Buchmelter

Kristen L. "Kristi" (Spirk) Buchmelter, 30, of Wintersville, Ohio, formerly of Mars, Pa., and Fort Myers, Fla., died Friday with her family at her side at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center after a brief illness.

Born April 3, 1980, in McCandless Township, she was the beloved daughter of Regis L. and Carol A. (Wilson) Spirk of Mars.

Kristi was a member of St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, Mingo Junction, Ohio, and a former member of St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church, Wexford. She attended St. Alphonsus School and was a 1998 graduate of Mars High School.

Kristi loved writing and reading. She was the best wife to Ben, best mother to her three children and cherished daughter of Regis and Carol Spirk. Kristi also was a surrogate mother to Vanessa Ristocelli, who was born Feb. 14, 2008. She will be sadly missed by all those whose lives she so lovingly touched.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, Benjamin A. Buchmelter of Wintersville, Ohio; three children, Michael David Fortier Jr., Ciara Rose Fortier and Elisabeth Ann Fortier, all of Fort Myers, Fla.; a brother, Gregory S. Spirk (Elissa) of Cranberry Township and a niece, Lena Rose Spirk.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Brian C. Spirk, who died Oct. 21, 1988.

<B>BUCHMELTER — </B>Friends of Kristen l. Buchmelter, who died Friday, Sept. 10, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at <B>Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home & Cremation Svcs.</B>, 130 Wisconsin Ave., Cranberry Township.A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church, 201 Church Road, Wexford. Everyone please meet at the church.Online condolences and directions are at www.glennkildoofuneralhome.com