In Memorium 2025 – 2026

Surrounded by her family, Debra A. Christy, 61, of Butler, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 14, 2026, after an extended illness.

She was born in Butler on March 3, 1965, daughter of the late Peter Connor Sr. and Verda Mae Connor.

She was born and raised Catholic and loved attending Mass at St. Paul Church. Shortly before her death a priest visited and gave her Communion. Her voice was weak, yet she was able to tell the priest, “I haven’t been to confession, but I’ve been good.” Those were her last words.

She worked on the Warmline at the Grapevine Center for 10 years. She helped her peers, and for several years ran Deb’s Coloring Corner on a weekly basis.

2025 Carelon’s Annual Best Recovery Awards: Debra Christy proudly displays her ‘Best Recovery Award.’ Debbie made significant progress in her mental health recovery over the years. She showed great resilience in her last years, taking up music lessons, coloring and paint by number, leading a weekly coloring corner event at the Grapevine Center, participating in fundraising activities for a church charity, and becoming something of a social butterfly. We were so impressed with Debbie’s courage!

Debra loved Steelers football, Penguins hockey, ABBA, word games, soap operas, playing Rummy and Parchesi, reading and talking to her daughters on the phone.

She is survived by her daughters Megan Christy and Elizabeth Christy; her brothers Peter (Judy) Connor Jr. and Michael (Rhonda) Connor, her sister Valerie (Tom) Johnston; her nephews, Michael Connor, Daniel Connor, Brant Shaffer, Dennis Johnston and David Johnston and her nieces Natalie Johnston, Kailyn Shafer and Haley Shafer.

Albert Louis Zanella Jr. 72, of Butler, passed away Monday, March 9, 2026, at Buter Memorial Hospital.

He was born Sept. 28, 1953, in Butler, the son of the late Albert Louis Zanella Sr. and Mary Stokes Zanella.

He was a member of All Saints Parish, St Michael the Archangel Church. Albert had been an accountant for several years and had also worked at the Runway Restaurant. He worked at the Grapevine Center for almost 20 years, first as a survey interviewer for the Consumer/Family Satisfaction Team, and later on the Warmline.

He enjoyed playing bingo and spending time with his family. He was an amazing father and grandfather. He is survived by his daughter, Amber Zanella, with whom he made his home; grandchildren Bowen and Vincent Zanella, Emilie Picard and Blake Gregio-Zanella, a sister, Amy Zanella, a brother Michael Zanella, and a nephew, Steve Zanella.

Alvina ‘Sue’ Altman 69, of Butler, passed away Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026, at Butler Memorial Hospital.

She was born Aug. 25, 1956, in Grove City, the daughter of the late Glenn Long and Jean (Bennet) Long and Jean Bennett) Long.

She had formerly gone to Christ Outreach Church and had worked at PARC. she loved firetrucks and doing arts and crafts.

She is survived by her sister, Glenda Hites, of Meadville; sister in law, Emily Long of Grove City; and several nieces and nephews; and her daughter, Michelle Engelhart.

Donni Weaver, 81, of Butler, passed away Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at Concordia at Cabot.

She was born April 9, 1944 in Rochester, Beaver County, the daughter of the late John Alvin Pickens and Vivian Larue (Johns) Saveno Pickens.

Donni was a member of Community Alliance Church. She had been a nurse’s aide for 15 years at various nursing homes. She enjoyed crocheting and crafting. She was quite a card shark, and she had a lovely voice even at an advanced age. Although quiet and reserved, she was not shy about singing karaoke at the Grapevine Center. She was a regular here and she will be missed.

Surviving are her sons, Andrew (Tammy) Binder of Butler; Herman (Lauren) Weaver III, of Harmony; and Jimmy Weaver of Chicora; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Herman Weaver Jr; four brothers, one sister; and her grandson, Alexander Weaver.