Gregory Eugene Joseph Wohar – Irwin
Gregory Eugene Joseph Wohar fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, at the age of 57. “Brother” Greg was a poet, musician, actor, cantor, lector and prayer warrior with a childlike wonder and passion for life. One of his favorite mottos was “carpe diem” (seize the day), which helped him to see life as an adventure to be taken “one day at a time.” He loved to laugh, and his vibrant personality was expressed through epic poems, storytelling, voice impressions and movie quoting. He had a passion for learning: throughout his life, he earned three degrees, first graduating with high honors from Palmer College in October 1990 as a doctor of chiropractic and then going back to school at California University in his 40s to earn degrees in biology and education. He taught anatomy and physiology at Westmoreland County Community College. Greg also worked an active program with friends of Bill W. for the past 21.5 years and dedicated his recovery to his two children. He was an amazing father, filling his children’s lives with good music, plays and musicals, baseball games, trips to the beach or lake, board games, visits to hibachi restaurants and more. One of his phrases was “pray hard, play hard.” His entire life was centered on his Catholic faith, receiving daily communion and frequenting confession. He was a firm believer in “breathing with both lungs,” serving as a bridge between Eastern and Western Rites of the Church. In addition to cantoring Divine Liturgies at Saint Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Donora, he led a charismatic prayer meeting in the Mon Valley, lectured at Immaculate Conception Church in Irwin and even became an oblate novice with the Benedictines at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe in the last few months of his life. Finally, he dedicated the past 26 years of his life to taking care of his two children, Natalia (Nathaniel) Tapsak and Nathan, who survive him, in addition to his nine siblings, Mark Wohar of Daisytown; Dr. Mary (Javier) Torres of San Antonio, Texas; Catherine (Pat) Wood of Wheeling, W.Va.; Dr. John (Linda) Wohar of Brownsville; Francis Wohar of Daisytown; Margaret (Jeff) Aronckes of Pittsburgh; Atty. Christine Wohar of Nashville, Tenn.; Dr. Stephen (Karen) Wohar of Monongahela; and Lisa (Andrew) Glowik of Laurel, Md. He is also survived by 47 nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. His first grandchild is expected Jan. 6, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Josephine Wohar, whose motto of marriage he also strove to live out: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all else will be provided” (Matthew 6:33). Arrangements have been entrusted to ANTHONY L. MASSAFRA FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE INC., 40 Second St. Ext., Donora, PA 15033, 724-379-6900, where friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Panachida services will be held at 9:15 a.m. in the funeral home Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, followed by a funeral liturgy in St. Michael Byzantine Rite Catholic Church at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Father Stephen Wahal officiating. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Donora. Parastas services will be recited in the funeral home at 3:45 p.m. Friday. A Rosary will be recited in the funeral home at 7:30 p.m. Friday. To share a condolence, please visit www.massafrafuneralhome.com.
