Westmoreland County PA Archives Obituaries.....Kissell, Thomas M.  November 13, 2021
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Donald Buncie donaldbuncie@htmail.com March 20, 2026, 4:16 am

Tribune Review from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16, 2021
Thomas M. Kissell, 95, of Unity Township, passed away Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021,
at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born July 19, 1926, in Mammoth, he
was a son of the late Michael J. Kissell and Catherine J. (Soltis) Kissell. Tom
was an active and longtime member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Whitney, where
he served many years on parish council. A veteran of WWII, he served in the Navy
as a ship's cook, First Class. After his honorable discharge from the service,
he enrolled at Saint Vincent College to pursue a bachelor of science degree in
education with a concentration in English. While in the midst of a full academic
load, he retained his part-time job tending a coke oven every morning and
enjoyed playing baseball. It was during these years that he also married his
beloved wife, the late Helen (Whisdosh) Kissell, and they began to raise their
family. Tom successfully completed his degree and began his remarkable career in
education as an English teacher from 1951 to 1957 at his alma mater, the former
Hurst High School. In 1957, he accepted a position as supervising principal of
the Unity Township School District which transitioned to the Unity Youngstown
Joint School District. As the local school districts continued to consolidate,
he was promoted from supervising principal to assistant superintendent of the
newly formed Greater Latrobe School District in 1962. In 1970, he became the
superintendent of Greater Latrobe School District, a position he held until
1979. Following his tenure at Greater Latrobe, he went on to serve as
superintendent for Penn Cambria School District from 1979 until his retirement
on March 1, 1986. Throughout his years of service to the public schools, he
found time to serve as a college instructor at St. Vincent College from 1964 to
1968 and as supervisor of student teachers for St. Vincent in 1968.
Professionally, he has held memberships with numerous professional organizations
at the local, state and national levels. In the community, Tom has played an
active role in promoting the success of the Greater Latrobe area including
positions on the board of trustees for Adams Memorial Library (1970-1979), board
of trustees for the Latrobe Foundation (1970-1979), board of directors for the
Latrobe Community Chest (1970-1979), president of the Latrobe Rotary Club
(1974-1975), president of the St. Vincent Alumni Association (1958), president
of the St. Vincent Alumni Letterman's Club (1976) and a life member of the Saint
Vincent College Alumni Council. His service to Saint Vincent earned him the
honor of Alumnus of Distinction in 1995. After his retirement, Tom served for 16
years on the Greater Latrobe School District board of education. He also became
active with Overly's Country Christmas and the board of trustees for Torrance
State Hospital. Tom will be lovingly remembered by his family and friends for
his Christian charity, professional involvement, service above self and
exquisitely unique and rare compassion for family and friends. In addition to
his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Helen M.
(Whisdosh) Kissell, on April 7, 2021; a son, Dr. Thomas X. Kissell; a brother,
Edward J. Kissell; and three sisters, Mary Seni, Pauline Mizak and Dorothy
Abzanka. Tom is survived by his nine children, Dr. Helen Burns (Jerry), Paulette
Stratico (Chuck), Darlene Kimmel (Carl Pedersen), Don Kissell (Valerie), Kathryn
Shaffer (Jeff), Cindy Hoffman (Randy), Annette Mowery (Ron Reiner), Jennifer
Strayer (Randy) and Kevin X. Kissell; a daughter-in-law, Mary C. Kissell; a
sister-in-law, Frances Kissell; 22 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren,
and one more on the way. Family and friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m.
Monday and 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at LOPATICH-BRINKER FUNERAL HOME LLC., 601 Weldon
St., Latrobe, PA 15650. Members of St. Cecilia Rosary Altar Society will recite
the Rosary at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be
celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Cecilia Church, Whitney. Interment will
follow at St. Vincent Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the
family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Helen and Thomas
Kissell Endowed Service Learning Fund at St. Vincent College, 300 Fraser
Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650.

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