William R. Modrak; 75; formerly of Roscoe and Belle Vernon; died Monday; Jan. 30; 2012; at 11:57 a.m. at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital; Pittsburgh. Born Sept. 14; 1936; in Rostraver Township; he was the son of the late John and Mary Motchkoski Modrak. Mr. Modrak served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a member of the Charleroi Elks. The last surviving member of his immediate family; he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law; Mary Lynn and Richard Kucik; of Irwin; two grandsons; Brenden Kucik and Luke Kucik; and a niece; Beverly and Richard Lubecki and family. Visitation will be held Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. at the PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATIONS; Family Owned and Operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; (724) 929-6183; followed by funeral services at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Stephen J. Wahal of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church officiating. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Condolences accepted at the funeral home’s website; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.

Julia R. Balchak; 13; of North Belle Vernon; died Wednesday; Jan. 11; 2012; at 2:45 a.m. at home following a long; courageous battle with cancer. Born March 5; 1998; in Pittsburgh; she was the daughter of Timothy R. and Desiree M. Williamson Balchak; of North Belle Vernon. A lifelong resident of Belle Vernon; she was a member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church. Julia was an eighth grade student at Belmar Middle School; was an honor student and participated in numerous school activities. She was an eight-year member of the Martinettes Twirling Corp.; a member of the St. Sebastian Youth Group; and her passion and hobby included collecting giraffes and; on a recent trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo; she had the opportunity to pet and feed the giraffes in their pens. Julia was loved dearly by all of her family and friends. In addition to her parents; she is survived by a brother; Timothy R. Balchak Jr.; and a sister; Deidra M. Balchak; both at home; paternal grandparents; Robert and Eva Lou Balchak; of Uniontown; maternal grandmother; Judith Williamson; of Belle Vernon; five aunts; Kathy Ryan; of Uniontown; Colleen Antonini; of Fombell; Pa.; Renee Williamson; of Belle Vernon; Jeanie Nipaver; of Shaler; and Sheri Williamson; of Monessen; two uncles; Thomas Balchak; of Sicklerville; N.J.; and Jerome Nipaver; of Shaler; her special best friend; Miranda Filak; special cousin; Robert Williamson; and three cats; Goober; Peanut and Pumpkin. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather; James R. Williamson. Visitation will be held on Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATIONS; Family Owned and Operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; (724) 929-6183. Prayer service will be held Saturday at 8:45 a.m. in the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. Msgr. Roger A. Statnick; pastor; as celebrant. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of St. Sebastian parish will pray the rosary for the departed soul of Julia Friday at 1:45 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made in memory of Julia R. Balchak to Children’s Hospital; Oncology Department. As a convenience to the family; condolences are accepted and given to the family from the funeral home’s website; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.

Inez Wilson; 91; of Pricedale; Rostraver Township; peacefully slipped into the arms of her Lord and Savior; Jesus Christ and earned her place among the Saints of God. She was born Sept. 2; 1922; in Smock; Pa. She was the oldest of seven children. She attended public school in Pricedale; where she lived her life. Inez was a longtime member of Antioch Baptist Church in Belle Vernon; where she sang in the church choir. She was a strong believer in prayer and loved music. On July 29; 1948; she married Hayward R. Wilson Sr. They had two children; Hayward Jr. and Sandra Lee. Inez was a devoted wife and mother. Gifted with an extra measure of compassion; she possessed an generous spirit. She saw to it that her family was taken care of first and provided the best she could for others in the community. Inez lived a full life and left an example for her family to continue. Two words that best describe her are light and laughter . Besides her devoted children; her memory will live on in her sisters; Beryl Woods and Shirley Woodson; her son-in-law Robert Steward; best friend Martha Chambers; daughter-in-law; Ellanore Wilson; grandchildren; Sonya; Yvonne; Shavonne; Keisha; Alexia and Jackie; great-grandchildren; Cedric; Jada; Terrell; and Robert; and a host of nieces; nephews and friends. Viewing will be on Thursday; Dec. 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Antioch Baptist Church; Belle Vernon; with service to follow at 11 a.m. Friday; Dec. 20; in the church with the Rev. Clifford Carter; pastor of Antioch Baptist Church; officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Final celebration has been gently placed into the hands of HOUSE OF JACKSON MEMORIAL CHAPEL; 546 Thompson Ave.; Donora; PA.; 724-379-5420; Karl Jackson; Funeral Director.

Richard D. Big Rich Grogan Sr;75;of Monessen;departed this world on Thursday;Jan.5;2012. He was born July 30;1936;in Charleroi;the son of the late Bertha Levy Thompson and Andrew Grogan Sr.;and stepfather;Stanley Thompson. In addition to his parents;he was preceded in death by a son;Albert Albie Grogan;daughter;Lynn Grogan Chaney;grandson;Robert Jboy Bristol;brother;Ronald Grogan;sister;Fannie Heath;and nephew;Joseph JoJo Heath. He was retired from Wheeling- Pittsburgh Steel after 30 years of service. He also worked for Agape Day Treatment Center in Monessen;sharing numerous vocational skills with the students. He coached midget league football for many years;and he was an excellent softball player. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years;Shirley Grogan;daughters;Darlene Grogan;Lorrie Grogan;Cheresse (Robert) Grogan-Bristol;with whom he lived;sons;Richard Grogan Jr.;David Grogan and Byron Grogan;Marsha Levy-Ingraham;who was like a daughter to him;sisters;Arlene Tyler;Karen (Charles) Grogan-Ford;Pat Grogan;Joan Grogan;Vonnie (Butch) Duncan and Lois Thomas;brothers;Andrew Grogan Jr.;Dale Grogan and Raymond Grogan;30 grandchildren;eight great-grandchildren;a childhood friend;William Bronson;and numerous nieces;nephews;other relative and friends. Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.Sunday;Jan.8;2012;in Mt.Calvary Baptist Church;230 Reed Ave.;Monessen. An additional viewing will be held in the church on Monday;Jan.9;from 10 to 11 a.m.;the hour of service with Minister Millie Thomas officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the BEVERLY C.DRAPER FUNERAL HOME INC.;608 Sixth St.;Monessen;(724) 684-6242.

Nellie Fritsky; 81; of Belle Vernon; Rostraver Township; died Wednesday; Jan. 4; 2012; at 8:50 p.m. at Monongahela Valley Hospital; Carroll Township. Born May 3; 1930; in Rostraver Township; she was the daughter of the late Wassil and Mary Staranka Fritsky. A resident of Rostraver Township; Mrs. Fritsky was Orthodox by faith and was a retired bank teller from National City Bank; North Belle Vernon. She is survived by a sister; Helen Fritsky; brother and sister-in-law; William and Nancy Fritsky; brother-in-law; Vincent J. Dobos; nieces and nephews; John Fritsky; Laura Korte; Vincent E. Dobos; and great-nephews; Chase Mattis; Christopher Fritsky and Jacob Fritsky. She is preceded in death by two brothers; Anthony and Alexander Fritsky; and a sister; Anna Dobos. Visitation and funeral services were private for the family with the Rev. Igor Soroka of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church officiating at the PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATIONS; Family Owned and Operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; (724) 929-6183. Interment took place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Condolences accepted at the funeral home’s website; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.

A dog;often referred to as a man’s best friend;proved this assertion Wednesday afternoon;Feb.27;1929;when searchers finding the lifeless body of James Hixenbaugh in his little home at the Belmore Plan;North Belle Vernon also discovered the dog;a common ordinary cur lying at his dead master’s feet. Faithful until the end;the animal resented the intrusion of the searching party and growled and snapped when efforts were made to reach the body. It was found necessary to kill the animal before the body could be removed from the house. Jimmy Hixenbaugh and his dog were inseperable companions and the two shared alike the comforts of the little frame home. Hixenbaugh and the dog as were their usual custom spent a great deal of time about the Dryer meat market in Belle Vernon. Jimmy doing odd jobs and aiding with the delivery while the animal found the shop a good place for a meal. They were last seen at the market Saturday evening and when Monday and Tuesday passed without any signs of the two;Mr.Dryer feared that all was not well and sent an errand boy to the little home to investigate. The boy was unable to gain admittance to the house and did not get any response to his repeated knocks on the doors and windows. He spread the alarm and a crowd of men went to the house about 2:30 yesterday afternoon and forced an entrance. In the bedroom of the house they found the lifeless body of Hixenbaugh;evidently a victim of a heart attack. The dog;seemingly with an animal instinct;realized that his master was in distress and without food or water waited at his feet. The resurers wanting to remove the body to an undertakers walked towards the form of the dead man only to be met by the snarls of the dog;who jumping on the breast of his dead master snapped and growled at the intruders. It was impossible to reach the body and a revolver was secured and the faithful animal again joined his master when a bullet was sent through his head. The dead man had been a resident of Belle Vernon for years;being the son of Charles and Malissa Hixenbaugh. He was the last surviving member of the family in the territory and his remains will be laid to rest in the Belle Vernon Cemetery Saturday afternoon;March 1;1929;following funeral services which will be held at 2:30 in the Toner funeral parlors.

Eugene W Sisley; 41;of Fairhope;Belle Vernon; PA; passed away; Monday; December 26; 2011 in the Uniontown Hospital..
He was born August 5; 1970 in Garfield Heights; OH.; a son of Kenneth Sisley of Perryopolis and Martha Muckle Sisley of Arnold City; Belle Vernon;Pa. He was a member of the Marion United Presbyterian Church; Belle Vernon; Pa. Eugene was a member of the BVA Class of 1989.
Surviving in addition to his parents are two brothers; Jason Sisley and Justin Sisley and wife Rachel both of Belle Vernon; maternal grandmother; Myrna Muckle; paternal grandmother; Roanna Baird; uncle; Harry Muckle Jr. and wife Lucy; aunt; Peggy Pomycala and husband Gary; aunt; Patty Rathway; uncle; Thomas Muckle and wife Amy; ex-wife; Mary Sisley; step-son; Ryan Talbert; step-daughter; Christina Hissom; two nieces; Arielle and Nicole Sisley;three nephews; Kenny Savko; Derrick and Jordan Sisley; great-nephew; Cameron Savko; and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by a son; Christopher Hutsenpeiler; maternal grandfather; Harry Muckle Sr.; paternal grandfather; Alvin Sisley; uncle; Thomas Rathway.
Friends will be received Wednesday; December 28; 2011 2-4 & 7-9 pm in the Eley-McCrory Funeral Home;Inc.;334 Main street; Fayette City; PA.(724)-326-5621;www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com. Funeral services will be held Thursday; December 29; 2011 at 10:00 am in the funeral home with Pastor Daniel Gates officiating. Interment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery; Belle Vernon;Pa. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association; 3300 E. Sunshine Dr; Tucson; AZ. 85718

Marie Regula; 93; formerly of Charleroi; died Wednesday; Dec. 21; 2011; at Mercy Hospital. Born in Louisville; Ky.; on June 15; 1918; she was a daughter of Julius and Bertha Geiser Burry. She was a member of Mary; Mother of the Church; Charleroi; the Catholic Daughters of America Court 664; Charleroi; the Ladies Confraternity; the church’s Repast Ladies; and the food pantry. She was a Eucharistic Minister and a judge for the election board. Surviving are three daughters and sons-in-law; Mary Beth and Steve Wilkins; of Vacaville; Calif.; Karen and Paul Janus; of Pittsburgh; and Sally and William Faunt; of Del Haven; N.J.; a sister; Ruth Chester; of Roscoe; five grandchildren; Stephanie Conway; Shannon Wilkins; Michael Janus; Michelle Williams and John D’Allasandro; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; Charles Regula; in 1997; a brother; Edgar Burry; and two sisters; Minetta Farquhar and LaVerne McCrory. Visitation will be held on Monday; Dec. 26; 2011; from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the LEONARD M. PAVLIC FUNERAL HOMES INC.; 235 Fallowfield Ave.; Charleroi. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday; Dec. 28; 2011; at 10 a.m. in Mary; Mother of the Church; Charleroi; with the Rev. Gerald Mikonis officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.