Tributes 2009-06-11

Jane L. (Gage) Ebersbacher, 79

EUCLID – Jane L. (Gage) Ebersbacher, 79, died June 10, 2009.

Beloved wife of the late Charles Frank; dear mother of Donald (Susan), Mark (Linda) and Bonnie Kitchen (Mike); grandmother of Deanna, Brad, Lynette and Katie Kitchen, Emily, Charles and Jenna Ebersbacher and Hayley and Josh Ebersbacher; great-grandmother of three.

She was a member of the Euclid Hospital Auxiliary and the Willoughby Senior Center.

Funeral services will be on Friday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Brickman Bros. Funeral Home, 37433 Euclid Ave. in Willoughby, where family will receive friends Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

Interment will be on Saturday, June 13, at 10 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Youngstown.

Contributions may be made to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 East 185 St., Cleveland, OH 44119.

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Betty J. Grigsby, 74

GIRARD – There will be services at 1 p.m. Monday at the Covenant Life Fellowship Church in Hubbard for Betty J. Grigsby, 74, who passed away Tuesday at home after a brief illness.

Betty was born Dec. 1, 1934 in Struthers, a daughter of Colonel F. and Grace S. Kennedy Steele.

She was a private caregiver and a foster mother for 25 years, caring for more than 90 children.

She was a member of the Covenant Life Fellowship Church in Hubbard.

Her husband, Kenneth Grigsby passed away July 30, 1972.

She is survived by her children, Joyce Mannion Polkabla (Michael), Judy Worley (Robert), Betty L. Grigsby, all of Girard, Kenneth Grigsby (Maureen Burtnett) of Hubbard and Holly Scoville (Michael) of Girard; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and three more great-grandchildren expected; and several nieces and nephews.

She also leaves a sister, Mabel G. Freer, formerly of East Palestine and a brother, Clair Steele of Modesto, Calif.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Ray Steele, Chester Steele and Colonel Steel Jr; son-in-law, Bernard Friend; and her faithful canine companion, Bubbles.

There will be calling hours Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home and Monday one hour prior to service time from noon to 1 p.m. at the Covenant Life Fellowship Church in Hubbard.

Burial will be at Lake Park Cemetery in Youngstown.

Family and friends are invited to visit the funeral home’s website at www.stewart-kyle.com to share memories and condolences with the family.

Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home Providing Funeral Service Since 1850

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Ann Carol Poprik, 97

STRUTHERS – Ann Carol Poprik, 97, passed away peacefully at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center on Monday, June 8, 2009, with her family by her side.

Ann was born on Dec. 26, 1911 in Youngstown, the daughter of John and Mary Kotulik Pollock.

She married John “Jack” Poprik on May 27, 1946 and they moved to Struthers in 1953. Jack preceded her in death on Oct. 25, 1985.

Ann was a cook at the Byzantine Catholic Central School for many years and later worked in the kitchen of the Little Forest Medical Center. She also baked for weddings and other events until she was in her 60s.

She was lifelong member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, its Altar and Rosary Society and its Senior Citizen Group.

Ann loved to play bingo with her sister, Betty and her sister-in-law, Edna. She also loved to go out to eat and, in earlier years, loved to dance, especially the polka.

She was also a tireless and enthusiastic worker for her church. She made thousands of pierogi with her many friends at the Byzantine Center at the Grove for many, many years. She also worked in the kitchen for bingo on Thursday and Sunday evenings for about 12 years.

Nothing compared to the great love she had for her God and her family or to her love of baking. Family members, friends and neighbors were the grateful recipients of her boxes of cookies and kolachi for holidays, weddings, graduations and many other events. Her clothespin cookies would melt in your mouth as though the angels themselves had made them.

Ann’s true passion was her family. She had only one child, John, who was the light of her life, but her love grew to new depths when her grandchildren were born. She was 67 years old when she became a “grandma” for the first time, but her age didn’t matter. She not only watched her grandchildren grow, but also helped shape them into the kind, caring and joyful adults they have become. She was blessed again with the arrival of her two great-grandsons when she was in her mid-90s. She fretted that she couldn’t help babysit “her boys” because of her age. But she sure loved to play with them. They lovingly called her “GG” for great-grandma.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, John “Jay,” Joseph, Steven, Chester and Nicholas Pollock; her sisters, Helen Banjo and Irene Ferrick; and her two half sisters, Catherine Paul and Mary Gran.

Ann leaves to cherish her memory her son, John, who lived with her in Struthers; her granddaughter, Laurie (Christopher) May of Boardman; her grandson, Jeffrey Poprik of Cleveland; and her great-grandsons, Carter and Aidan May.

Sharing also in her loss are her brother, Michael Pollock; her sister, Betty Peplow; her sisters-in-law, Edna Pollock, Barbara Pollock, Ruth Pollock and Julie Weddell of Columbus, as well as her many nieces and nephews. A daughter-in-law, Marianne Poprik and her son’s companion, Judy Hancock, will also miss her terribly.

Calling hours will be held on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Kubina-Yuhasz Funeral Home, 5925 Market St. in Boardman where a Panachida will be held at 4:30 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial following at 10 a.m. at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church with Father David Shortt as celebrant.

Burial will be at St. Nicholas Byzantine Cemetery in Campbell.

The family is grateful for the excellent care provided by Ann’s doctors and by the staff of St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center during her brief stay with them.

In lieu of flowers, they ask that memorial contributions in Ann’s memory be made to the Akron Children’s Hospital Beeghly Campus in Boardman.

Please visit kubinayuhasz@sbcglobal.net to send condolences.

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Frank Pupek, 56

YOUNGSTOWN – Frank Pupek, 56, died in the early morning hours Saturday, June 6, at his residence.

Mr. Pupek was born in Kitchner, Ontario in Canada on Feb. 27, 1953, a son of Wallace and Genevieve Kobylanski Pupek.

He moved to Youngstown as a child in 1957 and was a graduate of Boardman High School.

Besides his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his brother, Anthony Pupek.

He is survived by his sisters, Theresa (Robert) Bohac of Boardman and Josephine (George) Ross of Columbiana; his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. E. Kobylanski and their family of North Jackson; and his nieces and nephews, Lance and Amber Bohac and George, Christopher and Cassidy Ross.

Graveside services will be held at Calvary Cemetery on Friday at 3 p.m.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Kubina-Yuhasz Funeral Home.

“May God bless your soul and grant you eternal peace.”

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Margaret “Baba” Scarfo, 88

CAMPBELL – Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Wasko Funeral Home and 11:30 a.m. at St. Lucy Roman Catholic Church for Margaret “Baba” Scarfo, 88, who passed away Wednesday morning at Hampton Woods Nursing Home.

Margie was born Nov. 20, 1920 in Youngstown, the daughter of Stefan and Anna Mizikar Dulin and was a lifelong area resident.

She was a member of the church and it’s Infant Jesus of Prague Guild. Margie loved playing bingo, cards and going to the casinos.

Her husband, Anthony “Chip” Scarfo, whom she married on Oct. 31, 1938, passed away on Aug. 2, 1986.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Antoinette (Kenneth) Jones of Boardman, Carrie (David) Yannarella of Wichita, Kan. and Anthony (Cheri) Scarfo of Youngstown; a daughter-in-law, Dolores Scarfo; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, Joseph; two great-grandchildren; three brothers; Michael, John and Stephen Dulin; and two sisters, Elsie Mikolay and Irene DeNiro.

The family would like to thank the entire staff of Hampton Woods for the loving care they provided to Baba.

The Scarfo family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Wasko Funeral Home and will receive friends Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

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Yvonne Louise Slapsak, 68

FOWLER TOWNSHIP – Yvonne Louise Slapsak, 68, entered into heaven on June 9, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Yvonne was born April 11, 1941, a daughter of Paul and Mary Krempasky of Warren.

She was a graduate of Warren G. Harding High School.

She worked as an executive administrative assistant at Packard Electric, where she met her husband, Ivan “Bob”. She then became a stay at home mother and raised two sons, David and Derek.

She was an accomplished artist for 33 years and a member of the Trumbull Art Guild in Warren and the Trumbull Area Artists.

Yvonne traveled the country showing and winning awards with her oil paintings and sketches of horses, landscapes, historical sites and structures. She had won many awards and participated in prestigious art shows at the Kentucky Horse Park and the Hambletonian Stake at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Many of her paintings still enhance the walls of local restaurants and businesses.

She was also an avid golfer and was a member of the Chip-N-Putt Golf League of Warren.

As a loving wife, mother and grandmother, Yvonne cherished life and brought joy into the hearts of all of her family and friends. She devoted her life to her family and especially enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter, Marah, who was the center of her world.

During her final days, Yvonne sketched a portrait of her granddaughter and presented it to her as a very special birthday present.

She is survived by her husband, of 45 years, Ivan “Bob”; her two children, David and Derek; granddaughter, Marah; and daughter-in-law, Amy.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Ronald and Dave Krempasky.

Calling hours will be Friday, June 12, 2009, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent DePaul Church, with Celebrant Fr. Frank Zanni, preceded by a 9:30 a.m. service at the funeral home.

Burial will be at All Souls Cemetery in Mecca Township.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Vincent DePaul Church, 4453 Warren-Sharon Road, Vienna, OH 44473.

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Edward W. Vestal Jr. 79

HUBBARD – Edward W. Vestal Jr., 79, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, from complications from pneumonia at Forum Health Northside Medical Center in Youngstown.

Mr. Vestal was born July 11, 1929 in Hubbard, a son of Edward and Dorothy (McKinnley) Vestal.

He worked at Sherwin Williams for over 30 years and the U.S. Can Company for six years. Upon his retirement, he worked part-time for friends, Ray and Gary at R&G Quality Auto Parts for a several years.

He was a member of the Corner House Christian Church, a member of the Jerusalem Lodge No. 19, Order of Eastern Star No. 518, and an honorary member of the William Farr Lodge No. 672 in Girard.

Mr. Vestal also was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and had served during the Korean War. In his leisure time, he had enjoyed camping and boating with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed taking them to Amusement Parks and going fishing up until the time of his illness.

Mr. Vestal leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Ruth E. Balley, whom he married April 15, 1950, together they shared over 59 years of marriage. He also leaves behind his daughters, Donna (Bob) English of Poquoson, Va., Mary Ann (Rich J.) Nord of Hubbard and June (Dwayne) Bodzenta of Austintown; seven grandchildren, David and Mathew English of Poquoson; Christina, Adam and Ashley Nord of Hubbard and Brian and Christopher Bodzenta of Austintown; his brother, Robert Vestal of Hubbard; and his sister, Olive Walters of Warren.

He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward W. and Dorothy Vestal and his two sisters, Ruth and Doris.

Calling hours will be held Friday at the Lane Funeral Homes, Madasz Chapel in Brookfield, from 5 to 8 p.m., where a Masonic service will begin at 7:45 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Burial will be at the Corner House Christian Church Cemetery in Hubbard.

The family suggests that contributions may be made to Jerusalem Lodge No. 19 or the Masonic Lodge at the Corner House Christian Church.

Family and friends may visit www.lanefuneralhomes.com to send condolences.

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