Tonya M. Tomasello Geibel
The family would like to thank God for the life of Tonya M. Tomasello Geibel, who passed from this life to her eternal life on Thursday afternoon at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.
William E. and Mildred Grafton Tomasello welcomed Tonya into their lives in 1943.
She was raised in Fairview Township.
As a child, she attended the former St. James Roman Catholic Church and Petrolia Elementary School.
She had fond memories of spending lunch breaks at the Petrolia Hotel with her extended family.
She attended Fairview Township Karns City High School and played saxophone in the marching and pep bands, graduating in 1961.
Later, she became an active member of St. Louis Roman Catholic Church in West Sunbury.
Tonya loved God, always giving thanks before every meal. She was dedicated to her family and especially concerned for her children's education. She loved the USA and its flag. She enjoyed crocheting, listening to bluegrass and country music, cooking, baking and the company of her family, especially her grandchildren and traveling with her husband, Earle.
She graduated from the LPN program at Butler County Community College. She was employed as an LPN at the VA Medical Center Nursing Home in Butler, and retired following a disabling vehicle collision in 1992.
Tonya was helped by many family and friends, especially her children, to recover physically from her serious accident. Her family had special memories of Phyllis Waterson who helped her rekindle her spirit for crocheting.
She always remained appreciative to the local volunteer fire and ambulance crews who rescued her following her accident.
Mrs. Geibel is survived by her husband, Earle D. Geibel; four children, Susan Confer and her husband, Bruce, of Petrolia, Karen Nicodemus and her husband, Jim, of McDonald, James DeCorte of Boardman, Ohio, and Michelle Keibler and her husband, Sam, of Kittanning; six grandchildren, Sarah Confer, Stacey and Kevin Nicodemus, and Sam, Ashley and Olivia Keibler; two sisters, Patti Hancock and her husband, Dennis, of Butler, and Nancy Emery of Chicora; four stepchildren, Kim Labrie and her husband, Marcel, of Manchester, N.H., Lee Geibel and his wife, Judy, of Sodus Point, N.Y., Karen Chichy and her husband, Chris, of Glen Campbell, Pa., and Kerri Gross and her husband, Scott, of Portersville; six stepgrandchildren, Brad Confer, Steven James, Caitlyn and Nicole Barton, and Kathryn and Nick Gross; and two step great- grandchildren, Tyler Long and Cassidy Richards.
She also is survived by a number of nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and cousins.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant son; an infant grandson, Dilan Confer; and a brother-in-law, Ronald Emery.
GEIBEL — Friends of Tonya M. Tomasello Geibel, who died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, will be received from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Hile Funeral Home of Karns City, 128 Main St., Karns City.A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday from North Washington Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Robert S. Edmundson, church pastor, officiating.Interment will be in Union Cemetery, North Washington.Memorial contributions in Mrs. Geibel's name may be made to the Petrolia Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 237, Petrolia, PA 16050, a charity of one's choice, or the VA Medical Center, 325 New Castle Road, Butler, PA 16001.For more information, or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.
