Janine Renee Claypool, 40, of Arnold, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 30, 2023, at home. She was born March 1, 1982, in Kittanning, to Dennis Lee Claypool of Adrian and Lori Suzanne Bowser Makua of Arnold.  She grew up in Ford City. Janine was a caretaker for the elderly.  Her laughter was contagious and she always kept everyone laughing. Besides her mother and father, she is survived by a sister Sasha Tyson; a half-brother, Denny Claypool, two half-sisters, Lisa and...

Norma Jean Drupieski, 89, of Apollo, passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2023.  She was born June 10, 1933 to the late Elide and Emma (Tessadri) Fiaccadori, and graduated from East Deer High School. Norma was employed as a buyer at Citizens General Hospital and Allegheny Valley Hospital. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Ronald Drupieski, son Randall Drupieski, brothers Larry and Nathan Dorie, and sister Ruth Bashour. She is survived by her daughter...

Michael Bertetto, 57, of Myrtle Beach, SC and formerly of New Kensington, passed away on January 27, 2023. He was born in Natrona Heights on November 27, 1965 to the late Domenick & Charlotte Lee Bertetto. Michael owned and operated his own contracting business in South Carolina.  He was an avid Steeler fan. Surviving are his children, Tyler Spondike, Jay & Adam Bertetto; siblings, David (Robin) Bertetto, Steve (Angela) Bertetto, Dom (Barb) Bertetto, Bart (Thearesa) Bertetto,...

Austin Richard Owens, 21, of New Kensington, sadly left us on January 27, 2023 from an unexpected heart attack.  He was born April 6, 2001 in Pittsburgh to Kenneth and Rebecca Long Owens of New Kensington. He was a 2021 graduate of Valley High School and enjoyed gaming and listening to music.  Besides his parents, he is survived by his siblings, Ashley Wolf, Bradley Wolf and Nicholas Owens, nephew Roman Hughes, niece Xyla Lockett, and girlfriend, Lexi Cline. Viewing will be on...

Thomas F. Kachurik, 69, of New Kensington, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Born December 31, 1953, in New Kensington, to the late John and Frances Kriegel Kachurik, he was a 1971 graduate of Valley High School. He attended Penn State and Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned a bachelor's degree. Mr. Kachurik was a data specialist in the banking industry, and was employed by PNC and Mellon Bank during his career. Survivors include his brother Philip Kachurik of...

Robert G. Plusquellic, 92, of Upper Burrell Township, passed away on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. He was born in Pittsburgh on February 10, 1930 to the late Frank & Bess Steele Plusquellic, and graduated from Westinghouse High School. Mr. Plusquellic was an army veteran, serving in Germany as a mechanic in the late 1950s.  He was a self-employed home builder and excavator.   Surviving are his wife of 72 years, Dorothy Jean Ferri Plusquellic; sons Wayne and Steve...

Chief Justin McIntire, of the Brackenridge Borough police department, 46, was killed in the line of duty Monday, January 2, 2023, in Brackenridge. He was born December 27, 1976, in Harrison Township to Emma “Lori” Lorraine Clark McIntire and John L. “Lee” McIntire of Brackenridge and was a lifelong resident of the Brackenridge area. A police officer for the past 22 years, he was appointed chief in 2019. Chief McIntire was a dedicated police officer. He was a 1994...

Ray Beyer Johnston, 74, of Loganville, GA, and formerly of Lower Burrell, passed away on Dec. 26, 2022, at his home.  He was born on July 1, 1948 in New Kensington, to the late George and Thelma Bartoe Johnston, and graduated from Burrell High School in 1966.  He served in the United States Navy from 1968-1976, receiving the Presidential Service Certificate for honorable service in the White House Communications Agency.  After his military service, Ray had a 40 year career in...

The Reverend LaVerne Godson Embry, 73, of New Kensington, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 23, 2022. LaVerne was born September 11, 1949, in New Kensington to the late Arthur B. and Hattie Louise Gregory Godson II.  She was also preceded by her husband Lonnie Embry in 2003.  She served as Assistant Pastor of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of New Kensington for the past five years, and previous to that was Associate Pastor of Canaan First Baptist Church of New...

Patricia Jean Edinger, 73, of Delmont, passed away on December 21, 2022. She was born September 29, 1949 in New Kensington to the late Edward L. & Mary F. Simms Butcher, and was a 1967 graduate of Penn Hills High School. Patricia was vice-president of 3B Products, a rustproofing company located in New Kensington for many years. She enjoyed reading, gardening, creating stained glass, needlepoint, embroidery, and her cats. Surviving are her children, Kristin M. (Brian) Cheshire of...