‘Tunney’ Yuhas Kniceley passes away

Clara "Tunney" Yuhas Kniceley

Clara “Tunney” Yuhas Kniceley, Class of 1944, passed away Monday, March 2 in a Shillington, Pennsylvania nursing home. Her granddaughter, Angela Renae Politanoff, lives in Shillington.

Tunney lived in Carolina where her mother, Clara Kerekes Yuhas, ran a boarding house to make ends meet after Tunney’s father, Andrew Yuhas, passed away.

Her sisters are Irene Yuhas Ice, Class of 1946, who still lives in Carolina where all Irene’s children also live, and Elizabeth Yuhas Dudash, deceased.

Their mother, Clara, was a sister to Steve Kerekes, who married Helen Olesky Kerekes and lived on Walnut Street and Pike Street till their deaths.

Helen’s siblings were John W. Olesky, Sr. (father of John Olesky, Jr.) and Frances Olesky Fazio, married to Renzy Fazio till both passed away.

Irene said Tunney died peacefully in her sleep and was the hit of the nursing home, where she was called “Queenie,” maybe because of the regal behavior she had all of her life.

Irene lost her husband in 2001. Elizabeth has a son living in Shinnston who maintains contact with Irene.

Both Tunney and Irene had a thing for the musical Vingle boys during their Monongah High days. Tunney “thought the world of” Raymond Vingle, Irene said. Irene dated Anthony “Bugs” Vingle, now deceased, as is Bugs’ widow, Mary Martha Cavrich Vingle, who passed away in 2011.

The children of Bugs and Mary Martha are Barry, Scott and Robert Vingle of Fairmont and Brian Vingle and wife Kathy of Concord, North Carolina.

Other Kniceleys who graduated from Monongah High are Bertha Kniceley Davies, Class of 1960, and Harold Kniceley, Class of 1960.

Danny Kniceley is a 1982 North Marion graduate.

If you memories of the Yuhas, Kniceley, Ice or others mentioned in this article, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll add them in this blog.

Tunney’s obituary:

Clara "Tunny" Yuhas Kniceley (January 26, 1926 - March 2, 2015) Clara “Tunny” Yuhas Kniceley went to be with her Lord on Monday, March 2, 2015 surrounded by her loving family at the Genesis Mifflin Center in Shillington, PA where she was known to the caretakers as “Queenie.” She was born on January 2, 1926 in Carolina, WV, a daughter of the late Andrew and Clara Yuhas. She married James “Jimmy” Ray Kniceley on July 2, 1949 and is now with him in Heaven.  Jimmy was the son of Earl and Anna Kniceley of Hyers, WV. She is one of three daughters born to Andrew and Clara: Elizabeth Yuhas Dudash and husband Andrew (both deceased) and Irene Yuhas Ice, who still lives in Carolina and is Tunny’s heart. Guy Ice Jr., Irene’s deceased husband, was more like a brother than a brother-in-law. She has two daughters: Toni Renae Ashcraft, married to Richard Ashcraft of Reading, PA , where she has resided for the past four years. Her other daughter, Tina Rae Malcomb, resides in Kellytown, WV. The loves of her heart (grandchildren): Angela Renae Politanoff married to Michael Politanoff who reside in Shillington, PA, Denise Elizabeth Jacoby who resides in Oley, PA with Brandon Shumaker and Danielle Marie Malcomb who resides with her father, Dan Malcomb in Idamay, WV. Her great grandchildren are the triplets Ian Michael, Nikolia James and Klara Ann (her name sake) Politanoff. Also her sweet precious grandbabies Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bronson and Avina Delilah Roberts are the daughters of Denise Jacoby. She is known as the best Aunt “Tunny” to Trudy and Terry Lemley and their children and spouses, Trina, Bill, Lori, Andrew, Teri Beth and Matt along with their children Audrie, Brier, Bailie and Fletcher. Tom and Kim Ice, their son Jay and wife Amanda and son Jake, Terry and Lori Ice and their sons James and Cody, Todd and Tamara Ice who were always the life of the parties with Aunt Tunny, Junie and Carol Dudash. She also left behind Christine Sokolosky her cousin by marriage (but more like a sister), Aunt Eloise, as well as devoted friends Emma and Dan Malcomb. She was called by the grandchildren as Grammy, Memster, Meme, and Memes. To her friends and family she was always dressed in glitz, loved to take pictures and share family time. All the girls in the family have received their fashion sense from their Grammy. Clara was known as the “Matriarch” of Idamay, WV by Uncle Marty. While she lived in Reading, PA, she became very close friends with Waltraud Politanoff, Tom and Sherry Rees, Dorthy, Frank, Gwen, Evan, Aubree, Bonnie, John, and Christie (owner of the Rustic Fox). She will be deeply missed by everyone who has ever had the pleasure of meeting such a wonderful and strong woman. Friends may call at the Hutson Funeral Home in Farmington on Thursday from 3-9 p.m. Services will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Carolina United Methodist Church with the Pastor Danny Blake officiating. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Shinnston Memorial Cemetery. Online condolences may be accessed at www.hutsonfuneralhomes.com

If you have memories of the Ice family, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com and I’ll add them to this Monongah High Alumni blog.