Loretta Groves

Loretta N. Groves, 79, of Zelienople died Saturday at UPMC Passavant Hospital, McCandless Township.

Born Feb. 10, 1932, in Zelienople, she was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Florence Sutch Nickita.

Mrs. Groves was a longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Zelienople.

She retired from Herb Brittner's Smokehouse, a family business that she loved.

Mrs. Groves loved her family, loved all of nature and had a zest for life.

She is survived by her husband, Ralph H. Groves, who she married, Dec. 31, 1956; a daughter, Lorraine (Ed) Spargur of Miami, Fla.; a son, Ralph E. Groves of Philadelphia; a brother, John (Jackie) Nickita of Fort Myers, Fla.; and three sisters, Ann (Gordon) Long of Columbiana, Ohio, Mary (Herb) Brittner of Zelienople and Jennie Nickita of Zelienople.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Kobet; a sister, Virginia Pears and her husband, Harry; and a brother, Nicholas Nickita and his wife, Wilma.

<B>GROVES </B>— A memorial service for Loretta N. Groves, who died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, 215 N. Main St., Zelienople, with the Rev. Robert A. Keplinger officiating. The family will receive friends in the church hall following the service. Interment in the St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery is private.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to VNA of Butler County, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001.Arrangements have been entrusted to <B>Boylan Funeral Home</B>, Zelienople, and online condolences and directions are available at www.boylanfuneralhome.com.