Obituaries Surnames A-J Submitted by Smerek Group Researchers

HANCHER – Helen Marie, 84, formerly of Central City, died Aug. 14, 2011, at Bedford
Colonial Courtyard. Born March 2, 1927, in Cairnbrook, daughter of Charles and Rosalie
(Sullaby) Kaniuk. Preceded in death by parents; husband, Mike, who died Sept. 8, 2010;
sisters, Mary Dubil, Katherine Beechan, Nancy Trosky, Magdaline Semenik and Anna
Hancharik; and brothers, Nick, Alex and John. Survived by son, Michael, and wife, Judy,
Gainesville, Va.; grandchildren, Janessa (Frank) Stancato, Aldie, Va.; Chad Hancher,
Centreville, Va.; and Justin Hancher, Laytonsville, Md.; and great-grandchildren, Austin
and Kenslee Stancato. Also survived by sister, Rose Moore, Bedford; and many loving
nieces and nephews. Helen loved to cook and bake and take care of her family. She was
very kind and always thought of others first. She was a faithful member of St. Mary
Byzantine Catholic Church and the parish guild. Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday at Mulcahy Funeral Home, Central City, where Parastas will be sung at 7 p.m. A
brief service will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, followed by Divine
Liturgy at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Windber, Father Gregory
Michalisin. Burial, church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St.
Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Helen’s memory. The family would like to thank the
staff at Bedford Colonial Courtyard and Grace Hospice for their loving care and
support.(Tribune Democrat, Johnstown PA, August 16, 2011)
HANCHARIK, Anna (Kaniuk)
HANCHARIK – Anna, 92, Everett, formerly of Cairnbrook, died Jan. 12, 2009. Born
May 12, 1916, in McDonaldton, daughter of Charles and Rosalie Kaniuk. Preceded in
death by parents; husband, John; daughter, Evelyn Wells; sisters, Mary Dubil, Katherine
Beechan, Nancy Trosky and Magdelan Semenik; and brothers, Alex, John and Nicholas.
Survived by loving daughters: Annette Grosshans, Bedford, and Nancy Jean, wife of
John Michael McClellan, Everett; grandchildren: Steven (Linda) Grosshans, State
College, and DeeAnn (Todd) Sacco and Gregory (Tresa) Grosshans, both of Virginia;
great-grandchildren: Cory, Taylor, Lauryn and Matthew; sisters: Rose Moore and Helen
(Michael) Hancher, both of Central City; brother-in-law, Fred Semenik, Cairnbrook; and
godson, Michael Hancher. Anna was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox
Church, Central City, and a member of the Ladies Altar Society. In her younger years,
she worked as a housekeeper in New York City and Cleveland. She will be remembered
forever by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends for her
wonderful, loving care and kindness, especially by her special boys, Tom and Ryan Wilk.
She loved to cook, bake and take care of children. She was the center of so many happy
family gatherings. Anna never tired of having family and neighbors visit and will be
sadly missed by those left behind, but heaven will be glad to receive this most precious
soul. Friends will be received from 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Mulcahy Funeral Home,
Central City, where a brief service will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, followed at 9:30 a.m. by
Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church, the Very Rev. John Govrusik.
Committal, parish cemetery. Parastas will be sung at 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral
home. In lieu of flowers, family asks donations be made to St. Mary’s Building Fund in
Anna’s memory. (Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA, January 14, 2009)
HAWKINS, Herbert