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Obituaries

Area deaths

AMI M. COLES, 52, of Youngstown, died Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. (Stewart-Kyle) THOMAS R. HALL, 83, of Poland, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. SERVICES: 11 a.m. Thursday, Holy Family Church, Poland. CALLING HOURS: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, and 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., with prayers at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Poland. CATHERINE N. HIRST, 92, of New Middletown, formerly of Poland, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (Fox) TWILA M. KLOOS, 102, of Salem, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at home. SERVICES: 11 a.m. Friday, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, ...

David E. Stryffeler 1931-2026

AUSTINTOWN — David E. Stryffeler, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and respected community leader, passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at the age of 94. Born on June 16, 1931, in North Jackson, Ohio, David was the son of the late Emanuel and Olive Wehr ...

Laura C. Sammartino 1949-2026

BOARDMAN — With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Laura C. Ciminero Sammartino, 76, of Boardman, who made her transition to her heavenly home on Friday evening, Feb. 20, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Laura will always be remembered as a wonderful mother, grandmother, ...

John J. Chapella 1958-2026

STRUTHERS — John J. Chapella, 67, passed away Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Parkside Health Care Center in Columbiana, Ohio. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 29, 1958, a son of the late Andy and Ann Pavlick Chapella. John graduated from Struthers High School in 1976 and attended YSU ...

Services

CHERYL A. ABEID, 65, Campbell. SERVICES: 11:30 a.m. Friday, Victory Christian Church, Coitsville. CALLING HOURS: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Wasko Funeral Home, Campbell, and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, church. JOSEPH R. CHRISTOPHER SR., 57, Austintown. CELEBRATION OF LIFE: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, St. Maron Church Antioch Hall, Youngstown. THOMAS F. CIMINELLI, 83, North Lima. SERVICES: 10 a.m. Tuesday, St. Columba Cathedral, Youngstown. RONALD G. JANDROKOVIC, 86, Canfield. SERVICES: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Lane Funeral Home, Canfield Chapel. CALLING HOURS: 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday and 10 to 10:45 ...

2-time WNBA champ Kara Braxton dies after crash

Two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton died at 43 after being in a car crash in Atlanta on Saturday. The athletic department at Georgia, where Braxton played in college, texted The Associated Press confirmation of her death on Monday and posted on social media. Her son, Jelani Thurman, posted a photo of his younger self in his mother’s jersey on social media and wrote that he we will miss his “queen.” Braxton last played in the WNBA in 2014 while finishing up a four-year stint with New York. She won two titles with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008. She celebrated her birthday ...