Andrew J. Vana

82, of 102 Church St., Hadley, passed away very peacefully, just relaxing on his couch at home, where he operated his family funeral home for 43 years, on Thursday, January 7, 2021.

He was born in Wilmerding, PA on November 14, 1938 to the late Andrew and Mary (Matiasic) Vana.

After graduating from Wilmerding High School (Allegheny County, PA) in 1956, Andy served his country for four years in the US Air Force food service department, then for three years in the US Army Signal Corps Audio Technical Division. He then advanced his education by enrolling in the American Academy McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science, where he graduated and eventually became a licensed funeral director on March 8, 1973.

He served his apprenticeship for Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in New York City, serving at both the Riverside and the Walter B. Cooke Chapels. He continued working for Campbell’s as a licensed funeral director and trained 24 apprentices under his supervision. In 1977, he purchased the Newton Fisher Funeral Home, and moved his family to Hadley, PA, where he continued operating the Andrew J. Vana Funeral Home until the business closed on February 1, 2020. He also worked at RD Werner Company in Greenville while managing his family funeral home.

Andy held memberships in local, state and national funeral director associations, and was a member of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church in Greenville, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. He was also a member of the Commodore Perry Lions Club, the Sandy Lake Masonic Lodge, and volunteered at the Greenville Hospital.

He loved to travel the world, and was very proud to be able to take his family to places like Europe, Russia, British Isles, Central America, and the Caribbean, just to name a few. He was also an avid Steelers fan.

Andy is survived by his wife at home, Joan I. (Wylie) Vana. They were married on February 12, 1966 (just short of 55 years). Also surviving are: son, Christopher J. Vana and his wife, Jessica; daughter, Cheri L. Vana; two granddaughters, Alexis Madison Schrader and Cassidy Wylie Vana; two step grandsons, Caden Loutzenhiser and Chasz Loutzenhiser, all of Greenville; sister, Julie Theys and her husband, Robert, of Warren, PA; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, January 11th from 10:00 am - 10:45 am in the gathering space at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, 85 North High St., Greenville, where a Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 am, with Fr. Christopher Barnes, Pastor, as Celebrant.

In accordance with COVID precautions, all in attendance are asked to wear masks, practice social distancing, and respectfully keep your visit with the family brief.

Burial, with graveside committal prayers, will follow the Mass, at Hadley Cemetery, with military honors rendered by the Greenville VFW Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions can be made to: CP Lions Club, PO Box 6, Hadley, PA 16130.
Messages of sympathy, stories, and photos can be shared at: www.osborne-williams.com .
Arrangements are under the direction of: OSBORNE-WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 73-75 Columbia Ave. Greenville, PA 16125 


Carol A. (DeRosa) Marra

73 of Monongahela, died Thursday, January 21, 2021 at home after a 18 month battle with carcinosarcoma. Born at home November 1, 1947 in Elizabeth, she is the daughter of Helen (Dziama) DeRosa of Monongahela and the late Joseph DeRosa who died August 26, 1976. A 1965 graduate of the former Mon-Valley Catholic High School. Carol began working at the Monongahela Foodland in the early 1970's where she stayed until their closing for a brief time in 1986, then in 1990 she began working again at the Finleyville Giant Eagle until her retirement in 2013. A member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish (St. Anthony Church) in Monongahela. She loved her family and always looked forward to taking them on vacation to the Outer Banks where she enjoyed walking on the beach for hours picking up seashells along the way. On February 18, 1967, she married Marshall D. Marra in Fischbach, Germany while he was stationed there serving in the U.S. Army where they were fortunate enough to  travel through Germany, France and Italy. She's also survived by a son and daughter in law Marshall and Rene Marra of Monongahela; three grandchildren Roman, Anthony and Hanna Marra; two brothers Jim and wife Mary Jo DeRosa of Monongahela (Valley Inn) and Joe and wife Linda DeRosa of Elizabeth Twp.; two sisters Mary and Marvin Davis of Monessen and Chris Gallick of New Eagle; a sister in law Joanne and husband Steve Lomago of Johnstown; along with many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her sister Josephine Staffen who died May 10, 2018 and two brother in laws Samuel J. Marra and John F. Staffen. Friends will be received at the Marshall Marra Funeral Home, 216 Chess Street, Monongahela, 724-258-6767 from Noon-4:30pm Sunday at which time a service will begin with Fr. Kevin Dominik officiating. At Carol's request in lieu of flowers to make a donation to either the Wounded Warriors @ woundedwarriorproject.org or St. Jude's Children’s Hospital, 600 Waterfront Dr #210, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. We would like to thank the great Drs. and staff at the Bethel Park Cancer Institute and AHN Hospice. Those who are unable to attend the visitation are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at marshallmarrafuneralhome.com. In order to be compliant with our state guidelines, masks must be worn and social distancing be maintained. 


Harry A. “Chick” McIlvaine

93, of Houston, died Thursday, January 28, 2021 in the Donnell House, Washington.

He was born October 17, 1927 in Canonsburg, the son of Harry A. and Edwina Mountford McIlvaine.

Chick was a 1945 graduate of Chartiers High School, received his Bachelor’s degree from Muskingham College in 1951 and obtained his Master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

He excelled in baseball and basketball in high school and college.  Following college, he continued playing baseball for the PA Transformer team and basketball for Wylie Brothers.   He was inducted into the Washington/Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 for baseball.

Mr. McIlvaine was a teacher for nearly 40 years.  He taught in Ohio for one year before taking a position with the Canonsburg School District for several years and serving as basketball coach during that time.  In 1958, he took a position in the Chartiers-Houston School District where he primarily taught in the Science department until his retirement in 1990.  During his time at Chartiers, he coached basketball from 1960 to 1974, baseball from 1967 to 1986 and for six years coached golf.

Chick was a veteran of the US Army,  having served with the occupational forces in Japan at the end of World War II.

He was a lifelong member of the First United Presbyterian Church in Houston, where he had served as an Elder and Deacon and was a Meals on Wheels volunteer.

Mr. McIlvaine was a former member of the Canonsburg-Houston Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow and belonged to the American Legion.

 Chick was an avid golfer, belonging to Lone Pine Golf Club and Washington Country Club.   He enjoyed traveling and spending winters at his condo in Jensen Beach, FL.  Most of all, he enjoyed the time spent with family and friends and loved following his sons’ and grandchildren’s activities and sporting events.

On August 22, 1953, he married Lois Ferguson who died March 24, 2020.

Surviving are two sons, Robert McIlvaine and his wife Cheri and Scott McIlvaine and his wife Jody both of Chartiers Township; four grandchildren, Craig McIlvaine of Durango, CO, Andy McIlvaine (Colby) of N. Strabane Township, Sara McIlvaine-Page (Chris) of Houston and Derek McIlvaine (Lindsey) of Bridgeville; and a step great granddaughter Jaedyn Page.

Friends will be received from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 pm Monday in the First United Presbyterian Church, 102 North Main Street, Houston, PA 15342, where services for both Chick and Lois will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, February 2, 2021.  Private interment will follow in Oak Spring Cemetery, Canonsburg.

Arrangements by the McIlvaine-Speakman Funeral Home Ltd., Robert K. McIlvaine, Owner/Supervisor, 27 Cherry Ave., Houston, PA 15342.

Masks must be worn and social distancing guidelines should be followed.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the First United Presbyterian Church, Houston.