John Gillen

John Gillen, 87, of Roscoe, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 20, 2010. A son of the late Edward and Mary Yurgoniluts Gillen, he was born on Feb. 24, 1923 in Elco. After graduating high school, he went to work for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, Allenport Plant, where after 40 years of dedicated service, he retired in 1982 as an Assistant Superintendent of Production. He then became a caretaker at Howe Cemetery and later also at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, both in Coal Center, positions he held until his untimely death. John was a dedicated member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Roscoe where he could often be found calling bingo or working in the kitchen at a fish fry. He was the last surviving Founding Father of the Roscoe Slovak Club, a Founding Father of 5-Town Recreation Park, a former Councilman and Mayor of Roscoe, a member of the Keystone Athletic Association, and delivered Meals-on-Wheels for 30 years. In his free time, John enjoyed gardening and picking berries so Dee, his wife, could bake some of her delicious desserts. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 63 years, Dorothy "Dee" Gillen; three sons and daughters-in-law, Vince and Patti Gillen of Burgettstown, John and Debbie Gillen of Jacksonville, FL, and Nick and Mary Kay Gillen of Seattle, WA; one daughter, Becky Barbero of Allenport; six grandchildren, Melissa Christian, Brady Barbero, Christopher, Jacob, Chelsey and Cooper Gillen; six great-grandchildren, Stella and Roxie Christian, Reagan, Parker, and Bailey Gillen, and Quinn Barbero; two sisters, Nellie Reedy of Monroeville and Anne Simala of Stockdale; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Stanley, Edward and Vincent Gillen; and a sister, Della Shiflet. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Melenyzer-DuBarr Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Inc., 1008 Furlong Ave., Roscoe. A Blessing service will be held Monday, May 24, at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church with Rev. George Moneck officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Coal Center.