OBITUARIES

Apr 26, 2023

Jacob G. Spahn Jr., 89, of Altoona, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at UPMC Altoona. Born on June 2, 1933, Roaring Spring, son of the late Edith (Bell) and Jacob Spahn Sr. He married Arlene Frederick on January 3, 1959 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Altoona. Surviving are his two children, Randy (Dena) Spahn; and Lori...

Apr 13, 2023

Richard Paul Howard Jr., 46, Altoona, passed away Thursday, April 13, 2023 after an extended illness at his home. Born April 14, 1976, Altoona, son of the late Richard P. and Charlotte L. (Duck) Howard Sr. Survived by his son, Bryson Eldridge; sister, Vicki Hall; special friend, Cheryl Nale; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and other...

Apr 7, 2023

Mrs. Minnie (Faris) “Tita” Yahner, 97, of Purcellville, Va., formerly of Altoona, died Friday at her residence after an extended illness. She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late George and Mary (Batrus) Faris. She married Richard J. “Dick” Yahner on June 30, 1956, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona. He preceded her in death on...

Apr 4, 2023

Edmund Alphonsus “Ed” McConnell, 96, of Altoona, died Tuesday at UPMC Altoona after an extended illness. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Walter and Gladys (Sprow) McConnell.

He married Elizabeth Rose Johnson on July 23, 1949, at The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Ed retired in 1987 as a mechanic at Philips...

Apr 4, 2023

John Conti, 95 of Altoona died unexpectedly Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg.

He was born January 1, 1928 in Pico, Italy a son of the late Teresa (Castrechiini) Conti.

He retired in 1994 as a maintenance man at Garvey Manor, Hollidaysburg, after many years of service. He also worked as a...

Feb 13, 2023

George G. Moyer, 87, Altoona, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Monday, February 13, 2023 at his daughter’s home. Born July 10, 1935, Altoona, son of the late Raymond T. and Mable (McCaulley) Moyer. Preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy L. (Zeak), whom he married November 20, 1957 in Altoona; and his...

Jan 30, 2023

Shirley Jean Keirn, 85, of Altoona, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, January 30, 2023 her home, after an extended illness.

She was born in Altoona, April 18, 1937, daughter of the late Claire and Ruth (Benton) Trexler. She married Joseph E. Keirn July 20, 1956 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Altoona with...

Jan 23, 2023

Mr. Jesse A. Moyer, 54, of Altoona, Pa, died at 12:25 AM, Monday January 23, 2023 at Epworth Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, after brief illness. Went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mr. Moyer was born in Altoona, Pa. on October 17, 1968, son of the George G. Moyer and late Dorothy L. (Zeak)...

Dec 30, 2022

Peter Michael Rossi, 74, Altoona, passed away unexpectedly on December 30, 2022 at his home. Born May 1, 1948, DuBois, son of the late Anthony L. and Maybelle M. (Mater) Rossi. Survived by his wife, Barbara J. (Rafacz), whom he married on May 25, 1974 in Huntingdon; son, Jacob J. Rossi, at home; and brother Anthony L. Rossi, DuBois....

Dec 25, 2022

Thomas C “Pepe” DePue, 79, DuBois, formerly of Altoona, went home to be with the Lord and his sweet bride Therese on Christmas Day at Christ the King Manor, Dubois. He was born August 26, 1943 in Easton, PA son of the late Richard Masters and Ruth (Pensyl) DePue. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Richard S. DePue....

Dec 18, 2022

Edward G. Baker Sr., 84, Altoona, passed away Sunday, December 18, 2022 at Guardian Healthcare Altoona. Born April 13, 1938, Altoona, son of the late Francis P. and Loretta A. (Blake) Baker. Preceded in death by his son, Edward Paul Lauver; and brothers, John and Frank Baker. Survived by his wife, Catherine L. (Soult); sons, Edward Baker Jr. and...

Dec 14, 2022

Rafacz, Francis “Frank” J., 67, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, passed away on December 14, 2022. Born on July 18, 1955, in Spangler, he was the son of the late Frank and Rita (Brown) Rafacz. Preceded in death by sister-in-law, Jennifer Quick; and brothers-in-law, John Rife and Peter Rossi. Survived by siblings, Barbara Rossi; Sharon Sanders and husband, Walter; John...

Nov 14, 2022

Agnes Patricia Vasas, 68, resident of Graystone Manor, Altoona, passed away Monday, November 14, 2022. Born May 19, 1954, daughter of the late Warren H. and Orpha A. (Sanders) Noel, Sr. Preceded in death by her siblings, Cathy Rossbach, William Noel, Warren Noel Jr. and Maureen Noel. Survived by her children, Eric Vasas and wife Catherine, Roaring Spring; Kendra...

Nov 7, 2022

Tyler S. Hammel, 31, of Bellwood, passed away Monday at Shadyside Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, after an extended illness. He was born in Altoona, the son of Robert Hammel and Christine A. DeArmitt.

He worked as a self-employed auto mechanic.

Tyler was a Christian.

He was a 2010 graduate of Altoona Area High School...

Oct 28, 2022

Daniel J. Helsel, Jr., 59, Altoona, passed away October 28, 2022 at UPMC Altoona. Born March 15, 1963, Johnstown, son of Daniel J. and Alberta R. (Ainsworth) Helsel, Sr. Preceded in death by his parents and 12 siblings. Survived by his loving wife, the former Sarah L. Flynn, whom he married on July 2, 2004 in Hanover Borough, PA....

Oct 12, 2022

Barry Alan Behe, 62, of Altoona, died at 10:38 PM, Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at UPMC – Altoona after a brief illness.

He was born in Altoona, Pa on November 25, 1959, son of the late John Joseph (Jack) and Dolores Louise (Pete) (Gority) Behe.

He retired in April 2022 as a Customer Service Representative...

Sep 10, 2022

Colleen A. Douglass, 82, of Altoona, passed away Saturday at her home. She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late John and Pearl (Marlett) Riggleman.

Surviving are her daughter, Kathleen Douglass, and her fiancé, Mike DeFrancesco, of Altoona; a grandson, Troy DeFrancesco, whom she adored; a brother-in-law, Richard “Dick” Douglass and his wife, Mary Catherine, of...

May 28, 2022

Virginia Elizabeth “Ginny” Pecze, 73, of Altoona, Pa., died at 10:37 AM, Saturday, May 28, 2022 at her residence, after an extended illness.

Ginny Pecze was born in Johnstown, Pa on February 17, 1949, daughter of the late Stephen Louis and Dorothy E. (Jones) Pecze.

She retired in 2011 as Waitress & Housekeeper at Tom...

May 20, 2022

James Thomas “Jimmy” Batrus, 83, of Herndon, Va., formerly of Altoona, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 20, 2022, at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Va., after a brief illness. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Thomas Abraham and Anna (Joseph) Batrus.

On June 12, 1960, he married Frieda Christodoulos at St. George...

May 7, 2022

Miss Hope L. Koch, 49 of Altoona, Pa died at 6:27 PM, Saturday, May 7, 2022 at UPMC – Altoona.

Hope was born in Altoona, Pa on January 24,1973, January 24, 1973, daughter of the late Clarence D. and Donna L. (Koch) Morris.

Hope worked as a telemarketer at Home Solutions for 1...