Anne Vecchio
AARP board member

Anne A. (Nucera) Vecchio, 85, of O'Hara Township passed away on Oct. 14 at UPMC St. Margaret Hospital.

She was the beloved wife of Frank A. Vecchio, loving mother of Kris (Dan) Charny, Roseann Vecchio (James Moore) and Tony (Patricia) Vecchio; sister of Josephine Pantone, Dominec, and the late Joseph, Leo, Mary and Antoinette; she is also survived by five grandchildren.

Mrs. Nucera was a board member of the O'Hara AARP 2751 and a member of the Parkview Ladies Auxiliary.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the CJD Foundation, PO Box 5312, Akron, OH 44334.

Janet Burke
Former Herald editor

Janet M. Burke, 74, of Fox Chapel, died Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Oakland.

She was born in Pitcairn on Feb. 17, 1935 and was the daughter of the late Wilbur J. and Ruth Jakad Ingoldsby.

Mrs. Burke was a graduate of Mount Mercy Academy, 1952, and Carlow College, 1956.

While raising five boys, she was able to write part time for the Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Sharpsburg Herald, where she served as an editor.

She also used her writing skills to teach at Manchester Craftsman's Guild and the Pennsylvania State University, New Kensington Campus.

An avid gardener, she volunteered at Beechwood Farms. She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Hampton Township.

She was the beloved wife of 53 years to Eugene Burke; mother of Chris (Judy) Burke, Patrick Burke, Kevin (Rachel) Burke, James (Debrah) Burke and Eugene Burke; grandmother of Sean, Cory, Brendan, Katie, Danny, Malcolm. Rebekah, Benjamin and Mariah.

Friends were received at the Weddell-Ajak Funeral Home, Aspinwall. A Funeral Mass was held at St. Mary of the Assumption Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: St. Labre Indian School P.O. Box 216, Ashland, MT 59004.

Ann Braham
Fox Chapel resident

Ann H. Braham, 73, of Fox Chapel died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 at her home.

She was born in Pittsburgh on May 26, 1936 and was the daughter of the late J. Barr IV and Isobel Sheppard Haines.

Mrs. Braham was a member of the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church and the Fox Chapel Golf Club.

She was the beloved wife of 45 years to W. Walter Braham Jr.; loving mother of Robert Braham and Nancy Braham Buchanan; stepmother of William Walter Braham III and Susan Wright Braham; cherished grandmother of Matthew, Lily, Hugh, Julia, Caroline, Ellie, and Katie; sister of James Haines V and the late Bruce McKinnon Haines.

Private family visitation was held. A memorial service was held at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church with her pastor, the Rev. Chris Taylor, officiating.

Interment was in Edgewood Cedar Cemetery, Cedarville, Mich.

Arrangements were by the Weddell-Ajak Funeral Home, Aspinwall.

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to: Les Cheneaux Community Foundation, P.O. Box 249, Cedarville, MI 49719 or National Cathedral School, 3609 Woodley Road N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016.

Arthur Malbards
Mechanic

Arthur Malbards, 97, of Aspinwall, formerly of Fox Chapel, died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 at his residence.

He was born in Krustpils, Latvia and was the son of the late Peter and Ide Lazdins Malbards.

Mr. Malbards was a mechanic and owned his own auto repair shop in Aspinwall.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Nicholas, Walter, John and Robert, and his sister, Olga Rosenberg.

He is survived by his wife, Zelma Dorion.

A private family visitation and service was held at the Weddell-Ajak Funeral Home, Aspinwall.

Earl O'Neil
World War II veteran

Earl C. "Hooks" O'Neil, 89, of Shaler Township died peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 at St. Clair Hospital, Mt. Lebanon.

He was born in Pittsburgh on March 28, 1920 and was the son of the late Dennis and Mary Alice Bittner O'Neil.

Mr. O'Neil was a retired steelworker. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army.

Mr. O'Neil was a champion marble shooter.

He enjoyed sports and especially the University of Pittsburgh football team. He was of Methodist faith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Jack and Bill O'Neil; and a sister, Pearl Schoffield.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Dorothy Kaczmarek, stepchildren, Shari (Larry) Olko, and Kevin (Diane) Kaczmarek; his step-grandchildren Lauren and Jeffrey Olko and nieces and nephews.

Friends were received at the Weddell-Ajak Funeral Home, Aspinwall.

Services were conducted by the Rev. Mary Jane Fullerton.

Interment was in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.

Edward Cisek
Standout athlete

Edward F. Cisek, 64, of Rural Ridge, Indiana Township, died Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, in UPMC St. Margaret.

He was born May 3, 1945, in New Kensington, and was the son of the late Frank and Helen (Whitico) Cisek.

Mr. Cisek graduated from the former East Deer-Frazer High School Class of 1963, where he played basketball and was captain of the football team. He also played American Legion baseball.

In 1968, Mr. Cisek played softball with Jim's Sports Shop, Swissvale area, and the team won the world softball tournament in Wisconsin. Ed played softball since the age of 15.

He attended Clarion University from 1963 to 1967, and remained active with the alumni association and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Phi National Fraternity Alumni. He played football at Clarion and in 1966 won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

For 33 years, Mr. Cisek worked at Westinghouse Corp. Energy Center as an engineering aide and remained working as a consultant with Westinghouse the past five years.

He continued to play professional softball with the Pittsburgh Hard Hats; was past officer and head trustee of the Slovak Club, Creighton; member of the Krivan Club, Springdale, and Owls Club, Russellton; and a member of the former Creighton Hose Fire Department.

Mr. Cisek was a member of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Creighton.

His favorite pastime was restoring antique and classic automobiles. Ed especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Barbara (Demelco) Cisek; sons, David E. (Robin) Cisek, of Rural Ridge, Indiana Township, and Michael R. (Amy) Cisek, of Allison Park, Hampton Township; grandchildren, Lillian Francis Cisek and Brad, Bailey and Bethany Cisek; and a sister, Barbara Jean Cisek, of Springdale.

Friends were received at the Paul R. Ajak Funeral Home Inc., 921 Freeport Road, Creighton. A Christian Funeral Mass was held in Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Creighton, with his pastor, the Rev. Miroslaw Stelmaszczyk, as celebrant.

Interment followed in Deer Creek Cemetery, Harmar Township.