Katherine D. Wellek

Katherine D. Wellek, 81, of Latrobe, died Thursday, May 28, 2009, in Excela Health Latrobe Hospital. Born July 15, 1927, in Latrobe, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Vogas) Priestas. She was a former clerk at G.C. Murphy Co. and a homemaker. Mrs. Wellek was a member of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, and also enjoyed attending St. John the Evangelist Church. She volunteered in the cafeteria at Christ the Divine Teacher School and St. John the Evangelist School. She loved and donated to Action for Animals. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Marianne Hardesty Koski; and a brother, Paul Priestas. She is survived by her husband, William F. Wellek; two children, William R. Wellek, of Latrobe, and Deborah Baker and her husband, Carson, of Rural Valley; a grandson, Michael Challinor and his wife, Rachel, of New Derry; three siblings, Anne Marie Koski, of Williamsburg, Va., Joseph Priestas and Mary Jane Trumbetta, both of Latrobe; a sister-in-law, Frances Priestas, of Latrobe; and two special companions, Buffett the dog and Stuffy the cat. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the FREDERICK FUNERAL HOME INC., 1543 Ligonier St., Latrobe. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Holy Family Roman Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Latrobe. To send online condolences, visit www.frederickfuneralhome.com.