JOY A. AHO, 73, Vienna. SERVICES: Noon Wednesday, Blackstone Funeral Home, Girard. CALLING HOURS: 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, funeral home. JUNE M. BELL, 89, Youngstown. SERVICES: 11 a.m. Thursday, Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Poland. CALLING HOURS: 9 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday, funeral home. ...

WEST CHESTER — Melvin Dean “Mel” Hockensmith Jr., 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. Born March 2, 1943, in Niles, Mel was the son of Melvin Sr. and Elizabeth Hockensmith of Niles. He grew up in northeastern Ohio and began his lifelong ...

YOUNGSTOWN — June Marie Bell, 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at Omni Manor Nursing Home in Youngstown, surrounded by her loving family. June was born April 20, 1936, in Youngstown, a daughter of the late Myron T. and Ruth L. Brick Gillam. She was a lifelong resident of ...

CANFIELD — Suzanne “Susy” L. Brown, 78, passed peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, after a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia. She was a daughter, sister, wife, stepmom and grandmother, cousin, friend and teacher, and a former member of Christ Church Presbyterian. Susy was born ...

LIBERTY — Ruth Wallace Ketzel, 103, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at Shepherd of the Valley-Girard. Ruth, as she was always affectionately known, was born Ella Ruth Wallace to Raymond and Ella Wright Wallace on the family farm in Frizzleburg, Pa., on Sept. 25, 1922. Her ...

AUSTINTOWN — Roger J. Palko, 80, passed away Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. Roger was born July 16, 1945, in Youngstown, a son of Julius and Mary Yeager Palko. He was a proud graduate of Chaney High School, Class of 1964, where he played football and later served as the school’s football team ...