All Obituaries

Irene J. VanGelder passed away, Sunday, March 5th, 2023 from complications from open heart surgery. She was 72 years old.  She has resided in Washington, PA for almost 20 years.   Irene loved her family and spent most of her time doting on her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  When she wasn’t with her family, she loved animals and had rescued several cats and dogs throughout her years from humane societies, the last several from Washington Area...

Richard A. McConnell, 85, of Houston PA, passed away Sunday, February 19th, 2023, in his home. He was born on July24th, 1937, in Chartiers Township, the son of the late George McConnell and Katherine (King) McConnell. Mr. McConnell was a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National Catholic Church. Prior to his retirement, he worked in shipping for McGraw Edison in Canonsburg and Washington Steel Corporation.   Married on...

John “Pooch” Polochak, 70, of Houston passed away Sunday February 5, 2023. He was born October 2, 1952 in Canonsburg the only child of the late John and Ethel Ford Polochak. According to his son, Jake, “very few enjoyed life as much as Pooch did.” John was a member of the Polish National Union, the Palanka Club and the Houston Independent Club. He was very proud to be one of the founding fathers of the Canon-McMillan Ice Hockey Program in 1992. Surviving are his...

­­Mary Jo (Ross) Castafero, age 81 of Canonsburg, PA, on Wednesday Jan. 25, 2023 has entered the Kingdom of Heaven on January 25, 2023. She was born August 5, 1941 in Brockway, PA. Mary Jo was the eldest daughter of the late Ralph F. Castafero and Frances L. (Amatrone) Castafero and cherished mother of Lance Erdos (Lynn) of Upper St. Clair, PA. Loving sister of Richard R. Castafero (Gail) of Springfield, PA; Kathy Klemanski (Ed) of Farmington, CT and Jerry Castafero (Jeanne) of...

Jack F. Clark, Sr., 67, of Bentleyville a resident of Washington for most of his life, passed away Wednesday January 11, 2023 in Pen Highlands Hospital in Monongahela, PA. He was born May 4, 1955 in Washington a son of the late Franklin and Mary Katherine Elliot Clark. He was a graduate of Trinity High School. Jack was an avid coffee drinker and enjoyed watching the news. Kopko Trucking employed him as a dump truck driver for many years. Surviving are five children Lisa Aponte (Scott)...

Alfonso A. Fortunato, 89, of Houston passed away Friday December 30, 2022. He was born July 30, 1933 in Polina, Italy a son of the late Frank and Matilda Ratenni Fortunato. Mr. Fortunato was a member of Bethlem Lutheran Church in Scenery Hill. He loved sports and was a member of the American Legion. Fort Pitt Bridge Works in Canonsburg employed him as a Fitter for 28 years until his retirement. On June 26, 1976 in Washington, he married Freda M. Kelley who resides in Houston. Surviving...

Mary “Mitzi” Rydzak, 95, of Washington passed away Monday December 26, 2022 in Townview Health and Rehabilitation Center in Canonsburg. She was born July 24, 1927 in Washington a daughter of the late John and Louise Solomon. Mrs. Rydzak was a lifelong member of St. Hilary Church in Washington and was a member of the Christian Mothers of the church. She enjoyed playing dartball and played for the Pulaski Club team for many years. On February 27, 1949 in St. Hilary Church in...

Joseph Neil Ayre, Jr., 37, of Avella passed away Wednesday December 21, 2022 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born September 27, 1985 in Washington a son of Joseph Neil, Sr. and Wendy Turner Ayre who live in Avella. Joey enjoyed collecting baseball cards, was a Steelers fan, Ultimate Fighter fan, loved his dogs Thor and Buster, loved all music and especially loved his niece and nephews. He was a graduate of Avella High School in 2004, played football, wrested...

Love of her faith, family, and heritage were most important to Eleanor Manfredi. Assunta Eleanor Manfredi of Washington passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday December 10, 2022 surrounded by loving family. She was born August 15, 1923, a daughter of the late Antonio and Carmel Tarantino D’Amico in Pittsburgh. Mrs. Manfredi was a graduate of St. Paul Cathedral High School Class of 1942. She was a member of St. Hilary Church in Washington. Mrs. Manfredi was also a member of...

A man of unwavering faith, deep intellect, and genuine compassion, Dr. Charles James Tripoli, MD, of Washington passed away in his home on Saturday, November 5, 2022, after a prolonged illness. He was 92. Charles was born on April 17, 1930, in Derry, Pennsylvania, a son of the late James and Mary Gelfo Tripoli, both of Sicily, Italy. After graduating as valedictorian from Derry High School, Charles attended St. Vincent College in Latrobe from 1948 through 1951. He graduated from the...