All Obituaries

SKOVENSKY - Michael E. “Skyns”, 59; Johnstown, passed away after long battle with cancer on September 24, 2021.  Born March 14, 1962 in Johnstown, son of Edward and Agatha (Pollino) Skovensky.  Preceded in death by parents; brothers, John and Robert Skovensky; and brother-in-law, Stephen J. Forgas.  He was a beloved husband, father, brother and uncle.  Survived by wife, of 21 years, Allison (Forgas) Skovensky and daughters, Hannah (Kaiden), Olivia and Brianna; and...

FURMAN – Josephine M.,  96, of Johnstown, passed away September 23, 2021, at home surrounded by her loving children.  Born August 21, 1925, in Johnstown to John and Mary (Korchnak) Varmecky.  Preceded in death by parents; husband Henry J. Furman; brothers, Frank, John, William and Edward Varmecky; and sisters, Margaret Gorbar and Mary Kolson.  Survived by children: Carol Benford, Martin Furman, June (Frank) Janakovic, Jane (Tim) Henderson, and Antoinette (Dave)...

SAMO – Ann C., 95, of Johnstown died September 20, 2021, at home with her daughter Phyllis by her side. Born September 12, 1926, in Johnstown the daughter of Mikolaj and Karolina Szewczyk.  Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph Samo; brothers, John Bladek and Edward Szewczyk; and sisters, Valerie Mirro, Mary Uhler, and Helen Podratsky. Ann was the last surviving member of her family.   Survived by her children: Joanne, married to Ted Manges; Joseph; Phyllis,...

GRITZER – Kevin Gerard, 45, passed away September 15, 2021 in Somerset County. Born September 8, 1976. Son of John M. and Doris (Friedman) Gritzer. Preceded in death by his infant brother, Gregory, paternal grandparents, Michael and Helen Gritzer, and maternal grandparents, Michael and Margaret Friedman. Survived by mother Doris, father John and twin brother Darren (Cheri) of Wexford, PA. Also survived by his aunts and uncle Patricia Marshall, Pat Gritzer and Robert (Evelyn) Gritzer....

HIRSCH – Patricia A., 84, of Johnstown died September 19, 2021, at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. Born  April 23, 1937, in Johnstown daughter of Frank and Mary (Kris) Hirsch. Preceded in death by her parents; daughter Christine Haman, and sister Dolly Saalfeld. Survived by her daughter Concetta Strozak; 3 grandchildren; and brother, Francis “Hank” Hirsch. At Patricia’s request private services are in the care of the Francis G. Ozog Funeral Home, Inc., 710...

LECH – Helen Jean “Babe”, 89, died September 11, 2021 surrounded by her loving family. Born April 23, 1932, in Johnstown, daughter of Salvatore and Josephine (Salvino) Leppert. Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Casimir A. Lech; son, Michael Lech, brother, Anthony Leppert and his wife Lena.  Survived by son: Thomas, married to Cindy (Williams) Lech, daughter-in-law, Lisa (Hoover) Lech all of Johnstown; grandchildren: Lauren (Eric) Cowan, Samuel (Amanda),...

POPLINSKY-HRBAL - Josephine (Safko), 97; of Johnstown, passed away on September 10, 2021 at home.  Born June 2, 1924 in Johnstown, daughter of John and Severina (Virostek) Safko.  Preceded in death by parents; husbands, Francis Hrbal and Stephen Poplinsky; son, Francis Hrbal; sisters, Cecilia Safko, Helen Safko and Anna Skasko; and brothers, Frank and John Safko.  Survived by loving daughter, Patricia Sladki of Johnstown; grandchildren, Breann Sladki and fiancée Brian...

FLEMING - Melvin E., 80; Upper Yoder Twp., passed away on September 4, 2021 at home.  Born April 5, 1941 in Windber, PA; son of James A. Sr. and Mable I. (Reighard) Fleming.  Preceded in death by parents; and brothers, Clifford, James Jr. and Harry Fleming.  Survived by children, Scott W. and wife Terry L. (Mauer) of Conemaugh Twp.; Eric and wife Amy (Moore) of Bentleyville, PA; and Kimberly and husband Thomas Hughes of Johnstown.  Also survived by 12 grandchildren and 2...

MIHALIC (GABODA) – Kathleen (Kalina), of Johnstown, passed away peacefully in her sleep at 101 years old on September 2, 2021, at St. Elizabeth’s Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Baltimore MD.  Born March 14, 1920, in Vel’ky Loucky, Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine) to John Sr. and Kalina (Balog) Gaboda. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Louis Joseph; children, Louis Nicholas (J.C.) and Victor; siblings Irene, George, Maryann, Steve,...

CERNETICH – John Alan “Al,” 74, Johnstown, died Sept. 3 at Windber Hospice after a recent cancer diagnosis, with his loving wife of 52 years by his side. John was born on Dec. 22, 1946, the oldest son of John and Odessa (Bruce) Cernetich. He was a role model to not just his eight younger siblings, but for many others who grew up “on the hill” in Woodvale Heights.  A 1964 graduate of East Conemaugh High School, he enrolled at the University of...