Hovanec

Charine P. “Sherry” Hovanec, 84, of Butler, peacefully passed away Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.

Born Aug. 4, 1942, in Grove City, she was a daughter of the late Nicholas A. Petrarca and Carrie White Petrarca.

Sherry was a 1960 graduate of Grove City High School and a 1965 graduate of Slippery Rock State College, now Slippery Rock University. She dedicated her career to educating children, serving as an elementary educator in the Butler Area School District for 27 years. She was a member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees.

Her commitment to her students and the community was an important part of her life and legacy.

Sherry served the Butler community in many different capacities, including Meals on Wheels, the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania, American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days and she was a former board member of the Butler County Symphony Association.

She was a member of All Saints Parish, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, where she was a member of the Women’s Guild and where she taught Sunday school and was a Vacation Bible School coordinator.

In 2019, Sherry was inducted into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame for voting in every November election for at least 50 consecutive years. Her father ingrained in her that voting was one of the most important responsibilities of a U.S. citizen.

Sherry is survived by her son, Matthew Hovanec and his wife, Colleen, of Mount Gretna, Pa.; her daughter, Rachel Spirer and her husband, Jeffrey, of Baden, Pa.; her grandchildren, Andrew Hackman, Matthew Hackman, Ethan Spirer and Madison Spirer; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and a wealth of friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas J. Hovanec, whom she married July 27, 1968, and who passed away May 19, 2014; one brother, Wayne R. Petrarca; one sister, Marsha B. Petrarca; one sister-in-law, Mary H. Napolitano; and one nephew, Stephen Petrarca.

HOVANEC — Friends of Charine P. “Sherry” Hovanec, who died Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at All Saints Parish, St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, with the Rev. John J. Baver officiating.

Interment will follow at Butler County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sherry Hovanec may be made to CW Music - Comfort, Compassion and Christ with Music, 110 Heritage Creek Drive, Mars, PA 16046. Christopher Wu, a violinist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for 36 years, provided instrumental comfort to Sherry and her family during Sherry’s time in hospice. Memorial donations may also be made to the Butler County Symphony Association, 259 S. Main St., Butler, PA 16001.

For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.