Helen Kedar
formerly of Sewickley

Helen Avery Kedar, 88, of Birmingham, Ala., formerly of Sewickley, died Sept. 23, 2009.

Daughter of the late John and Jane Graham Kedar, sister of the late Mary Kedar Fishburn, Jean and Anne Kedar.

Survived by niece Karen Fishburn (Terry) O'Neil, Birmingham; cousin of Barbara Weber, Edgeworth; three great nieces, Laurie Bennett, Kelly Gilbert and Cordy Looney, all of Birmingham; and nine great-great nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were handled by the Richard D. Cole Funeral Home, Inc., 328 Beaver St., Sewickley.

Aline Massey
worked as an economist

Aline Jay Massey, who grew up in Glen Osborne, died on Aug. 25, 2009, in Boston. She was 65 and lived in West Newton, Mass. The cause of death was lung cancer.

Aline was born in Greenwich, Conn., and moved to Sewickley with her family in 1949. In 1950 the family settled in Glen Osborne where Aline went to Osborne School through grade 5.

She then attended Sewickley Academy, graduating from the ninth grade in 1959. For high school, she attended Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh, graduating in 1962. She received a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1966.

After working as an economist for banks in Melbourne, Australia, and New York City, Aline earned a master's degree in college counseling and student development from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Aline worked for Hunter’s open admission program for several years in the early 1970s.

In 1974, she moved to the Boston area. She worked for Batterymarch Financial Management, Inc. from 1975 to 1982 when she joined the Interactive Data Corporation.

At the time of her death she was a senior products manager.

Aline was the daughter of former Sewickley residents, Leslie Massey and the late Ralph Massey. She is survived by her mother and sister, Daryl Bladen, both of Brewster, Mass.; her son, Christopher Koda-Massey of Atlanta, Ga.; and three nieces, Rebecca Bladen of Evanston, Ill., Lisa Pollack of North Attleboro, Mass., and Anne Bladen of Hampton, Conn.

Rita McNamara
Married in 1942

Rita Krane McNamara, 92, died Sept. 18, 2009.

At the time of her death, Rita resided at the Masonic Village, Aleppo, where she had been a resident for five years.

Although weak in body during these years, Rita was strong in mind and spirit as she had always been throughout her life. Rita had previously lived in Bell Acres Borough and Leetsdale.

Rita's husband, Dr. Robert McNamara, preceded her in death in 1984. They were married in 1942 and lived their lives for each other and their children.

Rita is survived by her son, Robert, and his wife, Leslie, of Irvine, Calif., and their sons, Robert and James, both of Phoenix, Ariz.; and her son, Dennis, and his wife Diane of Newport, R.I., and their daughters, Alistair of Collingswood, N.J., and Caroline of New York, N.Y.

She also is survived by her daughter-in-law, Sandy McNamara of Edgeworth, and her children, Charles of Baltimore, Md., Meredith of Crested Butte, Colo., and Breton of Edgeworth. Rita's son, Charles, preceded her in death.

She was also the sister of the late Charles Krane, the late Robert Krane and the late Arthur Krane.

Donations may be made in Rita's memory to The Masonic Village, 1000 Masonic Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143. Arrangements by the John Syke Funeral Home.

Jim Mateer
Grandfather of two

Jim Mateer, 61, of Sewickley, died Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.

He was the husband of Janet Louise Saunders Mateer; father of Katie Wallick; brother of Kay (David) Cowie of Rochester, Emmett (Donna) Mateer Jr. of New Brighton, Debbie (Dennis) Houy of Baden; and grandfather of Tianna and Ellyanna Wallick.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Mae Dawn Snyder Mateer Sr., and a sister, Joan Goe.

Mr. Mateer was a member of the New Brighton Golf League and the New Brighton Mason, Union Lodge 259.

Arrangements handled by Richard D. Cole Funeral Home.

David Lieb
Worked for The Car Store

David Lieb, 50, of Sewickley, died Sept. 23, 2009, at home.

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, June 12, 1959, he was the son of Elsie Stewart and her husband, John, of Sewickley and Delmar Lieb and his wife, Betty, of Allison Park.

He was the brother of Jamie Covelli and husband John of McCandless Township, Patricia Porritt and husband Charlie of Wexford, and Michael Lieb of Ingomar.

He was the much loved uncle of Julia Covelli, Dria Porritt, Abbie Porritt, Bryant Covelli and Max Porritt. He also is survived by his dog and faithful companion, Rufus.

David was a graduate of Fox Chapel Area High School and attended University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He was previously employed as a sales representative in Chicago, Ill., for Penn Radiant Products in Verona and most recently as a salesman for The Sewickley Car Store. There is no visitation, and a private memorial service for family will be held at a later date.

Arrangements by R.D. Copeland Ltd-Irvine Chapel, Sewickley.

Joseph Valentic
Retired machinist

Joseph Valentic, 63 of Hopewell Township, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, at Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital.

Born May 21, 1946, in Sewickley, he was son of the late Joseph and Thresa (Herring) Valentic.

He was the beloved husband of Charmaine (Biggerstaff) Valentic; father of J. Mark Valentic of Hopewell; brother of Stephanie (Jim) Flynn of Haymarket, Va., Andrew Valentic of Newton Falls, Ohio, and Paul and Michael Valentic both of Alexandria, Va.; uncle of one niece, four nephews and four great- nephews.

He was retired as a machinist and millwright for AES Beaver Valley Inc. He was a member of the Aliquippa Bucktails Hunting Club.

Arrangements hanlded by RD Copeland, Moon Township. Family suggests memorial donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Joseph's memory.

Aline Jay Massey, who grew up in Glen Osborne, died on Aug. 25, 2009, in Boston. She was 65 and lived in West Newton, Mass. The cause of death was lung cancer.

Aline was born in Greenwich, Conn., and moved to Sewickley with her family in 1949. In 1950 the family settled in Glen Osborne where Aline went to Osborne School through grade 5.

She then attended Sewickley Academy, graduating from the ninth grade in 1959. For high school, she attended Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh, graduating in 1962. She received a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1966.

After working as an economist for banks in Melbourne, Australia, and New York City, Aline earned a master's degree in college counseling and student development from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Aline worked for Hunter's open admission program for several years in the early 1970s.

In 1974, she moved to the Boston area. She worked for Batterymarch Financial Management, Inc. from 1975 to 1982 when she joined the Interactive Data Corporation.

At the time of her death she was a senior products manager.

Aline was the daughter of former Sewickley residents, Leslie Massey and the late Ralph Massey. She is survived by her mother and sister, Daryl Bladen, both of Brewster, Mass.; her son, Christopher Koda-Massey of Atlanta, Ga.; and three nieces, Rebecca Bladen of Evanston, Ill., Lisa Pollack of North Attleboro, Mass., and Anne Bladen of Hampton, Conn.

Dominick Spinelli
'The Music Man,' loved to play harmonica

Dominick "Lefty" Spinelli, "The Music Man," 83 of Leetsdale, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, at Heritage Valley Beaver.

Born April 25, 1926, in Sewickley, he was the son of the late Dominico and Anne Spinelli.

He was the beloved husband of 34 years of Louise (Paff) Spinelli; loving father of Elaine Spinelli (Bob) Witowich, Sherri LesCallette (Bill) Zawoysky, Margi LesCallette (Larry) Cone, Chris Spinelli (John) Yeck, Dominick Spinelli Jr., Cindy Spinelli (Mark) Zimmerman, Bill Spinelli and Lori LesCallette (Scott) Holquist; grandfather of 11; great-grandfather of 10; brother of Joseph (Beverly) Spinelli of Colorado and the late Sarah Eichenberg, Elenor Spinelli, Anne Hoffmaster, Ralph, Tom and Paul Spinelli.

His first wife Louise (Stickley) Spinelli preceded him in death.

He was a member of St. James Church of Sewickley and its 55-plus Club and the music ministry. He played for the Yellow Jackets football team, the YMCA and the Senior Men's Club and a little league baseball coach.

A Navy Veteran of World War II, he was a life member of VFW Post 5756. He enjoyed golfing, gardening and bowling and playing his harmonica for whoever would listen. Arrangements handled by RD Copeland Ltd. Irvine Chapel, Sewickley. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Music Ministry at St. James Church in Dominick's memory.

The family would like to thank the staff of the CCU unit at Heritage Valley Beaver, especially Fred, Randy and Michelle for their compassionate and tender care to their father and husband.

Rita McNamara
Married in 1942

Rita Krane McNamara, 92, died Sept. 18, 2009.

At the time of her death, Rita resided at the Masonic Village, Aleppo, where she had been a resident for five years.

Although weak in body during these years, Rita was strong in mind and spirit as she had always been throughout her life. Rita had previously lived in Bell Acres Borough and Leetsdale.

Rita's husband, Dr. Robert McNamara, preceded her in death in 1984. They were married in 1942 and lived their lives for each other and their children.

Rita is survived by her son, Robert, and his wife, Leslie, of Irvine, Calif., and their sons, Robert and James, both of Phoenix, Ariz.; and her son, Dennis, and his wife Diane of Newport, R.I., and their daughters, Alistair of Collingswood, N.J., and Caroline of New York, N.Y.

She also is survived by her daughter-in-law, Sandy McNamara of Edgeworth, and her children, Charles of Baltimore, Md., Meredith of Crested Butte, Colo., and Breton of Edgeworth. Rita's son, Charles, preceded her in death.

She was also the sister of the late Charles Krane, the late Robert Krane and the late Arthur Krane.

Donations may be made in Rita's memory to The Masonic Village, 1000 Masonic Drive, Sewickley, PA 15143. Arrangements by the John Syke Funeral Home.

Jim Mateer
Grandfather of two

Jim Mateer, 61, of Sewickley, died Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.

He was the husband of Janet Louise Saunders Mateer; father of Katie Wallick; brother of Kay (David) Cowie of Rochester, Emmett (Donna) Mateer Jr. of New Brighton, Debbie (Dennis) Houy of Baden; and grandfather of Tianna and Ellyanna Wallick.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Mae Dawn Snyder Mateer Sr., and a sister, Joan Goe.

Mr. Mateer was a member of the New Brighton Golf League and the New Brighton Mason, Union Lodge 259.

Arrangements handled by Richard D. Cole Funeral Home.

David Lieb
Worked for The Car Store

David Lieb, 50, of Sewickley, died Sept. 23, 2009, at home.

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, June 12, 1959, he was the son of Elsie Stewart and her husband, John, of Sewickley and Delmar Lieb and his wife, Betty, of Allison Park.

He was the brother of Jamie Covelli and husband John of McCandless Township, Patricia Porritt and husband Charlie of Wexford, and Michael Lieb of Ingomar.

He was the much loved uncle of Julia Covelli, Dria Porritt, Abbie Porritt, Bryant Covelli and Max Porritt. He also is survived by his dog and faithful companion, Rufus.

David was a graduate of Fox Chapel Area High School and attended University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He was previously employed as a sales representative in Chicago, Ill., for Penn Radiant Products in Verona and most recently as a salesman for The Sewickley Car Store. There is no visitation, and a private memorial service for family will be held at a later date.

Arrangements by R.D. Copeland Ltd-Irvine Chapel, Sewickley.

Joseph Valentic
Retired machinist

Joseph Valentic, 63 of Hopewell Township, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, at Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital.

Born May 21, 1946, in Sewickley, he was son of the late Joseph and Thresa (Herring) Valentic.

He was the beloved husband of Charmaine (Biggerstaff) Valentic; father of J. Mark Valentic of Hopewell; brother of Stephanie (Jim) Flynn of Haymarket, Va., Andrew Valentic of Newton Falls, Ohio, and Paul and Michael Valentic both of Alexandria, Va.; uncle of one niece, four nephews and four great- nephews.

He was retired as a machinist and millwright for AES Beaver Valley Inc. He was a member of the Aliquippa Bucktails Hunting Club.

Arrangements hanlded by RD Copeland, Moon Township. Family suggests memorial donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Joseph's memory.

Aline Jay Massey, who grew up in Glen Osborne, died on Aug. 25, 2009, in Boston. She was 65 and lived in West Newton, Mass. The cause of death was lung cancer.

Aline was born in Greenwich, Conn., and moved to Sewickley with her family in 1949. In 1950 the family settled in Glen Osborne where Aline went to Osborne School through grade 5.

She then attended Sewickley Academy, graduating from the ninth grade in 1959. For high school, she attended Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh, graduating in 1962. She received a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1966.

After working as an economist for banks in Melbourne, Australia, and New York City, Aline earned a master's degree in college counseling and student development from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Aline worked for Hunter's open admission program for several years in the early 1970s.

In 1974, she moved to the Boston area. She worked for Batterymarch Financial Management, Inc. from 1975 to 1982 when she joined the Interactive Data Corporation.

At the time of her death she was a senior products manager.

Aline was the daughter of former Sewickley residents, Leslie Massey and the late Ralph Massey. She is survived by her mother and sister, Daryl Bladen, both of Brewster, Mass.; her son, Christopher Koda-Massey of Atlanta, Ga.; and three nieces, Rebecca Bladen of Evanston, Ill., Lisa Pollack of North Attleboro, Mass., and Anne Bladen of Hampton, Conn.