Obituaries

Jul 2, 2015

Jul 1, 2015

Gregory Lee Bell, age 37, of Erie, died Wednesday, July 1, 2015. Born in Erie, on April 16, 1978, he was the son of George Wyant and Peggy Bizzaro. Greg was a loving father, brother, son and friend. His children were his greatest accomplishments. He loved gardening, The Pittsburgh Steelers and he loved lending a hand to anyone who needed...

Jul 1, 2015

William A. Johnston, age 69, of Girard, passed away Wednesday, July l, 2015, at Fairview Manor Nursing Home, following an extended illness.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 7, 1946, to William E. and Florence Cederlund Johnston. Bill graduated from Mentor High School Class of 1963. He managed a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant before starting a career as a...

Jun 30, 2015

Helen Burton Good Shank, age 102, of Albion, NY and formerly of Erie died peacefully on Tuesday June 30, 2015 in Medina, NY. She was born in Erie on February 6, 1913, the daughter of the late Harry and Emma Sampson Burton.

She was a graduate of Academy High School and had attended the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University.

She was...

Jun 29, 2015

Laurinda Drury Harouff, age 63, of Lake City, passed away Monday, June 29, 2015, at her home following an extended illness.

She was born May 29, 1952, in Ashtabula, Ohio, a daughter of the late Ransom and Clifford Ada Rice Drury.

Laurinda was a graduate of Northwestern High School. She had been employed at Carlisle Engineered Products in Lake City.

In addition to...

Jun 28, 2015

Rita Lewis Seifert, age 88, of Fairview and formerly Erie, passed away Sunday, June 28, 2015 at Pleasant Ridge Manor, West.

She was born in Erie, on March 21, 1927, a daughter of the late Walter and Margaret O’Brien Burger.

Rita had been an inspector at Kondu Corporation for 20 years and later worked at Spectrum Control. She was a member of...

Jun 28, 2015

Judith Ryan Fryling, age 83, formerly of Erie, passed away at her residence, Sunday, June 28, 2015 at Pleasant Ridge Manor West, Girard.

She was born in Erie on February 4, 1932, the daughter of the late Daniel and Dorothy Brooks Ryan.

Judith graduated from Villa Maria High School and attended Lake Erie College. She was a member of St. Stephens Episcopal...

Jun 27, 2015

Betty J. Wurst, 86, of Erie passed away Saturday June 27, 2015 at St. Mary’s Home West. She was the daughter of John and Margaret Hassler.

She is survived by her loving husband, Irwin Wurst, who she married in 1948 and on June 16, 2015 celebrated 67 years of marriage. Betty is also survived by son Thomas Wurst and wife Sandy...

Jun 26, 2015

Virginia E. Downie, age 96, of Erie, died on Friday, June 26, 2015 at Presque Isle Rehab and Nursing Center. She was born in Ferndale, MI on June 5, 1919 the daughter of the late Emma Belle Ager and John E. Korn.

Virginia graduated from Academy High School in Erie and was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She was very...

Jun 26, 2015

Mary Ellen McQuown Mary Ellen McQuown, age 61, of Erie passed away Friday, June 26, 2015 following a sudden illness. She was born September 25, 1953 in Erie the daughter of the late John “Terry” and Laurel (Groff)  McQuown. Mary Ellen studied Art and Jewelry design at Mercyhurst College and Edinboro University. She was an avid reader and enjoyed art...

Jun 25, 2015

Marie “Dolly” Wassel Marie “Dolly” Wassel, age 91, passed away peacefully at her daughter Janice’s home in Las Vegas on Thursday, June 25, 2015, while recovering from a stroke suffered January 16, 2015 while vacationing there. Dolly was born in Brockway, PA on May 17, 1924, the daughter of the late Angeline and Marian DeFranco. She married her husband of...

Jun 25, 2015

Lucille Grondahl Caldwell

“Grief never ends…but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay.

Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith…it is the price of love.”

Lucille Caldwell (affectionately “Mimi and Lucy”), age 98, formerly of Millcreek and St. Joseph’s Apartments, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Manchester Lodge.

A lifelong resident of Erie, born...

Jun 25, 2015

Luise Taylor, age 94 of Erie, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2015 at UPMC Hamot. She was born in Wiesbaden, Germany on May 2, 1921. Luise is survived by a son, Dr. Daniel Taylor and his wife Rhonda Kane of Erie. Also survived by three granddaughters, Crystal Hines, Tami Johnson, and Tabetha Johnson, all of Titusville, six great grandchildren, Michael...

Jun 22, 2015

Jeffrey T. Semrau, age 66, of Girard, passed away Monday, June 22, 2015, at St. Vincent Health Center.

He was born September 28, 1948, in Erie, a son of the late Ralph and Vivian Kepler Semrau. Upon graduation from Seneca High School he enlisted in the US Navy. After discharge from the Navy, he graduated from Hamot Nursing School and went...

Jun 21, 2015

Jun 20, 2015

Dorothy Heidelberg, age 62 of Erie, died Saturday, June 20, 2015 at her residence.

She was born in Laurel, Mississippi on December 5, 1952, daughter of Peter and Essie B. Porter Heidelberg.

Dorothy graduated from Technical Memorial High School. She also attended the University of Pittsburgh where she received a full scholarship, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development....

Jun 18, 2015

Earvel Lee(Ervie; Ervin; E.L.)Crenshaw, age 87, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday morning, June 18, 2015, at St Mary’s Home East.

Earvel Lee was born in Greenville AL on August 1, 1928, a son of the late Leston and Plummie( Davidson) Crenshaw.

Earvel Lee was a hardworking man who retired after many years as the owner and operator of...

Jun 17, 2015

Michael Edward Zill, age 37, of Fairview, peacefully passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at UPMC Hamot surrounded by his immediate family.

He was born in Erie, on September 1, 1977, a son of William M. and Nancy L. Zill.

Michael graduated from Fairview High School and attended the Barber Center, Girard Campus. He was a member of Holy Cross Church and...

Jun 17, 2015

Susan Jones Glover, age 61, of Erie, passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Saint Vincent Health Center after a battle with a long term illness.

She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 28, 1953 a daughter of the late Alexander Frank and Inell Hardy Jones.

Susan graduated from East High School in 1972. She was pursuing her Degree in...

Jun 15, 2015

Susan Ruth Hirt Hagen, 79, a prominent community leader and philanthropist, passed away at the Cleveland Clinic on June 15, 2015.

A fifth generation Erie resident, she was born on June 20, 1935, the daughter of Ruth Louise Peterson and Henry Orth Hirt, the co-founder in 1925 of Erie Insurance Exchange and Erie Indemnity Company, which have grown into the Erie...