Brian M. Welsch 1954-2026

Brian was born July 14, 1954, in Dublin, Ireland, the son of the late George and Dorothy Kerrigan Welsch.

He married Barbara Conway on Sept. 27, 1980. He was a loving father to Liam Welsch of Boardman and Brian Michael Welsch (Jacqueline Cocco) of Buffalo, New York, and a proud grandfather to Charles, Henry and Josephine.

Brian’s life began under extraordinary circumstances. Born Michael John Gaughan, to the late Bridget “Bridie” Gaughan Herbert, Brian spent his early years in an “Irish mother and baby home” under Bridie’s devoted care before being adopted into George and Dorothy’s loving home in 1956. The Welsch and Kerrigan clans quickly became his family, and he proudly called Youngstown home for nearly 70 years.

Brian maintained a profound connection to his Irish heritage — through family, local Irish dancing and the occasional pint of Guinness.

He would eventually establish contact with his biological family. In 2020, he traveled to Dublin to reunite with Bridie and meet his four siblings and many nieces and nephews for the first time. That reunion, and the relationships that followed, brought closure and led to a deeply meaningful chapter of his life.

Brian graduated from Ursuline High School in 1973 and attended Youngstown State University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Under the mentorship of the late John Hughes, he dedicated nearly 40 years of his professional life to serving others as a funeral director at McVean & Hughes Funeral Home on Wick Avenue, a vocation that reflected his compassion, dignity and steady presence during families’ most difficult moments.

Brian enjoyed golfing and passionately supported his Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Youngstown State University Penguins. He cherished Conway family vacations at the Jersey Shore, football weekends in South Bend and golf trips to Myrtle Beach.

In addition to his immediate family, Brian is survived by his siblings: Mary Beth Welsch McDonnell and husband, David, of Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland; Grainne (Herbert) Vesterlund of Sundsvall, Sweden; and Niamh (Herbert) Roche and husband, Fergus, Sid Herbert and wife Ciara, and Shane Herbert and wife, Helen, all of Dublin, Ireland. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters in-law, Charles and Diane Conway, James and Deborah Conway, and Robert Conway, all of Pittsburgh, Pa., along with numerous nieces, nephews and extended family across the United States and Ireland.

Brian was preceded in death by his parents, George and Dorothy; his mother, Bridie; his parents-in-law, Charles and Mary Conway; and his sister-in-law, Mary Conway Deitrich.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Dr. DeRosa and staff, especially Jill Barton, CNP, Southern Care Hospice, and the Woodlands at Austinwoods for their compassionate care and support.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30, and 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday May 1, at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Boardman-Canfield Chapel, 3701 Starr’s Centre Drive.

A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., Youngstown.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ursuline Sisters Mission, 4280 Shields Road, Canfield, OH 44406.

(special notice)