William S. Hopkins; 57; of Monessen; died unexpectedly Wednesday; Aug. 13; 2008. Born March 30; 1951; in Charleroi; he was the son of June Hopkins; who resides in Charleroi; and the late Walter Hopkins. He was a retired lieutenant with the Monessen Police Department. He was a member of Epiphany of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church; the Fraternal Order of Police; Mon Valley Police Association; Free and Accepted Masons and Teamsters Local 205. He is survived by his wife; Andrea Ciepley Hopkins; one daughter and son-in-law; Sheila and Joseph Panigall; of Greensburg; two grandchildren; Gianna and Landon Panigall; two brothers and sisters-in-law; Walter and Adel Hopkins and Larry and Patty Hopkins; both of Charleroi; one sister and brother-in-law; Nancy and Sheldon Shultz; of Columbus; Ohio; one uncle and aunt; Don and Joy Hopkins; of Marco Island; Fla.; a sister-in-law; Jackie Zelinsky; of Charleroi; one brother-in-law; Myron and his wife; Beatrice Ciepley; of Monessen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday in the ROBERT A. BILLICK FUNERAL HOME INC.; Grand Boulevard and Marion Avenue; Monessen; 724-684-3700. A blessing service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home followed by a 10 a.m. funeral Mass in Epiphany of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church. The Monessen Police Department; in conjunction with neighboring police departments; will meet at 7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Wilma L. Nogy; 92; of Belle Vernon; died Thursday; August 7; 2008 in Mon Valley Care Center; Carroll Township. She was born March 14; 1916 in Donora; the daughter of the late James Orie and Mary Elizabeth Strickland Matthews. Wilma was Methodist by faith. She worked at Fishers in Monessen in the 1950’s and 1960’s as a salesperson. A devoted mother; grandmother and great-grandmother; she loved to bake and cook. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by two sisters; Sylvia Kless and Lillian Dudgeon; one brother; James A. Matthews; one son-in-law; Rudy McCloskey; and one daughter-in-law; Ferna Nogy. Survivors include two daughters and one son-in-law; Cherie and Irv Perlmutter; of Stillwater; Minn.; and Joan McCloskey; of Charleroi; one son; Walter B. Buddy Nogy; of Belle Vernon; six grandchildren; Kelly McCloskey and wife Marla; Holly Kaufman and husband Jim; Scott McCloskey and wife Jennifer; Stacey Nogy; Wade Nogy and wife Carolyn; and James O. Miller; six great-grandchildren; Joel Huston; Keven McCloskey; Mitchell McCloskey; Matthew McCloskey; Sarah McCloskey and Larkin McCloskey; one brother; Melvin Matthews; of Erie; and numerous nieces and nephews. There will be no public visitation; and a memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. If friends wish; memorial donations may be made to: Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America; 1821 University Avenue West; Suite 256; St. Paul; Minn. 55082. The FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY INC.; (724-929-5300); 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; www.FergusonFuneralHomeAndCrematory.com; is in charge of the arrangements

ROBERT A. BALASKA;66;OF 518 BROAD AVENUE;BELLE VERNON;DIED SUNDAY;JULY 3;1994 AT 1:45 P.M. IN JEFFERSON HOSPITAL. HE WAS BORN JAN.13;1928; IN BELLE VERNON;A SON OF THE LATE JOHN AND MARY BRAZACK BALASKA. A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE BELLE VERNON AREA;MR BALASKA WAS A LIFE MEMBER OF THE NORTH BELLE VERNON FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE WAS FORMER OWNER AND OPERATOR OF BALASKA’S BAR IN NORTH BELLE VERNON;RETIRING IN 1990. SURVIVORS INCLUDE THREE SONS;ROBERT J.BALASKA AT HOME;KERRY L.BALASKA AND HIS WIFE DAVITA OF BELLE VERNON R.D.5;AND MARSDEN P. BALASKA OF BELLE VERNON;TWO BROTHERS;ALBERT BALASKA OF LAKELAND;FLA.;AND KENNY BALASKA OF NIANTIC;CONN.;ONE SISTER;HELEN ZOFKO OF WARREN;OHIO;AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN;KERI;MICHAEL AND KALEE. FRIENDS WILL BE RECEIVED WEDNESDAY FROM 2 TO 4 AND 7 TO 9 P.M. IN THE FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.700 BROAD AVE.;BELLE VERNON;WHERE SERVICES WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY AT 9 P.M. WITH THE REV.FR.STEPHEN C.HURNYAK OF ST.JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH;CHARLEROI;OFFICIATING. THE NORTH BELLE VERNON FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL CONDUCT SERVICES AT 7 P.M.TUESDAY IN THE FUNERAL HOME. THE FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.

Albert Silk Balaska; 84; of Lakeland; Fla.; died Sunday; Sept. 21; 2008; in Sewickley Valley Hospital. A son of the late John and Mary Brazack Balaska; he was born in Belle Vernon on Oct. 2; 1923. A former member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Charleroi; he had resided in Florida since 1980. Formerly of Belle Vernon; he had been a co-owner of Balaska’s Bar. Albert retired from Envisors Engineering of Winterhaven; Fla.; and was a World War II veteran. Survivors include his wife; Santa Altomari Balaska; one daughter and son-in-law; Deborah and Jerry Chrzaszcz; of Richmond; Va.; two sons and one daughter-in- law; Terence Ferrara; of Swansea; Mass.; and Henry and Pamela Ferrara; of Nahant; Mass.; one sister; Helen Zofko; of Warren; Ohio; and five grandchildren. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by three brothers; Robert A.; Kenneth and John Balaska. Graveside services will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery on Friday; Sept. 26; at 10 a.m. The FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY INC.; www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com; 724- 929-5300; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; is handling arrangements.