Retha Louise Koval

Retha Louise (Tishue) Koval, age 91, of Boca Raton, Florida, and formerly of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2026. Born on February 11, 1934, to the late Ruby Sepkovic Heckman, Retha was deeply rooted in her family, faith, and community.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, Theodore J. “Ted” Koval; her dearly loved mother, Ruby Sepkovic Heckman and stepfather, Kenneth M. Heckman; her sister, Marjorie "Jean" McCormick; and her grandparents, Bertha (Fuller) and Stephen Sepkovic. She is survived by her four treasured children and their spouses: Nancy (Greg) Fearon, Jean (Denny) Marochak, Susan (Chris) Bennett, and John (Della) Koval; her cherished grandchildren and their spouses: Brianne (James) Lowe, Patrick (Jennifer) Fearon, TJ Marochak, and Shane and Cameron Bennett; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Connor, Lucy, and Trent. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

A woman of deep faith, Retha was a lifelong member of St. John the Evangelist RC Church and the Christian Mothers in Connellsville. She later moved to Boca Raton to be close to her family, truly treasuring the time spent with her children and grandchildren. While always a Connellsville girl at heart, Retha enjoyed her new life at The Veranda Club, where she made dear friends and loved participating in many social activities. She was also a familiar face and a faithful member of Our Lady of Lourdes in Boca Raton.

A proud graduate of Connellsville Joint High School, Class of 1952, Retha enjoyed playing in the marching band and her role in planning many class reunions over the years. She dedicated over 20 years to the Connellsville Area School District as a teaching assistant with the Intermediate Unit 1, leaving a legacy of kindness and patience with the children whose lives she touched.

Retha was a vibrant, social person who cherished her lifelong friendship with Audrey (Mike) Yozie and her many "Card Club Buddies." She maintained her deep Connellsville roots through frequent phone calls and occasional visits with cherished friends Carol Cunningham, and especially Debbie Gephart, whom she adored like a daughter. An avid reader and game enthusiast, Retha treasured Gone with the Wind as her lifelong favorite book and rarely turned down a competitive game of Scrabble. As a passionate family historian, Retha spent decades researching her family genealogy and she thrived on maintaining ethnic traditions, particularly around the holidays. She especially enjoyed making traditional Slovak foods and pastries. She also found great joy in music—especially Nat King Cole, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, whom she was thrilled to hear in person during a "bucket list" trip to Utah.

A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Boca Raton, Florida, on March 25th at 9:30. The committal will be at South Florida National Cemetery the same day at 12:30.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John the Evangelist RC Church, Connellsville, PA, or to Hospice by the Sea, Boca Raton, FL.