16 ROSIE’S ANCHOR BAR PROVIDES A TASTE OF THE BEACH IN NEW EAGLE
20 HIGHWAY APPLIANCE RELIES ON CUSTOMER KUDOS WITH DECADES OF RELIABLE SERVICE
22 THREE GENERATIONS PROVIDE FUNERAL SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY
FEELING FESTIVE THIS FALL
Cooler temperatures bring lots of fall activities, one of which is featured on the magazine cover this edition. Triple B Farms in Monongahela offers apple and pumpkin picking.
Every fall, the farm offers a large activity area, which includes its famous storybook “Pumpkinland,” as well as giant slides and two huge jumping pillows. Hayrides and other fun farm games are also available.
Fall has always been my favorite season, so I’m looking forward to cooler days, crunchy leaves and all the other accouterments of this time of year. However, I don’t usually let the weather tell me when fall starts. Fall is a feeling. If the chain coffee stores can get away with pumpkin spice in August, I give myself permission to get out my decorative pinecones and three-wick candles scented like pie as soon as the calendar strikes September.
Fall will always hold a special place in my heart. September means a lot to me: my sister and I were both born mid-month, and our county fair always fell on my birthday week. Every card stuffed with cash funded my adventures there. I was a 4-H kid but never one for livestock. The only time I showed an animal at the county fair was my pet bird, and she never even left the cage for fear she’d fly away. Fall, fundamentally, is a season of change. I hope you can do some of the cozy activities you enjoy the most this fall.
If you have a story idea, please reach out. Email me at tthurston@observer-reporter. com, or give me a call at 724-222-2200 ext. 2421. Take care, stay safe and see you in the next edition.
Photo courtesy of Triple B Farms. Triple B Farms offers apple picking,
A LIFE OF YOUR OWN
Community LIFE helps keep seniors independent and in their homes with an all-inclusive program and insurance plan. With eight Health and Wellness Centers throughout the region, you can drop by and have a cup of coffee, laugh with friends, and take care of your health all at once. And for your convenience, this program offers transportation to and from the centers and to medical appointments.
This friendly, vibrant community is created
through Community LIFE’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity, as they welcome seniors from all walks of life to join their program. They offer a complete network of medical specialists to cover the full spectrum of medical and health care needs, from diseases like dementia to physical disabilities. Comprehensive health care teams help coordinate care with access to physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers, and more.
“My life just completely turned around.”
-James Y.
Community LIFE services: • Medical care
Pharmacy • In-home care • Transportation
Recreation
Meals • Rehabilitation
Let Community LIFE handle your everyday care, so you can spend more time with the people you care about.
Visit commlife.org to apply or call 1-866-419-1693 to learn about program eligibility.
SENIOR WELLNESS
Seminar
World Alzheimer’s Day 2024
Join us for a symposium on Discovering Dementia: Understanding, Coping, and Caring.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Jennifer Antkowiak, TV news anchor, wellness educator, speaker and author.
TOPIC: “Caring for the Caregiver: Essential Strategies for Alzheimer’s Caregiving” Jennifer will share practical tips and heartfelt advice to help you navigate the challenges of caregiving. Learn how to manage stress, communicate effectively, build a support network, and maintain your own wellbeing while caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with a community that understands your journey.
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION AND SPEAKERS:
TOPIC: Walking the Path
SPEAKER: Terrie Eger, Memory Care Advisor, Arden Courts ProMedica Memory Care – Jefferson Hills.
TOPIC: Dementia in Context: Understanding Early Signs & Symptoms in Daily Life
SPEAKER: Dr. Swathi Gurjral, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh
TOPIC: Building the Right Foundation: Estate Planning with an Elder Law Focus – the importance of well drafted documents for estate and long-term care planning.
SPEAKER: James Benedek, Esq., Law Firm of Zacharia and Brown
Saturday, September 21, 2024
REGISTRATION: 8:30 a.m. EVENT: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A brunch buffet will be available. Due to sensitivity of topics, mature audience only.
RSVP to Terrie Eger at 412-384-0300 or email theresa.eger@promedica.org
EVENT LOCATION:
4305 Brownsville Road Pittsburgh, PA 15236
arden-courts.org/jeffersonhills
Sunflowers, apples and pumpkins — oh my! Triple B Farms offers fun fall activities
By April Barbe Photos courtesy of Triple B Farms
Imagine a beautiful farm where you can pick your own sunflowers, apples and pumpkins.
Triple B Farms, 823 Berry Lane in Monongahela, can make those dreams a reality with a slew of agricultural activities for those wishing for something fun and fruitful to do.
Just 15 miles from downtown Pittsburgh on the corner of Allegheny County in Fort Worth Township, Triple B Farms has welcomed families and guests to their farmstead since 1985.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., folks can go to the farm and pick seasonal offerings until their heart’s content, according to Sue Beinlich, manager at Triple B Farms.
“People should come to Triple B Farms to have a fun, relaxing day out in the open air in the country to enjoy with their families and friends,” Beinlich said. “You can also pick your own from all the numerous fruits and vegetables that we have all season long. Eating healthy and family fun are our goals for every family that comes to the farm.”
Watch the farm’s Facebook page for any changes to daily schedules and for the annual crop calendar.
“We grow small fruits and vegetables and provide ‘agritainment’ and education for families in the tri-state area. Our season opens with strawberries on June 1 and closes with pumpkins at the end of October,” she said.
She added that every fall, the farm offers a large activity area, which includes its famous storybook “Pumpkinland,” as well as giant slides and two huge jumping pillows. Hayrides and other fun farm games are also available.
The farm also offers fresh home-baked foods at its market. Canned items such as pickles, jams, sauces and more are ready for purchase.
A wide range of fruit preserves are offered online, from apricot and blackberry to strawberry and a special “T.O.E. Jam.”
Customers can even join the Jam of the Month club. Those who sign up for the club receive a top-selling jam of the month and one bonus jar of another favorite flavor. Jam of the Month club subscribers also get a free recipe and a free gift in every box.
Both flavors are full-sized jars. The first shipment will arrive within four to six weeks and approximately every four weeks thereafter.
Trips for birthday, school, summer and seniors groups are also offered, with more information on how to schedule a group visit online at triplebfarms.com
In 1967, Ron Beinlich raised all-natural beef cattle at the location. Since 1985, Ron and his wife, Carolyn, have grown fresh fruits and vegetables and operated the Country Market. Their son, Bill, and his wife, Suzanne, later joined the business and expanded the family fun, according to the website.
“Our business has been successful because of our customers. We cannot do any of this without the support from all the families that want to make sure all of their kids and their relatives understand where good local farm fresh foods, fruits and vegetables and other products come from. It means the most to us when we see all of our families playing together and then learning together as a family on our farm. We also have the best set of employees we could ever ask for,” Sue Beinlich said.
According to its website, folks “enjoy fresh country air and inspiring natural fun, while you explore and shop for local professionally-grown fruits and vegetables, fresh baked goods, homemade fudge and gift baskets. Pop’s Farmyard is perfect for family memories — animals, learning and acres of fun. Worth the Drive since 1985!”
For more information, visit www.triplebfarms.com.
Tri-state pool covers give customers peace of mind
By Michele Gillis
Saving a life, saving money on chemicals, less cleaning and a warmer pool are all perks to having a pool cover installed.
“Most importantly, it’s a safety cover,” said Buster Suppo, co-owner of Tri-State Pool Covers. “If children or animals were to walk onto the cover they would be safe and unable to fall into the pool or get wet.”
Pool covers are instrumental in preventing drowning for children, the elderly as well as people with disabilities or autism.
“They are for a homeowner who is a little more concerned with the ability to lock the pool so that it can’t be entered without a key that would remove the automatic pool cover,” said Suppo.
Tri-State Pool Covers was founded in 2009 by Suppo and his wife Jennifer. They also own Del Suppo Pools. Their son Jude is the general manager. Tim Andrews, who has been with them for 10 years is the cover foreman and is very knowledgeable concerning cover repairs and service. Their son-inlaw Tyler Gminder is their foreman.
“We had already been actively doing pool covers under Del Suppo Pools, but we saw the opportunity for the business to grow and work more directly with builder customers and other professionals,” said Buster Suppo.
They founded the pool cover company under the Tri-State name so it would have a different identity when they went out to pool cover job sites to do the installations or the repairs.
They install automatic pool covers, LOOP-LOC covers and spa covers.
“We have many service companies, pool builders and pool manufacturers that use us to do the installations,” said Suppo. “They want to retain their customers under their businesses and we’re just there to do pool covers.”
So, when would someone get a pool cover installed? Suppo said pool covers can be installed anytime, whether it is when the pool is initially built, during renovations or just because you want one.
“And we also get a lot of pool renovations where, you know, people have had a pool and they want to do some upgrades, like maybe new concrete or change the pool liner, change the finish inside the pool,” said Suppo. “That’s a great time to consider adding an automatic pool cover.”
When asked what the most interesting thing was found at the bottom of a pool, Suppo said a customer had called his family’s pool company to say a car was found at the bottom of their pool.
“They had an old tarp water bag cover, which is just a lot of work,” said Suppo. “And you wouldn’t want one of those. But in the industry, there are a lot of pictures and advertising of cars that have gone into pools. A good, safe pool cover would prevent that from happening.”
An automatic pool cover protects your pool all year round. It acts as a safety cover, solar cover and winter cover all in one. It is designed to be used every day during the swimming season and can give you peace of mind with a simple turn of a key.
According to their website, a LOOP-LOC cover is an alternative to the automatic pool cover.
LOOP-LOC is a winter safety cover that gives backyards a clean look and will stay in place. All safety covers must conform to the Standard Performance Specification set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
According to the ASTM, a safety cover must be able to support a certain amount of weight,
not permit gaps that a child or pet could squeeze through and remove standing water. LOOPLOC safety covers far exceed minimum ASTM standards. Built from extremely strong material and secured tightly to the deck by heavy-duty springs and brass anchors, a LOOP-LOC safety cover puts a lock on a pool that will prevent children and pets from gaining access to the water.
“We sell mainly the Cover-Pool brand of automatic pool cover,” said Suppo. “Which is an all-year, all-season cover. We also sell LOOPLOC lock brand of the spring tension covers. Not everyone chooses the automatic pool cover, especially if the size and shape of the pool doesn’t lend itself to it, or for personal reasons, they would prefer one over the other.”
How does an automatic cover work?
The automatic cover can fit on any shape or size pool within some restrictions.
Suppo said the cover is always a rectangle because the cover runs out on two tracks in a pulley system and then it retracts and rolls up on a drum in a pit that’s either in the ground or it rolls up on the surface. It could be tucked underneath a deck or under a bench.
Tri-State Pool Covers, LLC. was founded in 2009 by pool builders with over 30 years of experience in servicing and repairing automatic pool covers. They serve the tri-state area within approximately 100 miles of their brick-andmortar location, communities in southwestern Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and eastern Ohio.
In addition to installation, the company also services many systems each year giving them the knowledge and experience to provide their customers with the best service. All of their cover team leaders are highly trained with many years of experience and attend annual factory training to keep up with product improvements.
Tri-State Pool Covers LLC is the largest automatic pool cover installer in the marketing area.
“We also do safety fences,” said Suppo. “The safety fence is a temporary portable product, but it can be used as a barrier around the pool so that if you’re not able to have an automatic pool cover, a safety fence can give you another layer of protection, so animals or children from the house can’t get into the pool without a gate being open or the fence is being removed for access.”
Suppo said the life of the cover fabric is about eight to ten years.
“The cover itself has a lifetime manufacturing warranty on the mechanism,” said Suppo. The fabric warranty is seven years. We always recommend customers use our annual or every two-year maintenance program which is usually on sale in the spring.”
Visit delsuppopools.com or tristatepoolcovers. com for more information.
This article is brought to you by
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MAN CAVE RE-LOCATES
Congratulations to the 201 Man Cave on your new expanded location! Formerly located on Rostraver Road, Owners, Joey and Nick Lombardo decided with the growth of their business it was time to expand. Please stop by and visit their team at 800 Fayette Avenue in Belle Vernon or Call for an appointment today at 724-929-9100.
Mon Valley Region Chamber of Commerce
Love Local Mystery Bus Tour
Saturday, November 9, 2024 9am-Appox. 5pm Board the bus at 9am at the MVRCC 1 Chamber Plaza, Charleroi Cost is $60, Space is limited
Attendees will board 2 buses and travel to several “Bus Stops” in the Mon Valley. Lunch will be provided.
Any questions, call the chamber at 724.483.3507 or stop in during office hours at 1 Chamber Plaza, Charleroi
The 201 Man Cave 800 Feyette Ave
Vernon, PA 15012
L to R: Hannah Crago, Mary Oler, Jason Vitale, Joe Lombardo (owner), Joe Lombardo Sr, Nick Lombardo(owner), Ian Lombardo, Liz Steiner, Dickie Rotheram, Kyle Kinder, Lisa Rotheram, Roseanne Rotheram, Brian Grimm, Julie Grimm
The staff at The Residence at Hilltop continually strives to provide the best quality lifestyle for each and every resident. Our residents truly become part of the family.
This dedication, teamed with a beautiful and functional environment is why neighbors, family and friends throughout the Mononghela Valley and surrounding communities now call The Residence at Hilltop home.
• Nurses and Resident Care Aides 24/7
• Wireless Call Bell System
• Personalized Care Plans
• Transportation for Doctors Visits
• Medication Management
•Home Cooked Meals
• Activities 7 Days a Week
• Lunch Outings and Shopping Trips
• On site Movie Theater, Aviary and Library
• Full Bathroom and Shower in Every Room
• Control of Heating and Air Conditioning
• Available Cable and Personal Phone Access
• Available Laundry Services
The Residence at Hilltop 210 Route 837 Mononghela, PA 15063
residencyathilltop.com
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Rosie’s Anchor Bar provides a taste of the beach in New Eagle
Story and photos by Dave Zuchowski
Outside Rosie’s Anchor Bar and Grille
There’s a certain beach vibe you’ll probably pick up the minute you enter Rosie’s Anchor Bar and Grille in New Eagle.
Maybe it’s the big shark hanging over one of the doorways or the huge marlin mounted on a wall, its long, sharp spear lending it a formidable look. Adding even more to the beach vibe are the two dining area tables that are reconverted surfboards.
When it comes to drinks, patrons will find “beachy” cocktails on the menu, such as the Marlin Mai Tai, named after the aforementioned fish. The signature drinks menu also lists cocktails like the Anchored Old Fashion, Beach Club Margarita, the Floatin’ Freddy and the Mon Water. The latter is a mix of Jose Cuervo, apple pucker, blue Curacao, sweet and sour mix and Sprite.
Head outdoors to the long wooden deck, and instead of getting Atlantic Ocean waves splashing against the sandy shoreline, you get the sound of waves from the passing pleasure boats and coal barges heading up and down the river.
It may not be Fort Lauderdale, but it’s the Mon Valley’s answer to beachside eateries and watering holes. Jimmy Buffet would have felt at home. Located across the railroad tracks close to the New Eagle Borough Building at 108 Marina Street, the building Rosie’s now occupies has been around a long while but only became a restaurant as recently as July 2023.
“When I got the building, I cleaned it out, decorated it and moved in in only a month from my previous restaurant and bar, Rosie’s Mingo Inn,” said owner Krystle Rose Wise.
Originally from Taylorstown and now living in Eighty Four, Wise claims to have always loved the restaurant business ever since the days she, her mother, Sandy, and her grandmother, Rose, waitressed at Shorty’s in Washington. For a while, she also served food and drinks at Sam’s Place on Route 18 in Washington, then ran Rosie’s Mingo Inn for ten years before settling into her new place in New Eagle.
Rosie’s overlooks the Beach Club Marina (look for the nautical milepost marker “30.7 to Pittsburgh” on the outdoor deck), and, besides area landlubbers, both residents and passing-by boaters often stop in for lunch or dinner or the weekend breakfast.
“The Aquatorium is popular with boaters, and I get some who stop by on their way in and out,” Wise said.
Currently, Rosie’s serves a variety of appetizers, salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, tacos and quesadillas. According to Wise, the more popular items are the burgers, the Rueben and the large whole wings, served with a choice of nearly 17 different dipping sauces.
Owner Krystle Rose Wise
The taco salad and assorted other goodies
“We just hired two new chefs, James Kliza, who worked at Atria’s for 25 years and Brittany Monack, executive chef at Lindenwood Golf Club in Canonsburg,” Wise said. “At the moment, we’re working on an improved menu with a focus on dinner items and the addition of more seafood and entrees.”
Those who like to dine outdoors can enjoy what’s left of the warm weather on Rosie’s long wooden deck furnished with metal tables and chairs covered with blue umbrellas. The overhanging covered area is decorated with cheerful yellow lights, and the shelf that overlooks the marina and river is lined with bar stools for comfortable dining and imbibing. There’s even a section of the deck that’s pet-friendly.
In the summer, the outdoor area is shaded by a large canopy of trees; come winter, it’s enclosed and heated to allow patrons to continue to dine with a river view. Just to the side of the deck, Rosie’s has an outdoor space that can host events like birthday parties and class reunions.
When Rosie’s first opened, Wise got the word out via social media and advertising in Clipper. So far, her clientele has been a mix of young and old and everything in between.
On weekends, patrons can enjoy live music, everything from country and acoustic to rock, with bands like Hog Wild and Six Gun Sally.
Those looking for daily specials can find a buildyour-own burger on Monday for $10 or build your build-your-own bucket of domestic beer ($16), tacos on Tuesday (hard or soft, beef or chicken), wings on Wednesday ($1.50 each), $1 off on flatbreads on Thursday and beer battered fish sandwiches of Friday ($14.95 with chips).
“We love being a part of the community and look forward to many more years serving the Mon Valley and surrounding area,” Wise said.
Rosie’s Anchor Bar and Grille, at 108 Marina Street in New Eagle, is open from 3 p.m. to midnight on Monday, 11 a.m. to midnight, Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to midnight on Sunday. Sunday breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to noon and features omelets, pancakes and anchor favorite dishes. Upcoming events are listed on Facebook. For more information, call 724-310-3111.
Waiter Brian Gray presents a plate of large dry-rub wings
The outdoor deck
Highway Appliance relies on customer kudos with decades of reliable service
By Michele Gillis
When Debra Borda’s washer broke down, she called the only business she trusted, Highway Appliance, to help her.
“I highly recommend them,” said Borda in a Facebook post. “My washer got fried on Monday night. I picked out a washer I wanted, called and spoke to Debbie on Wednesday. The particular washer I wanted was on backorder. After a quick check, she said she had one very close to what I wanted in the warehouse and they could have it available for pick up on Friday. She was honest that delivery was backed up several weeks. She even offered to take the old washer free of charge if I needed it disposed of. Great experience, and six loads in and I love my washer.”
Highway Appliance opened in 1945 and is still going strong today by providing excellent customer service and great prices to its customers.
“We are still in business because we think about the lifetime value of a customer,” said Jerry Zahand Jr., owner and president of Highway Appliance. “So if you run into a problem today, we take care of that problem today because we want them to keep buying from us, and that’s the philosophy. We want the people to be customers for 40 to 50 years because they are the people that are familiar with us. They know what we do for them, and they know what we do for the community. We want them telling other people that this is where they should be buying. So, that’s our philosophy.”
Highway Appliance sells all types of major appliances, living room furniture, Weber grills and mattresses. His father was the general manager for many years before purchasing the
business in 1979. Zahand learned from the ground up, starting by helping at the store at a young age.
“I graduated from college but worked in Chicago for a couple of years and then moved back to come into the business,” he said. “In Chicago, the cost of living was so high that who knows when we would have been able to afford a house or anything like that. So we moved back because we knew it would be easier to live here, and the cost of living was lower.”
After college and living elsewhere, he knew it was time to move home and take over the family business.
“It was an established business,” said Zahand. “It was a business that I knew, and that had a good reputation. It was also something that would help me live the life I wanted to live and be part of the (Mon) Valley.”
He worked with his father for several years until his father retired. The reins were handed over to him 25 years ago.
“I mean, he retired a good while ago, but when he’s in town, he still comes in at least one day a week,” said Zahand. “We work together and discuss things.”
In keeping with family tradition, Zahand’s son-in-law, Evan Dyll, joined the business last year as the store manager.
“He anticipates taking it over when I retire, so it should continue for another generation,” said Zahand.
Highway Appliance can compete with big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes because it buys in volume, like many appliance dealers. Highway Appliance purchases its products locally and belongs to the Appliance Dealer Coop-
erative to buy appliances in volume. It also belongs to another co-op to buy other items for the store.
Immersing themselves in the community is another way to let consumers know they are still here and ready to help if needed.
“What we make gets spent in the Mon Valley because all of our employees are in the Mon Valley,” said Zahand. “None of our executives live wherever the headquarters of mass merchants are. We support local charities. You know, if Lowe’s donates $500 to somebody, they make it a big news story. What is $500 to Lowe’s? We’re donating to people all the time. Every single day. Every golf tournament in the Mon Valley. Every shooting. Every baseball league and every school district.”
Highway Appliance’s service department sets it apart from larger big-box stores. They also charge a smaller delivery fee but do not charge a fee for removing old appliances.
According to the latest annual survey conducted by Consumer Reports, “mom and pop” stores are known for their service and can offer reasonable prices and a better selection than the bigger nationwide chains. Independent stores are competing for your business and are even taking the lead against some of the major players in the market today.
“From the salespeople to the office people to the delivery people, you will not find more helpful and caring people than
the Highway Appliance folks,” said Sherm Koons in a Facebook post about the store. “They are highly recommended, and they go above and beyond.”
Highway Appliance still advertises in newspapers, on the radio and online, but the best references come via word of mouth.
“When somebody does move into the area and either they don’t know where to go, or they just go to Lowe’s and get frustrated by something that, you know, the neighbors tell them, well, you should go to Highway,” he said.
“Many customers have been buying here since, you know, longer than I’ve been here,” said Zahand. “Even longer than my dad’s been here. We have customers coming in all the time saying they’ve been buying here for 45, 50, or however many years. That’s the core because those people know what we do for them and keep coming back.”
Next year, they will celebrate 80 years in business. Zahand said he isn’t sure what they are doing yet, but he is sure there will be a celebration.
Highway Appliance is located at 2214 Route 88 in Dunlevy. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and closed on Sunday. For more information, visit highwayappliance.com.
Three generations provide funeral services for the community
Story and photos by Dave Zuchowski
Over the years, the funeral service business has evolved like everything else.
For instance, some, especially those in the younger generations, may not know that it was common practice for families to hold wakes for their deceased relatives in their homes rather than funeral parlors. This is especially true in the era before the mid-1950s.
“In those early days, mortuary staff prepared the body for viewing, then took the deceased to peoples’ homes for the wake,” said Jason Schultz, owner of the Greenlee Funeral Homes. “Eventually, small houses were often not big enough to hold large crowds, which then led to the establishment of funeral homes.”
One exception to this rule is a historic three-story home in Beallsville, constructed in 1922 by the town’s Masonic Lodge 237. The building was the first in the western part of the state explicitly built to serve as a funeral parlor. It could also possibly be the first in the state to hold this distinction, although records are inconclusive. When the building was completed, the Masons rented the first two floors for funeral services and held their meetings on the third floor.
The Greenlee history goes back even further to September 1, 1904, when James V. McDonough purchased the Robinson
Funeral Home in Beallsville. The structure no longer exists.
In 1925, John Bentley Greenlee joined the firm in the new Mason-constructed funeral home and became a partner. When McDonough died in 1946, Greenlee purchased the remainder of the business, and the home in Beallsville became the John B. Greenlee Funeral Home.
“We have continuous records back to 1904,” said Schultz, who married Greenlee’s granddaughter, Robyn, in 2021. “They include records of deceased who died from a kick in the head by a mule to soldiers who died in combat in World War Two.”
John B. Greenlee, whose father, William, served as Washinton County coroner from 1920-23 and encouraged his son to enter the funeral business, remained active until his death in 1967. Thereafter, his two sons, Barrett and Gordon, headed the company, which included the addition of a second home in Fredericktown in 1955 and another in Bentleyville in 1965. They ran the businesses until 2005 when they sold to Schultz and his business partner, Jim Rohrer.
Robyn Schultz briefly lived in the Bentleyville home, and later, when her grandmother moved in after the family moved out, she continued to visit until 2011.
“Growing up in the home, I thought of it as somewhat nor-
Jason Schultz and Robyn standing in the office. The portrait on the right is of John B. Greenlee.
mal,” she said. “My mother worked there when I was a kid, as did my son in recent years. A lot of my schoolmates’ fathers were coal miners, so that was a major difference. But overall, my life there seemed rather normal.”
In the 1950s, the lodge sold the Beallsville building to the Greenlees. It reversed the original arrangement when they went on to rent the third floor until the 1980s when they moved to their own facility in Beallsville and then, recently, to Washington and became Sunset Lodge 237.
Jason Schultz joined the Greenlee enterprise as a licensed funeral director in 1999. Before that, he washed cars for the Nichol Funeral Parlor of Washington as a youth. In his senior year in high school, he decided to pursue a career in the industry. After attending California University of Pennsylvania, now Pennsylvania Western University, he ultimately earned degrees from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in mortuary science and restorative arts.
In 2005, Schultz and business partner James Rohr bought all three Greenlee properties. When Rohr retired in 2022, Schultz bought him out and became the sole owner.
“Being a funeral director is not an easy job,” said Robyn. “It requires putting in long hours and takes an emotional toll. “I do believe it is a calling in that you dedicate a portion of your life to help people get through one of the most trying times of their lives.”
Because of the Greenlee’s experience with the community for over 100 years, the family has a personal connection to many people who’ve called on them for their services.
“We know the family’s history and have helped to bury several generations of the same family from here,” Schultz said. “I’m proud to still be a small, family-owned business with close ties to the community and a supporter of local organizations such as the schools, fire departments and football boosters.”
According to Schultz, this quality makes Greenlee stand out from the growing trend of big-budget, big-staff corporate interests entering the funeral business. “It’s a trend that often sees service going down while prices go up. I’m proud to be able to offer families personalized options to suit their needs. Cremation is now more prevalent than before, and we’re here to offer different options and let the family decide what’s best for them.”
As a testament to their effort to personalize service, Greenlee has arranged everything from displaying a Harley in the viewing area to arranging motorcycle, antique car and even fire truck funerals. They’ve also displayed produce and bales of hay in the parlor for the families of farmers.
“In the last ten years, I’ve buried both my parents and learned how to say goodbye,” Schultz said. “As a result, I’ve sat on the other side of the desk and went from being just sympathetic to being empathetic.”
The Greenlee Funeral Home in Beallsville is located at 2830 Main St.. For more information, phone 724-632-5454.
Jason Schultz stands at the entrance to the funeral parlor
A close-up of the memorabilia case. All three Greenlee Funeral Homes have a similar case.
At the side of his memorabilia case, Jason Schultz is pointing to the briefcase of funeral director Jim McDonough.
