JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Very Rev. Fr. John Thomas Blaschak , age 92,  reposed in the Lord peacefully on Monday October 7, 2024

Born in Johnstown, PA on June 25, 1932, Thomas was the youngest son, and third youngest child of nine siblings born to Daniel Blaschak and Mary (Pida) Blaschak. Thomas was first and foremost devoted to his Orthodox Christian faith. After serving in the army as Private First Class during the end of the Korean Occupation from February 12, 1953, to February 11, 1955, he attended Christ the Savior Seminary to become a priest and was ordained on July 5, 1959. On June 27, 1959, he married Magdelene Kuzmiak of Conemaugh, who predeceased him on May 20, 2018, after more than 58 years of marriage. Fr. Tom first served the mission parish in Washington, D.C., and then McKeesport, Lansford, and Hawk Run. He was a devout member of the congregation of St. John’s Orthodox Church in Hermitage.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Helen Shutack, 96, of Phoenixville, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday December 16, 2023 with family at her side.

Pani Helen was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on March 17, 1927, to George and Anna Selepetz. She was a long-time resident of Scranton, Phoenixville, PA and Stratford CT. She served as Pani at the Holy Ghost Orthodox Church from 1951 to 1975 and she continued to serve as Pani at St. John’s Orthodox Church in Stratford from 1978 to 2006.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Very Rev. Fr. Robert Lucas, pastor of Saint Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church in Freehold, NJ,  after over 64 years of service in the active priesthood, reposed in the Lord peacefully on Wed December 6, 2023 at the age of 86.

The Very Reverend Robert E Lucas was born to Anna (Rjabec) and John Lucas (Lukacs) on December 2, 1937, in Scranton, PA. From his very early childhood, he felt a calling to the priesthood and committed his young life to his budding vocation by first serving Our Lord on the altar as an acolyte at Saint Nicholas Church, his home parish. Fr. John worked for many years as a plant manager for Orgo-Thermit, Inc. metal manufacturing in Manchester Township and was a member of the local Rotary Club

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Mary Jaczina Buletza, 96, of Point Pleasant Beach, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 8, 2023 in the comfort of her home where she retired 23 years ago.

Born in Fords, NJ, Pani Mary resided in Rankin, PA for 30 years before retirement. Pani Mary was a dedicated and loving wife for 64 years. During that time, she was the consummate Orthodox Christian priest’s wife in public life, the right-hand woman supporting her husband in all facets of parish life. She taught Sunday School, baked for bake sales, arranged altar flowers, hand crafted vestments and winding sheets, removed wax from altar covers, baked Prosfora, replaced vigil lights, delivered flowers and meals to shut-ins, visited hospital bound parishioners and friends, took thousands of messages, attended hundreds of church banquets, folded bulletins, counseled parishioners, and on and on.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that +Archon Robert "Dal" Cosgrove, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday April 14, 2023. Prior to his retirement in Florida, he was a faithful parishioner of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Monongahela, PA. In retirement he attended Holy Cross Eastern Orthodox Church in Ormond Beach, FL. Born November 19, 1942, in Hazelwood, he was the son of the late Frederick E. and Mary Virginia (Tompkins) Cosgrove. Following his graduation in 1960 from Charleroi High School, Dal earned his Bachelor's degree and two Masters Degrees in Education and Science from California University of Pennsylvania. He began working as a teacher and a coach in the Elizabeth Forward School District and retired after 37 years as their assistant principal.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Archon +Michael Kundrat  fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday December 31, 2022. 

Michael Kundrat, ‘Mike’, almost 95 years of age, reposed in the Lord on December 31, 2022. He was born to Michael and Helena (nee Gajdos) Ivanco-Kundrat in Ambridge, PA on February 5, 1928. Alex was born on October 30, 1936 in Endicott, New York he was the son of the late Alex and Ellen (nee Hill) Breno.

He served in the United States Army and then worked for the United States Naval Audit Service for 30 years.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Dorothy Hutnyan, the wife of the late Protopresbyter George Hutnyan reposed in the Lord on Friday December 23, 2022 at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital surrounded by her family.

Dorothy was born August 8, 1932, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late Charles and Eva Martyak Gost, and came to the Youngstown area in 1955.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Dorothy Hutnyan, the wife of the late Protopresbyter George Hutnyan reposed in the Lord on Friday December 23, 2022 at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital surrounded by her family.

Dorothy was born August 8, 1932, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late Charles and Eva Martyak Gost, and came to the Youngstown area in 1955.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Very Rev. Protopresbyter John Duranko , age 91,  reposed in the Lord on December on December 8, 2022 at his home, surrounded by his family.

Fr. John was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1931, son of the late John and Anna (Duray) Duranko. After graduating from Johnstown High School, he enrolled in Christ the Saviour Seminary in 1951 and was the first seminarian from Christ the Saviour Cathedral Parish in Johnstown, PA, to study for the priesthood graduating in 1955.  Fr. John married the former Patricia Ann Czarnecki on November 2, 1957, and was ordained on November 10, 1957, by Metropolitan Orestes P. Chornock.  His first assignment was St. Nicholas Church in Gary, IN.  He also served as Dean of the Chicago Deanery during that time.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Very Rev. Fr. Tony Joseph  reposed in the Lord on Wed, October 5, 2022.

Fr. Tony was born on July 20, 1938. He is survived by his son Tony R. Joseph, married to Mary (Lashly), Kitty Hawk; daughter Tricia L. Honeycutt married to Craig, Nags Head; granddaughter Vera Bay Honeycutt, who put the twinkle in his eyes; granddaughter Amber King, Tallahassee, Fl; sister Sandy Joseph married to Malcolm Vosburgh, Maryland; sister Jeannette Mortensen married to Fred, New Mexico; and dear friend Sarah Hajduk, Maryland. He is also survived by sisters- and brothers-in-law, cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Eva Joseph of Windber, his sister Antionette Joseph, and his loving wife of 59 years, Patsy (Bartko) Joseph.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that + Rev. Fr.  Peter Benyo reposed in the Lord on August 8, 2022 while in retirement in Baja California, Mexico.

Fr. Peter Benyo was born on September 25, 1942 In New York, NY.   He studied at Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL graduating with a BS in History Education in 1965.  Father Peter Benyo studied in the Diaconate Program of the Diocese at Annunciation Center, Tuxedo Park, NY from 1991 to 1993.  He was ordained a Deacon on April 10, 1994 by the late Metropolitan Nicholas Smisko.   He furthered his studies for priesthood at Christ the Saviour Seminary from 1996-1998 graduating with a Licentiate of Theology Degree. 

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Joan Wine, the sister of Pani Marie Brancho, reposed in the Lord on Friday August 12, 2022.

Pani Joan  was born in Johnstown, PA., to the late Andrew and Theresa (Komisar) Kerestesy, she was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years the Very Rev. Fr. David Wine. Joan was a 1954 graduate of Johnstown High School and a very active member of St. Mary Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Akron. She was a member of the Girl Scouts and a troop leader.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Ethel Woytek, age 96, the Mother of Fr. Alexis Voytek of Spring Hill Florida, reposed in the Lord on July 7, 2022 from complications due to Covid

Ethel was born on December 23, 1925, to Helen (Kalessar) and Joseph Dufallo, in Hazlebrook, PA. She was the eighth of the Dufallos’ nine children. When she was 3 years old, her father was killed in a mining accident. Ethel reveled in learning and excelled in school. Ethel graduated from Freeland High School in 1943 as class valedictorian. Although she was more than capable of becoming the teacher or nurse that she longed to be, given her financial circumstances, she instead helped support her mother and siblings by working in a shirt factory. In 1951, Ethel married Joseph Woytek, an Army Air Force veteran

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Archon +Alex R. Breno, age 85, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday May 29, 2022. Formerly a communicant of Holy Ghost Orthodox Church in Phoenixville, Alex was a faithful parishioner of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Potmac, MD upon his relocation in recent years to Maryland with his beloved wife, Eleanor L. (nee Barnansky) Breno.

Alex was born on October 30, 1936 in Endicott, New York he was the son of the late Alex and Ellen (nee Hill) Breno.

He served in the United States Army and then worked for the United States Naval Audit Service for 30 years.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that David Dutko, the father of Fr. Matthew Dutko and the brother of Protopresbyter James Dutko reposed in the Lord unexpectedly on Friday May 20, 2022 after a long battle with renal failure while waiting for a kidney transplant.

He was predeceased by his parents Very Rev. Protopresbyter Stephen and Pani Mary Dutko and his brother Richard Dutko.

He is survived by his devoted wife Cheryl (nee Regan) Dutko of Binghamton, his children, James A. (Rachel) Dutko of Collegeville PA, Christina M. Dutko of Binghamton, and Rev. Matthew D. (Pani Kathryn) Dutko of Woodstock, GA; grandchildren; Nicholas, Emily, Lazarus and Isaiah; his brother, Very Rev. Protopresbyter James (Pani Mary Kathy) Dutko of Vestal, nephew, Richard (Kaitlin) Dutko of Apalachin, many cousins and grand nieces and grand nephews.

David loved his wife, children, grandchildren, family, church, his heritage, and his pets. He had long career as an attorney for the City of Binghamton and the Counties of Broome and Tioga.

He was an active member of the parish family of St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, as the cantor, member of its choir, and active within the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Cynthia King, the mother of Pani Cyndi Ellis reposed in the Lord on Friday May 13th, following a long illness.

Heartfelt condolences are extended from the Diocesan Priesthood and Diaconate to Fr. Ken and Pani Cyndi Ellis. May +Cynthia's Memory Be Eterna!l

[Diocesan Chancery] Johnstown, PA -- The National ACRY Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce that the 2022 ACRY Scholarship Application is now available on ACRY.org.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Sally Ellis, the wife of Deacon Charles Ellis and the mother of Rev. Fathers George and Michael Ellis, peacefully reposed in the Lord on Wednesday March 16, 2022 with her family by her side.

Sally was born in Binghamton, NY on July 26th, 1940, and was predeceased by her infant son, Patrick M. Ellis, her parents, James and Norma Stevens, her stepfather, Burton Chamberlain and her siblings, Margaret Miller, Evelyn Lewis and James Stevens, Jr. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Fr. Deacon Charles Ellis, Sr., her children Charles E. Ellis, Jr. (Julie), Victoria M. Bennett, Cynthia A. Jones (Robert), Rebecca L. Cooper (Shawn), Fr. Michael J. Ellis (Jesica) & Fr. George E. Ellis (Sarah); along with 17 cherished grandchildren & 6 great-grandchildren, her beloved sister, Geraldine Allen and her dear best friends, Shirley Demick and Helen Campbell.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Audrey Rumbold, the mother of Pani Yvonne Lysack, reposed in the Lord on Monday, March 14, 2022 after a brief illness.

Audrey was born in Ramsgate, Kent, England. As a young child, she was evacuated several times during WWII and never forgot the pain of being "abandoned" by her parents with only a name tag around her neck and of lining up so that reluctant host families could take their pick of children. She always understood, however, that her parents had made the wisest choice to keep her and her younger sister safe. After the war, as a young woman, Audrey trained as a florist. In the early years of their marriage, Audrey and Dave immigrated to Canada so that Dave could work on the famed Avro Arrow project, and after the latter was halted, Dave joined the Royal Canadian Air Force.

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Pani Mary Panchisin, the wife of the late +Very Rev Protopresbyter Charles Panchisin, reposed in the Lord on Wednesday February 2, 2022

Pani Mary was born in Wood, PA on Nov. 15, 1927 to Wasco and Pauline (Maksinchak) Mykut. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in Blessed Repose by her husband, The Very Reverend Protopresbyter Charles William Panchisin, infant son Michael, and siblings John, Sam, Mike, Emelia, Nick, Pete, Minnie Mykut and Anne Carpenter.

Pani Mary is survived by her children Mark, Paula, Matthew and John (Anna Katsoolias) Panchisin, two grandsons Luke and Charles Panchisin and her siblings Rosalie Mykut and Steve Mykut. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews fondly referring to her as "Aunt Mary".