The Derrick, December 18, 2008: Matthew "Mike" Bova, formerly of Warren Bonnie J. Burkett, 176 Cherry Lane, Franklin Betty J. Martin, 3689 Sandy Lake Road, Sandy Lake Lois Ruth Neidel, Oil City Presbyterian Home, formerly of 521 Bouquin Circle, Oil City Thomas Dean Newberry, 284 Linden Ave., Oil City Matthew "Mike" Bova, 90, formerly of Warren, died peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, after an extended illness at the residence of his daughter, Jill Bova of Oil City. Born May 13, 1918, in Tidioute, he was the son of the late Peter and Gilorma Cariota Bova. He was married Sept. 19, 1942, in Warren to Mary "Betty" Turner Bova, who survives. Mr. Bova was a resident of Warren for 64 years before moving to Venice, Fla., in 1980. He resided there until the summer of 2008. Mr. Bova served in the U.S. Army Air Corp. during World War II. He was owner and operator of the former Bova Market and was a certified life underwriter with the Mutual of New York Life Insurance Company, retiring in 1982. Mr. Bova was a member of Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, Fla., and a former member of Holy Redeemer R.C. Church in Warren. In addition to his wife of 66 years, Mr. Bova is survived by a son, Michael P. Bova and his wife, Lynne, of Pittsburgh; a daughter, Jill A. Bova and her husband, John, of Oil City; and six grandchildren, Carter Bova, Becca Woodworth, John Hutchinson, Mark Hutchinson, Adam Hutchinson and Joshua Polley. In addition to his parents, Mr. Bova was preceded in death by a infant daughter, Mary Gilorma Bova, and a brother, August Bova. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East St., Warren. A vigil service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Holy Redeemer R.C. Church, 11 Russell St., Warren, with Monsignor John Lucas, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph R.C. Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Holy Redeemer Church Building Center Fund, 11 Russell St., Warren, 16365, or a charity of one's choice. Bonnie J. Burkett, 62, of 176 Cherry Lane, Franklin, died at 12:25 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, at Sugar Creek Station. Born Aug. 1, 1948, in Sandy Lake, she was the daughter of Earl Carson. Ms. Burkett was employed as a nurses aide at Franklin Hospital, Grandview Health Care and Sugar Creek Station. She was a graduate of Brookfield High School. Ms. Burkett enjoyed playing bingo, her pets, and most of all, her grandchildren. Ms. Burkett is survived by three children, Fred Burkett Jr. of Franklin, Mark Burkett and his special friend, Carol Baum, of Franklin, and Anna Hall and her special friend, Robert Alcorn, of St. Petersburg; two grandchildren, Kayla Renae Burkett of Franklin and Tricia Ann Hall of St. Petersburg; and one sister, Margaret Zahnizer of Stoneboro. In addition to her parents, Ms. Burkett was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Carson and Ron Carson; and one sister, Carol Carson. There will be no visitation. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Franklin with Monsignor John Herbein, pastor of St. Patrick, officiating. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church. Arrangements are being handled by the Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home Inc. of Franklin, and condolences may be sent online at www.gardinierfuneralhome.com. Betty J. Martin, 81, of 3689 Sandy Lake Rd., Millcreek Township, Sandy Lake, died at home Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008, unexpectedly of natural causes. Born July 19, 1927, in Millcreek Township, she was the daughter of Norman W. and Sarah Margaret Stone Opitz. Mrs. Martin was a 1944 graduate of Sandy Lake High School and attended Grove City College. She was a teacher in the Crouser Country School in Millcreek Township for three years. She was married June 27, 1947, in the New Lebanon Presbyterian Church to Robert J. Martin who preceded her in death on April 9, 1996. Beginning in 1951, Mrs. Martin and her husband owned and operated Sandy Lake Implement and Allis Chalmers dealership until their retirement 35 years later. Mrs. Martin was the bookkeeper and the parts manager. She had been a member and an elder of the former New Lebanon Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of the Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder and a clerk of sessions for 16 years. She was also active in the "evening circle" group of the Presbyterian Women's Association. Mrs. Martin was a member of the PA Farmer's Association and the PA Dealers Association. She was an avid reader and was active with family history and genealogy. She also enjoyed playing cards over the years with friends. Mrs. Martin is survived by a daughter, Christie Peterson and her husband, Philip, of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sons, Gary R. Martin and his wife, Darlene, of Clarion; and Larry N. Martin and his wife, Gail, of Charlotte, N.C.; six grandchildren, Brad E. Martin and his wife, Heather, of Sandy Lake; Jennifer Spangenberg and her husband, Daniel, of Chicago; Todd A. Martin and his wife, Heidi, of Shippenville; Kyrie Martin, Chandler Martin and Cody Martin, all of Charlotte. She is also survived by one grandson, Quinton Martin of Sandy Lake; a sister, Mrs. William "Peggy" Vance of Mercer; and three brothers, Gordon R. Opitz and his wife, Eileen, of Sandy Lake; Robert N. Opitz and his wife, Mary, of Sandy Lake; and Dale A. Opitz and his wife, Shirley, of Grove City. Mrs. Martin was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Calling hours are from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Scott A. Black Funeral Home, 99 Franklin St., Stoneboro. Friends may also call at 10 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church, 3461 Sandy Lake-New Lebanon Rd., Sandy Lake. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Galen Joe MacDonald, pastor, officiating. He will be assisted by the Rev. James E. Swanson, former pastor. Interment and the committal service will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake Township. Memorials may be made to Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church, PO Box 185, Sandy Lake, 16145. Lois Ruth Neidel, 92, formerly of 521 Bouquin Circle, Oil City, died at 5:04 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 at UPMC Northwest, Seneca. Mrs. Neidel resided at the Presbyterian Home for the past six years. Born June 22, 1916, in Punxsutawney, she was the middle of three children born to the late John Fulton Watson and Martha Bowman Hamm Watson. Mrs. Neidel was married Aug. 9, 1935, in her parents' home to Clifford I. Rea of Reynoldsville, whom she met while attending Clarion Normal School. He preceded her in death in 1947. The couple moved to Oil City where Mr. Rea was principal of Lincoln Street Junior High School when he died. For the next 21 years, Mrs. Neidel worked a variety of jobs to support her three children. A few of these jobs were at Sears, the YWCA, Baker Auto, the Oil City swimming pool, Gates & Burns, The Arlington Hotel and the Holiday Inn. Mrs. Neidel was married Oct. 5, 1968, to John Neidel, the owner of Neidel's Nursery on Park Avenue. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Neidel was an active member of First Baptist Church for the first 52 years of her life. After her marriage to John Neidel, they joined Good Hope Lutheran Church in Oil City. Mrs. Neidel loved doing crossword puzzles and reading a good mystery book, and she especially loved working in the greenhouse with Johnny. Mrs. Neidel is survived by one son, Charles E. Rea and his wife, Marcia, of Franklin; one daughter, Donna K. Boocks and her husband, Gale, of Oil City; and one daughter-in-law, Sharon Rea of DuBois. She is also survived by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Boocks of Costa Mesa, Calif., Daniel Boocks of Derby, Conn., John E. Rea of New Orleans, La., Rebecca Rea of Youngsville; Andrew Rea and his wife, Lois, of Philipsburg and their three children, Rebekah, Abigail and Joshua; and Jim Rea and his wife, Susan, of Loysville and their two children, Adam and Ethan. In addition to her parents and two husbands, Mrs. Neidel was preceded in death by her eldest son, John F. Rea; and her two sisters, Elizabeth Hussy and Miriam Ludwick. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Morrison Funeral Home in Oil City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Gale D. Boocks officiating. Mrs. Neidel will be interred in Circle Hill Cemetery, Punxsutawney. The family requests memorial gifts be given to the Oil City Library or The Presbyterian Home. Thomas Dean Newberry, 50, of 284 Linden Ave., Oil City, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, at UPMC Northwest in Seneca. He was born in Jamestown, N.Y., a son of Lawrence Newberry and Beverly Groves. He was employed in production at Joy Industries. Mr. Newberry was a graduate of Chautauqua Central High School. He was interested in the outdoors and camping, and he was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle fan and previous owner. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Beverly and Leo Harsen of Cooperstown, Pa.; one daughter, Jennifer Lee Raynor and her husband, Ryan, of Cordora, S.C.; one son, Shane Newberry of Jamestown, N.Y.; four sisters, Lynn Cole of Oil City, Cynthia Faunce of Pittsburgh, Connie Newberry of Grove City and Brenda Alexander of Oil City; two brothers, Wayne Newberry of Copperscove, Texas, and James Newberry of Goldsboro, N.C.; his fiance, Selena Manross of Oil City; and two grandchildren, Alec Dean Newberry and Dakotah T. Raynor. The Dickson Funeral Home of Conneaut Lake handled local arrangements.