Obituaries
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Kenneth Dewight Thomas
Nov 1, 2026
Kenneth Dewight Thomas 64, of Amherst Township passed away Sunday November 1, 2026 at Ames Family Hospice in Westlake. He was born October 20, 1962 in Hazelton, WV. Ken had worked at Lubrizol as a control room operator. He treasured spending time with his grandchildren and family, tinkering in his pole barn, and enjoyed watching The Cleveland Browns. Survivors include...
Peter A. Bilyj
Nov 1, 2026
Peter A. Bilyj, 76, of LaGrange, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Sunday, November 1, 2026. He was born in Munich, Germany on August 27, 1950 to parents Alexander and Antonia (nee: Soltis). Peter was a gifted storyteller who could captivate those around him with his stories, experiences, and memories. He found great joy in cooking, gardening,...
Dan W. Nixon
Oct 29, 2026
Dan W. Nixon 89, of Sheffield Village formerly of Elyria passed away Thursday October 29, 2026 at Ames Family Hospice in Westlake following a lengthy illness. He was born June 20, 1937 in Elyria. Following graduation from Elyria High School, Dan attended Barber School in Florida, following in his father’s footsteps he moved back to Elyria and opened Nixon’s Barbershop...
Joseph Eugene Knechtges
Oct 23, 2026
Joseph Eugene Knechtges 78, of Grafton passed away unexpectedly on Friday October 23, 2026. He was born February 12, 1948 in Elyria, and was a resident of Grafton his entire life. He was a 1966 Midview High School graduate. Joe served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. He had earned a Bachelor degree from Kent State University, and retired working...
Mary S. Dragan
Oct 22, 2026
Mary S. Dragan (nee: Savanick), 90, passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
She was born on August 16, 1936 in Carmichaels, PA and attended All Saints H.S. there and later Carlow University in Pittsburgh, the first member of her family to go to college, majoring in Art Education and became an elementary school teacher. On July 6, 1963, she married...
Stephen Joseph Straka
Oct 17, 2026
In Loving Memory
Stephen J. “Bud” Straka
October 30, 1942 – October 17, 2026
Life Sketch
Stephen J. “Bud” Straka, 83, of Grafton, passed away at home on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with his wife by his side. Stephen was born on October 30, 1942, on Cleveland's West Side, to Stephen and Carmella (Ragusa) Straka.
Steve completed the twelfth grade and joined the Army at...
Lucille Marie Ferguson
Oct 10, 2026
Lucille Marie “Lucy” Ferguson (nee: Milam), 89, of Walnut Creek, Ohio passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at Summa Health System in Akron. She was born in Bloomingrose, West Virginia on November 16, 1936 to parents George “Marshall” and Leona “Myrtle” (nee: Harrison) Milam.
Lucy married the love of her life, James R. “Fergy / Bob” Ferguson on April...
Tom R. Lehman
Oct 8, 2026
Tom R. Lehman, 73, of Elyria, passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at UH Main Campus in Cleveland. He was born in Elyria on October 10, 1952. After graduating Elyria High School in 1971, Tom worked as a welder for Invacare for many years. He had a lifelong passion for restoring vintage Mercury Cougar automobiles and was well known...
Charles A. "Chuck" France
Oct 7, 2026
Charles A. “Chuck” France, 75, of Elyria, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. He was born in Elyria on September 14, 1951 to parents Robert and Marian (nee: Gilmore). Chuck graduated from Elyria Catholic High School in 1969 and went on to dedicate 38 years of service to Ridge Tool, where he retired...
Clinton Aaron Michael "Bombi" Churchill
Oct 6, 2026
Clinton Aaron Michael "Bombi" Churchill, age 63, passed away unexpectedly on October 6, 2026 at his home in Elyria, Ohio. He was born June 6, 1963 in Lorain, Ohio to Lorrie R. Churchill and Clinton R. Churchill. A lifelong Elyria resident, he was raised in Elyria Township and was a 1981 graduate of Elyria West High School.
He spent his career...
Martha J. Snehotta
Oct 3, 2026
Martha J. Snehotta (nee: Conley) 72, of Elyria passed away at home in the loving care of her husband and son on Saturday October 3, 2026.
She was born April 6,1954 in Ft. Bragg, NC. Martha was a Brunswick High School Graduate class of 1972. She married on September 4,1974 to Dieter Snehotta. She retired from Invacare after working in accounts...
Mary Catherine Rybarcyk
Oct 1, 2026
Mary C. Rybarcyk (née Dobrowski), 98, of Elyria, passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at St. Therese of Westlake.
Born in Elyria, Ohio, on September 28, 1928, Mary graduated from Elyria High School. She was a member of Holy Cross Church in Elyria, where she served with the Altar Rosary Society and PTA, and most recently belonged to St. Agnes...
Sondra "Sandy" Marie Webber
Sep 30, 2026
"Together Again"
Sondra “Sandy” Marie Webber (nee: Stawicki) 84, of Elyria passed away in the loving care of her daughter; Connie on Wednesday September 30, 2026. She was born August 4, 1942 in Elyria. Sandy worked for Elyria City Schools in the cafeteria and retired in 1995.She was a member of St. Agnes Church, a life member of Elyria United Polish...
Jane Anne Sito
Sep 29, 2026
Jane Anne Sito (née Bara), 70, of Elyria, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following a lengthy illness. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, niece, cousin, aunt, and friend who will be deeply missed and forever remembered for her kind heart, gentle spirit, and selfless nature.
A lifelong Elyria resident, Jane was born on...
Lois "Joan" Eye
Sep 29, 2026
Lois “Joan” Eye (nee: Olmstead), 91, of Grafton, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. She was born in Elyria on January 16, 1935 to parents Harold and Violet (nee: Lindauer). Joan worked as a secretary for JR Dall Car Dealership and later retired from Midview Schools. She enjoyed doing puzzles, needlepoint,...
Patricia June Jackson
Sep 28, 2026
Patricia June Jackson was called home to heaven on Monday, September 28, 2026 at the age of 94. Whether you knew her as Patty, Grandma Great, Aunt Pat or one of her other titles, you know she was a force and walked through life with strength , resilience and generosity.
Patty June was born in Payne, OH. on May 24, 1932...
Daniel A. Terry
Sep 25, 2026
Daniel A. Terry 67, of Elyria, OH passed away on Friday September 25, 2026. Dan was born in Brooklyn, NY but moved to South Amherst, OH with his family as a kid. He previously worked as a quality technician in steel fabricating. He was a huge sports fan, animal lover, and he loved fishing with friends and family over the...
James R. "Jim" Shirey
Sep 24, 2026
James Richard “Jim” Shirey, 69, of Amherst, passed away late in the evening on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at the Cleveland Clinic in Avon. He was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania on July 18, 1957 to parents Richard John and Audrey Jean (nee: Knight). Jim began his supermodified racing career in 1976, embarking on a journey that would become a defining...
Stephen L. Braegger
Sep 23, 2026
Stephen L. Braegger 79, of Grafton passed away Wednesday September 23, 2026 at University Hospital in Cleveland following a brief battle with an aggressive lung cancer. He was born in Elyria where he was a 1965 Elyria High School graduate. Stephen graduated from Oklahoma State University School of Technical Training in Okmulgee, OK with a degree in Building Construction in...
John R. Hamilton
Sep 20, 2026
John R. Hamilton, 73, of North Ridgeville, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at UH Elyria Medical Center. He was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania on August 13, 1953 to parents, John B. and Jean (nee: Snyder). John was a dedicated civil engineer for Lorain County, a career he truly enjoyed and found fulfilling. He especially took pride...
