Horosky officiating. Burial will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Eva Rousseau Knuttila;87;of Patton Road;Rostraver Township;died Wednesday;Jan.5;2000;in the St.Francis Central Hospital;Pittsburgh. A daughter of the late Arthur and Clotilde Joris Rousseau;she was born Jan.8;1912;in Rostraver Township. She was a member of the Pricedale Union Church and the Retired Teacher’s Association. A lifelong resident of Rostraver Township;Mrs.Knuttila graduated from California Normal School. She was an elementary teacher for 35 years;teaching in the Lenity;Lebanon (Fellsburg);and LaGrange schools;and then retiring from the Rostraver Elementary School in 1973. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law;Jack and Janice Knuttila of Delaware;Ohio;one daughter and son-in-law;Arnita and William Hawkins of Carlisle;one brother;Gene B.Rouseau of Winchester;Va.;two sisters;Aurora Olson Sherwin of Rostraver Township and Marie McDonald of State college;four grandchildren;Jane Leonard of Kansas;Mo.;Diane Mikos of Trenton;N.J.;Jack Knuttila Jr.of Columbus;Ohio;and David Hawkins of Harrisburg and five great-grendchildren. In addition to her parents;whe was preceded in death by three brothers;Arthur;Harry and Ernest Rousseau;and three sisters;Adele Deter;Camelia Popp and Doris Marshall. Friends will be received in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME;INC.;a Golden Rule Funeral Home;700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon;on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home Saturday at 1 p.m.with the Rev.James Mimidis;pastor of the Pricedale Union Church;officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. If friends wish;in lieu of flowers;memorial donations may be made to the Pricedale Union Church or the charity of their choice.

Helen B.Koetelac;82;of 228 Dent St.;Belle Vernon (Fairhope);died Thursday;Oct.7;1999;in her home.  She was born Feb.16;1917;in Fayette City;a daughter of the late Charles and Mary (Savko) Bezego.  Mrs. Kostelac was a member of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church of Fayette City.  She was a life-long resident of the Mon Valley.  Survivors include her husband of 62 years;Frank A.Kostelac;a son and daughter-in-law;Thomas J.and Debra Kostelac of Fayette City;two daughters and sons-in-law;Rosemary and Leonard Zir of Sherborn;Mass.;and Diana Kostelac and Daniel Rosen of Mendham.N.J.;a sister;Ann Simmons of Fayette City;and five grandchildren;Heather Zir;Hilary Zir;Lindsay Zir;Elizabeth Kostelac and Sarah Kostelac.  In addition to her parents;she was preceded in death by a son;Franklin Dennis Kostelac;in 1951;a brother;Charles Bezego;and a sister;Mary Komacko.  Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.;700 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon.  Friends will gather at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m.Saturday and proceed to Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church;Fayette City;for a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m.with Father Leonard McAlpin as celebrant.  Vigil service will be held Friday at 3 p.m.in the funeral home.  Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. 

Elaine L.Kovalak;51;of 170 Sweeney Circle Drive;Belle Vernon (Rostraver Township);died Tuesday;Sept.28;1999;at her residence. She was born April 23;1948;in North Chawrleroi;a daughter of Steve and Louise Cecconi Ostonich of Donora. Mrs.Kovalak was a life-long resident of the Mon Valley. She was a member of St.Sebastian Roman Catholic Church of
Belle Vernon. She received her
bachelor’s degree from Point
Park College; and her master’s
degree in secondary education
from Duquesne University;
where she was a member of the
Alumni Club. She attended
Wickhaven College for one year.
Mrs. Kovalak was a dedicated
member and supporter of
Catholic education and was a
colleague of St. John the Baptist
Roman Catholic School in Scottdale for 29 years. Teaching language arts at the middle school
grades 5-8; Mrs. Kovalak was
also the 8th grade homeroom
teacher and mentor for new
teachers as a member of the
school induction team and organized the PTG at the school.
She was also a member of the
student support team; coordinator of Red Ribbon week activities and was designer of the
school yearbook. She was a
member of Who’s Who of American Catholic Educators; an
honor that was given to her several times; and was also a member of the National Catholic
Education Association. Elaine
Kovalak was a recipient of the
Gift of Time Award for being an
excellent and effective teacher.
Teachers are nominated for this
award by their peers; students
or parents of students. In addition to her parents; she is survived by her husband; Michael
Kovalak of Belle Vernon; to
whom she was married 28 years on Aug.7;1999. She was godmother to two nieces;Kathy and Kristy Kowalchick of Gaithersburg;Md.;and the godmother of Justin and Patrick Wells. Visitation will be held Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.at the LEONARD J.PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME;626 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon. Prayer service will be held 10 a.m.Saturday at the funeral home;followed by Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m.in St.Sebastian Roman Catholic Church;Belle Vernon;with the Rev.John R. Cindric;V.F.;pastor;officiating. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The Legion of Mary will recite the Rosary Friday at 3 p.m.in the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic School;Scottdale;Scholarship Fund;or to the Susan G.Koman Foundation for Brest Cancer in memory of Elaine Kovalak.