Barkus

Amelia "Milly" Barkus of Butler left this world to be reunited with her husband, Leo, on March 16. She was in the loving company of her family and close friends. Her passing was preceded by a brief illness.

Mrs. Barkus was born Amelia Christine Lipnichan, on Sept. 24, 1929, in McKees Rocks, the daughter of Stephen A. Lipnichan of Yugoslavia and Terezia Matis Lipnichan of Czechoslovakia.

She graduated in 1947 from Miles Bryan High School, McKees Rocks.

On May 14, 1949, she married Leo B. Barkus of McKees Rocks, and they were married for 53 years until his passing on Jan. 21, 2003.

They moved from Wexford to a small farm in Butler County in 1970. Mrs. Barkus was a wife, mother and homemaker her entire life.

They had three children, Debra A. Nelson and her husband, Robert, Paul A. Barkus and his wife, Amy, and Amy C. Barkus and her husband, George Boyd, all surviving and all of Butler,

Her brothers, Samuel Lipnichan of Pittsburgh, and Richard Lipnichan of Bruin, and her sisters, Julia T. Roberts, Margaret M. Lipnichan and Josephine "Josie" Chilcott, all of Butler, survive. Many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews also survive.

Mrs. Barkus also is survived by 11 loving grandchildren, Jennifer Nelson, Margaret Nelson, Andrew Barkus, Michelle Barkus, Matthew Barkus, Kristen Barkus, Emily Barkus, John Henry Barkus, Mariel Barkus, Natalie Barkus, and Christopher Barkus Boyd and her sole great-grandchild, Luke Nelson.

Mrs. Barkus was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph and Robert Lipnichan; one sister, Pauline Lipnichan; and two infant brothers, Stephen and Vladimir Lipnichan.

In the time before her passing, and after her husband had gone on, Mrs. Barkus enjoyed the regular company of family and friends at her farmhouse. They all made life after Leo's passing a little easier.

She spoke with her daughters and granddaughters several times a day, enjoyed the meals her family cooked for her, went for peaceful drives in the country with her friend and neighbor, John Beall, could not get enough of Arlene Beall's gourmet macaroni and cheese, and delighted in the infectious high spirits of friend and neighbor, Maggie Beall. She always seemed to feel a little safer on the farm knowing that Walt Hoover was just on the other side of the back fencerow.

We will all miss her and her parting words at the end of the evening phone call:"Good Night, Good Luck and God bless. I love you." We love you too, Mom.

<B>BARKUS — </B>Private services for Amelia "Milly" Barkus, who died March 16, 2008, were on March 28 at the Calvary Cemetery, Butler, with the Rev. Anselm Orlosky, O.S.B. of Holy Trinity Byzantine Monastery officiating. Arrangement and Cremation services were entrusted to the <B>GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St.Mrs. Barkus asked that any donations be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor 1028 Benton Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15212-1694, the Holy Trinity Monastery, 595 Mushrush Road, Butler, PA 16002, or the Salvation Army Butler Corps, P.O. Box 28, Butler, PA 16003-0028.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.