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Obituaries

Gareth L. Baer 1963-2025

NORTH LIMA — Gareth Lamar Baer, 62, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, with his family by his side, after a very brief battle with cancer. Gareth was born June 2, 1963, in Youngstown, the son of Harold and Effie Ropp Baer. In his younger years, his family lived and worked on Barth Farms in Poland. Gareth was a 1981 graduate of Youngstown Christian School and attended Hesston College (Hesston, Kansas) for one year, focusing on agriculture. He went on to drive a dump truck for Ed Wilson & Son Trucking in New Springfield and a bulk feed truck for Witmer’s Feed & ...

Area deaths

MARY V. DEARING, 77, of Boardman, died July 26. SERVICES: 11 a.m. Aug. 9, Rossi and Santucci Funeral Home, Boardman. CALLING HOURS: 10 to 10:50 a.m. Aug. 9, funeral home. GAYLE SHOOK ELMER, 87, of Youngstown, died Tuesday. (Lane) SHIRLEY ANN PHILLIPS, 66, of Guilford Lake, died Wednesday. SERVICES: noon Tuesday, Winona Friends Church, Salem. CALLING HOURS: 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, church. (Stark Memorial)

Robert G. Avila 1957-2025

BOARDMAN — Robert G. Avila, 68, passed away Monday, July 28, 2025, at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital after a period of illness. He was born March 1, 1957, in Youngstown, to Nicolas and Carmel Tinoco Avila. He was a lifelong area resident and graduated from The Rayen School in 1975. ...

Services

WILLIAM F. BLASCAK, 93, Austintown. SERVICES: 11 a.m. Thursday, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Austintown. WILSON J. CARLISLE, 100, Brookfield. SERVICES: noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, New Bedford Evangelical Presbyterian Church, New Bedford, Pa. JOANNE E. CARLON, 79, New Middletown. SERVICES: 9 a.m. Monday, Rossi Brothers and Lellio Funeral Home, Boardman. CALLING HOURS: 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, funeral home LOUIS CONGELIO, 69, Houston, Texas. SERVICES: 10 a.m. Thursday, St. Christine Church, Youngstown. RUBY L. DAVIS, 92, Atlanta, Ga. SERVICES: 10 a.m. Saturday, Alpha and Omega Baptist ...

Richard J. LaLumia 1939-2025

POLAND — Richard J. “Lum” “Coach” LaLumia, 86, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Hospice House. Dick was born April 12, 1939, in Youngstown, the son of John C. and Concetta G. Battaline LaLumia, and was a lifelong area resident. He was a graduate of Boardman High School ...

Karen Mae Miller Stephan 1946-2025

YOUNGSTOWN — Karen Mae Miller Stephan, 78, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Born Sept. 16, 1946, in Spangler, Pa., Karen was preceded in death by her beloved father, Robert F. Miller; mother, Bethel M. Mertens; brother, Paul K. Miller; and husband, Frank Stephan. She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Tammy Price; son, Paul Price; and stepson, Shane Stephan. Her legacy lives on through her 10 grandchildren and her many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren — each blessed by her warmth, wisdom and unwavering love. She also ...