Tributes 2009-08-15

Donald Patrick Durkin, 53

STRUTHERS – Services will be on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Clemente Funeral Home in Struthers for Donald Patrick Durkin, 53, who passed away at his residence on Thursday.

Donald was born Aug. 3, 1956 in Youngstown, a son of Robert Sr. and Carolyn Hunt Rouns.

He served in the U.S. Marines and was a truck driver.

Donald married the former Pamela Sue Cole in 1984.

Besides his wife, he leaves one son, Donald Patrick Durkin Jr. of Struthers; one daughter, Amanda Durkin of Youngstown; one brother, Perry Rouns of Youngstown; one sister, Patricia (Dick) Thomas of Arizona; also five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Candice Durkin; and one brother, Robert Rouns Jr.

Friends may call on Sunday at the funeral home one hour before the service from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Please visit www.clementefuneralhomes.com to view this obituary and to send condolences.

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Rebecca M. Eisenhower, 84

GIRARD – Rebecca M. Eisenhower, 84, passed away Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at Forum Health Northside Medical Center.

Rebecca was born March 28, 1925 to the late Anthony and Rose Belle Smeed King in Pennsylvania.

She was a member of the Church of Christ in Mineral Ridge, and enjoyed sewing, playing cards, checkers, gardening and dancing at Kuzmans.

She is survived by her children, Edith R. (James) Lopez of Sarasota, Fla., Nancy J. (Thomas Kuhns) Cole of Girard and John A. (Frances) Eisenhower of Haggerstown, Md.; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Abner Eisenhower, whom she married Dec. 28, 1942 and who died March 7, 1996; two sisters; and seven brothers. She will be sadly missed by her dog, Heidi and cat, Fluffy.

Services will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Blackstone Funeral Home, where visitation will be on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Internment will follow at Belmont Park Cemetery.

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Sandee Skiffey Fairman, 63

NILES – Sandee Skiffey Fairman, 63, of 550 North Rhodes Ave., died at 8:22 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.

She was born Sept. 21, 1945 in Youngstown, the daughter of James and Rae Maletsky Skiffey Sr.

She was a 1963 graduate of Niles McKinley High School and attended Youngstown State University.

Sandee was an active real estate agent having been employed for her uncle, Anthony Skiffey at Eastwood Real Estate for 39 years and for her father at Jim Skiffey Real Estate for 26 years.

She was a member of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Niles, its festival volunteer, a pastoral care volunteer at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, and enjoyed spending time with her dog, Toffee.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, Walter Fairman Jr., whom she married Sept. 27, 1969; a son, Walter Fairman III of Michigan; a daughter, Sonya Fairman of Columbus; and a brother, Gary Skiffey of Mineral Ridge.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Lana Rae Skiffey.

There are no calling hours.

Private funeral services will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are being handled by the Joseph Rossi & Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Niles.

Visit www.josephrossifuneralhome.com to email condolences.

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Irene  L. Kenneally, 93 

BOARDMAN – Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at the Fox Funeral Home, for Irene L. Kenneally, 93, who passed away Thursday afternoon at Greenbriar Healthcare Center.

Irene was born Oct. 13, 1915 in Youngstown, a daughter of John and Gizella Soltis, and has been a lifelong area resident. 

She was a graduate of East High School. She was a homemaker and loved taking care of her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in McDonald.

She will be sadly missed by her husband of 72 years, James J. Kenneally, whom she married July 14, 1937. She also leaves three sons, Lawrence J. (Elizabeth) Kenneally of Brooklyn, Mich., James P. (Marlene) Kenneally of Wellington, Fla. and Terrence M. Kenneally of Hallendan, Fla.; two daughters, Karen Kenneally of Lebanon and Janice (Phillip) Courtney of Alliance; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, John Soltis and eight sisters, Helen Brundage, Mae Swisher, Margaret Humphrey, Ethel Cowen, Evelyn Griffen, Dorothy Long, Zell Cooper and Emma Graves.

The family wishes to thank the nurses and aids at Greenbriar and Hospice of the Valley, who took such good care of Irene.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Irene’s family requests any material tributes be made to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512

Family and friends may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and send condolences.

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Joseph P. Kleese, 79

VIENNA TOWNSHIP – Joseph P. Kleese, 79, passed away on Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, at Autumn Hills Care Center in Niles.

Mr. Kleese was born in Mt. Carmel, Pa., on April 29, 1930, a son of Edward A. and Mary (Lapinski) Kleese Sr.

Mr. Kleese was a 1948 graduate of Mathews High School and went on to serve his country in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1957. Following his time in active duty, he continued to serve with the reserves until 1961.

Joe served as the president of Kleese Excavating which he founded with his brother until his retirement in 2000. Following retirement, he remained an active partner with the Kleese Development Company which owns and operates gas and oil wells throughout Ohio and had developed many local residential and commercial real estate projects.

He was a member of the Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 66 for more than 55 years, the Niles Moose Lodge since 1965, and the National Rifle Association.

Mr. Kleese is survived by his three nephews, Edward J. Kleese and his wife, Diane M. of Niles, Robert S. Kleese of Howland and James M. Kleese of Vienna; two great-nephews; and eight great-nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Edward A. Kleese; and his sister-in-law, Flora M. (Cafaro) Kleese.

Calling hours will be held Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at the Lane Funeral Homes, Madasz Chapel in Brookfield from 5 to 8 p.m., where a Rosary service will begin at 7 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Vienna.

Burial will be at Crown Hill Burial Park with full military honors provided by American Legion Post No. 540 of Cortland.

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

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Kenneth Martin, 60

YOUNGSTOWN – Services will be Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. at the L.E. Black, Phillips and Holden Funeral Home for Mr. Kenneth Martin, 60, who departed this life Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, at his home.

Mr. Martin was born March 18, 1949 in Youngstown, a son of Lum and Lottie M. Thornton Martin.

He was a 1969 graduate of North High School. He had been employed with U.S. Can for 20 years. He was a former member of the Gethsemane Baptist Church. He enjoyed music, dancing, cars, and being with family and friends.

He leaves to cherish his memory, two children, Charlene Penson of Buffalo, N.Y. and Andre (Danielle) Martin of New Castle, Pa.; four sisters, Joyce Collins and Linda (Jerome) Miller, both of Youngstown, Rita Martin of Columbus and Jeanette Gooden of North Carolina; a brother, Alfred (Deborah) Martin of Galveston, Texas; five grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James W.; and a nephew, Jerome Miller Jr.

Friends may call Monday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

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Patricia “Pat” Mae Blangero Menold, 82

BOARDMAN – Patricia “Pat” Mae Blangero Menold, 82, passed away early Friday morning at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center, surrounded by her loving family.

Pat was born Sept. 7, 1926 in Youngstown, a daughter of Louis and Virginia Carbon Bovenzi.

She lived in Struthers until moving to New Middletown in 2003 and to Beeghley Oaks in 2006.

A 1945 graduate of Struthers High School, Pat worked at Fisher Fazios Bakery for seven years, and she was a nurses aide for Maplecrest Nursing Home in Struthers for seven years, retiring in 1985.

She was a former member of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Struthers and in 2006, became a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New Middletown. Pat was a member of St. Nicholas Senior Citizens, St. Paul’s Holy Name Society and Infant Jesus of Prague. She was also a piroghi pincher for St. Paul’s.

Pat enjoyed traveling the world with her husband, Mickey. She loved the staff and residents of Beeghley Oaks and was honored to be crowned Queen on Valentines Day.

Pat cherished her family and loved the annual Bovenzi family reunions at Christmas and in the summers at Firestone Park.

Her first husband, Thomas Blangero, whom she married Feb. 15, 1947, died Nov. 4, 1982. Her second husband, Cecil “Mickey” Menold, whom she married Sept. 27, 1991, died April 30, 2006.

Pat leaves three sons, Richard (Cheryl) Blangero of New Middletown, Thomas (Gayle) Blangero of Poland and Harry (Michelle) Blangero of Boardman; one daughter, Elaine (Vince) Carchedi of New Middletown; three stepdaughters, Marisa (Don) Bryson of Durham, N.C., Marcella (Jon) Lang of Belleview, Wash. and Marla Siemers of Tacoma, Wash.; three sisters, Florina “Flo” Gough of Mercer, Pa. and Marie D’Altorio of Struthers; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; lifetime friends, Kay and the late John Phillips of Struthers; and dear friend, Marge.

Besides her parents and husbands, Pat was preceded in death by her sister, Letizia “Tish” Jackson.

A funeral Mass will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church with the Rev. Richard Whetstone officiating.

Interment will follow at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Lowellville.

Friends will be received Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Poland Chapel, and Monday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the church.

Visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.

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Frances M. Myers, 91

BOARDMAN – Frances M. Myers, 91, passed away Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, at Shepherd of the Valley.

She was born Feb. 3, 1918 in Youngstown, the daughter of the late Frances Maturo Wolfe and Carl Wolfe.

She was the wife of the late James Myers, whom she married in 1937.

Family includes a son, James Myers Jr. of Youngstown; daughter, Judith (Eli) Sasaran of Youngstown; brother, Raymond Wolfe of Struthers; four grandchildren, Brian Martin, Keith Martin, Patricia Myers and James Myers III; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Michael Healey; and sister, Eleanor Evans.

She was 1936 graduate of East High School, an avid gardener and loved birds, and was a member of Holy Family Senior Citizens.

Calling hours will be at the Fabrizio Funeral Home, 619 Indianola Ave. in Youngstown on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 10 to 11 a.m.

Her services will be at the Fabrizio Funeral Home at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

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Arlene S. Palisin, 90

COLUMBIANA – There will be services at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Anstrom-Velker Funeral Home, 75 E. Midlothian Blvd., for Arlene S. Palisin, 90, of St. Mary’s Alzheimer Home, formerly of Forest Lake Drive in Boardman, who died Thursday morning of pneumonia.

Mrs. Palisin was born Nov. 20, 1918 in Youngstown, a daughter of Jacob and Blanche M. Lehman Stouffer and lived in this area all her life.

She was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she served as a Deacon and enjoyed working on the yearly book sale.

She was a 1936 graduate of South High School.

Arlene worked for many years as a Financial Director of Camp Fire of Mahoning County. In later years, she wrote a recipe column for a Boardman paper called “The Carefree Cook.”

She was a member of Fortnightly III, the Federated Club and had served as its president and also a member of the Monday Book Review Club.

She was an avid golfer and long time member of the Salem Golf Club and had served as president of its Women’s Association.

Her husband of 59 years, Thomas Palisin, whom she married July 18, 1941, died Nov. 3, 2000.

She is survived by her son, Tim (Nancy) Palisin of Pawleys Island, S.C.; her daughter, Joan DeVito of Boardman; four grandchildren, Jennie Brewer of Poland, Allison (Adam) DeVito Madgar of Cortland, Tyler (Michelle) Palisin and Dr. Tenley (Dr. Brett) Murphy, all of South Carolina; and two great-grandchildren, Paige and Ronnie Brewer of Poland.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Goldie Burkholder; and her three brothers, Earl, Leonard and Howard Stouffer.

Friends may call from 10 to 11:30 a.m. prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home.

Material tributes may be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 119 Stadium Drive. Youngstown, OH 44512.

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