Obituaries

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...

Jun 15, 2015

Rebecca J. Engel, age 58, of Girard, passed away, Monday, June 15, 2015 at her residence following a brief illness.

She was born in Erie, on December 7, 1956, a daughter of the late Emelio and Betty Jageman Marchini.

Rebecca was an independent newspaper distributor with customer service being her top priority. She loved life, needlepoint, flowers, gardening and especially animals.

In addition...

Jun 14, 2015

Joseph Earl Evans, age 66, of Erie, passed away on Sunday June 14th, 2015 at Sarah Reed Retirement Center, after a lengthy illness.

He was born in Erie on February 17, 1949 a son of the late L.C. and Shirley Watford.

Joseph who was known to family and friends as “Butch,” attended East High School where he graduated in 1966. He enlisted...

Jun 14, 2015

Richard J. Hopwood, Sr. Richard J. Hopwood, Sr., age 80, of Erie died Sunday, June 14, 2015 at the PA Soldiers & Sailors Home. He was born June 12, 1935 in Oil City, PA the son of the late John and Eldelene Schoonover Hopwood. Richard had served with the US Army during the Korean War and in 1997 he retired...

Jun 14, 2015

Paul H. Baker, 91, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2015 following a brief illness. He was born in Hanson, MA on January 31, 1924 to the late Warren Sears Baker and Hannah Griffin Baker.

His loving wife of 65 years, Janice Crittenden Baker and three children survive him: Martha Baker of Überlingen, Germany, Douglas Baker of Torrance, CA, and Judith...

Jun 12, 2015

Richard C. Aikens age 83, of Erie, passed away on Friday, June 12, 2015 at his son’s residence in Edinboro.

He was born in Erie on February 10, 1932, a son of the late Clyde and Lois Jacobson Aikens.

Richard worked as a steel worker at Erie Concrete and Steel for over 35 years and was a member of the Local Teamster...

Jun 11, 2015

Jennie Elizabeth (Caddis) Wittmaak died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at St. Mary’s East in Erie.

Jennie was born on February 7, 1923 in Burton-on-Trent, England and immigrated to America with her parents as a babe-in-arms in October 1923. They sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to Ellis Island in NY and then traveled by train to Pittsburgh...

Jun 10, 2015

Albert (Al)  DeSantis   Albert (Al) L. DeSantis, age 91, of Erie died Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Forestview. He was born August 4, 1923 in Erie the son of the late Jerry and Clara Fatica DeSantis. Al was a graduate of Syracuse University School of Journalism and served with the Army Air Corp during WW II. In 1950 he joined...

Jun 9, 2015

Geraldine M. Hadden, age 93, of Fairview, passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at UPMC Hamot.

She was born on June 19, 1921 in Punxsutawney, PA daughter of the late Ernest and Mae Dietman Matthis.

Geraldine raised three children and was a very attentive mother and grandmother who absolutely adored her family. Everyone knew her kind and gentle nature; she never...

Jun 8, 2015

Pamela J. Earnest Miller, age 59, of Fairview, passed away on Monday, June 8, 2015, at her residence following a lengthy illness.

She was born in Erie on October 4, 1955, a daughter of the late Eugene and Virginia Fullerton Earnest.

She attended McDowell High School and went on to work as an LPN and EMT.

Pamela was a member of Lakewood United...

Jun 8, 2015

Howard H. Moomy, age 99, passed away on June 8, 2015 in Hendersonville, TN. Howard resided at Park Place Retirement Center for the past 5 years, until his passing.

He was born in Erie January 28, 1916, the son of the late Harry E. And Florence Esser Moomy.

A graduate of Academy High School in 1934, the General Electric Apprentice Program, and...