Grace Eileen Vandernitte

Grace Eileen Vandernitte, 94, of North Charleroi passed away peacefully and went to be with the Lord on July 6, 2025.  She was born in September of 1930 and was the daughter of the late John Francis Tillman and Edith (Osborne) Tillman.

Grace led a full life and was a kind hearted, caring person who loved everyone. In her early twenties, she played accordion in the Lou Kelly dance band.  Their slogan was “Swoon and Sway the Kelly Way: Music for All Occasions.”  She worked for the Charleroi Chamber of Commerce as assistant to the office manager and later as the bookkeeper for Sun Wall Carpet. She belonged to the First Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) of Charleroi, Pa. where she was a member, served as a deacon, belonged to the Women’s Fellowship Group, taught Bible School and was Outreach chair for many years. She was also on the committee that supported the church by fundraising through preparing and serving food for funerals, weddings, and other church involved activities. As her health declined, she was happy singing Bible School songs and Church hymns.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great, great, grandmother to her family who will miss her dearly. She always enjoyed dinning at the Dairy Queen and if you go there, she will join you in spirit,

In addition to her parents, Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Vandernitte, Jr. (they were married for 55 wonderful years); sister, Jane Sheppick and brother, John Tillman

Surviving to cherish Grace’s memory; two daughters, Grace Arter and husband, Paul of Arnold, MD, Betty Jo Matesich and late husband, David of N Charleroi, PA; son, Joseph (Jody) Vandernitte and late wife, Jodele of N Charleroi, PA; two sisters, Betty Flatt and late husband, Will of Rockledge, FL,  Linda Ingram and husband, Ed of Fredericksburg, VA; two granddaughters, Tracy Lehnert and husband, Kevin of Pasadena, MD, Allison Persels and husband, Joel of Arnold, MD; two grandsons, Mark Matesich and wife, Danielle of Buffalo, NY,  Jamie Kepich and wife, Tonya of Charleroi, PA;  three great grandsons, David (Alex) Lehnert and wife, Nicole of Pasadena, MD, Jack Persels of Arnold, MD, Jace Kepich of Charleroi, PA; four great granddaughters, Morgan C Morgan and husband, Brian of Stoney Beach, MD, Hattie Persels of Arnold, MD, Haley Matesich of Buffalo, NY, Jayme Lee Jones and husband, Kaven of Charleroi, PA; two great, great, granddaughters, Everly Mae Lehnert of Pasadena, MD and Violet Grace Morgan of Stoney Beach, MD.

The family would like to give a thank you to the Mon Valley Care Center second floor nurses, aides, and dietitian. She especially enjoyed, as she called them, the delicious mashed potatoes with gravy.

Also, a special thank you to OSPTA Hospice and Senior Helpers for their exceptional care, kindness, empathy, compassion, and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure our mother’s comfort and help the family with their support.

The Hogan-Melenyzer Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 226 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, PA 15022 is handling arrangements. There will be no public visitation. Interment will be held Tuesday, July 15th, 2025 at 1:00pm at Maple Creek Cemetery.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hogan-melenyzer.com.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Grace Vandernitte’s name may be made to the OSPTA Hospice, 4325 SR 51 N., Belle Vernon, PA 15012, (724) 565-5892.

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