Estella Kaukonen

Estella R. Delbarre Kaukonen, 94, of California, PA, died peacefully on Sunday, July 17, 2011 in Monongahela Valley Hospital. Born October 19, 1916 in Granville Hollow (Coal Center), she was the daughter of the late Charles and Fernand Carly Delbarre. She graduated from East Pike Run High School, now California Area Schools. Estella retired from Washington County Courthouse in September 1985, after working in the Election Office since 1972. Before that, she owned and operated Kaukonen Farm with her husband Eino. She was a long time member of the former Coal Center United Methodist Church and a current member of the Roscoe United Methodist Church. Estella was a charter and 50 year member of the Long Branch Community Grange and had memberships in Pomona State and National Grange Charter; was a board member of the former Charleroi AARP and a member of the National AARP; a member of the former XYZ Club of Charleroi; past president of American Legion Post 801 Auxiliary in Roscoe; 50 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, California Chapter, now Monessen Chapter #205; a member of Roscoe United Methodist Women and the Charleroi Golden Agers. Surviving is one daughter, Fern Jo Kaukonen and K.L. Lewis of Claremont, California; a son and daughter-in-law, Dale Ray and Sandra Kaukonen of Irwin; five grandchildren; Jamie Rae Jarmin and husband Joe of Salem, WV, Nichlas Kaukonen and fiancAC.e, Julie Huppman of Coal Center, Kelly Macheska and husband Steve of Belle Vernon, Kristen Mandarino and husband Jay of North Huntington, and Karen Bisko and husband James of Ruffsdale; six great-grandchildren; Joey Jarmin, Steven Macheska, Alyssa Marie and Mark Mandarino, and Bradley James and Lauren Ann Bisko; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Estella was preceded in death by her husband Eino on February 26, 1972; brothers Edgar Delbarre on January 11, 1996 and Harry Delbarre on June 19, 2006, and infant brothers Charley and Charles Wilber Delbarre; and a sister, Alline Gabrik on February 9, 1996. Friends will be received Thursday, July 21, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Melenyzer-DuBarr Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Inc., 1008 Furlong Avenue, Roscoe, where a funeral service will be held Friday, July 22, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Brian Carroll presiding. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery. The Long Branch Grange will conduct a service on Thursday at 3:45 p.m., the Order of the Eastern Star at 7:00 p.m., and the American Legion Auxiliary at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Roscoe United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 507, Roscoe, PA 15477.