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 August 23, 2018 at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler. 

William E. and Mildred Grafton Tomasello welcomed Tonya into their lives in1943.  She was raised in Fairview Twp.  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 childrens’ 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 a 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, and 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, OH, and Michelle Keibler and her husband, Sam, of Kittanning; six grandchildren, Sarah Confer, Stacey and Kevin Nicodemus, Sam, Ashley, and Olivia Keibler; two sisters, Patti Hancock and her husband, Dennis, of Butler, and Nancy Emery of Chicora; four step children, Kim Labrie and her husband, Marcel, of Manchester, NH, Lee Geibel, and his wife, Judy, of Sodus Point, NY, Karen Chichy, and her husband, Chris, of Glen Campbell, Kerri Gross, and her husband, Scott, of Portersville; six step grandchildren, Brad Confer, Steven James, Caitlyn and Nicole Barton, and Kathryn and Nick Gross; two step great grandchildren, Tyler Long and Cassidy Richards, as well as 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. 

 Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Karns City, 128 Main St., Karns City from 1-3 and 6-8 p.m. on Sunday.  A funeral service will be held from the North Washington Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. on Monday 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, PO Box 237, Petrolia, PA 16050, a charity of one’s choice, or the VA Medical Center, 325 New Castle Rd., Butler, PA 16001.  For more information, or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.    

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