Memorial dinner held for slain mother

February 17, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

STRUTHERS

Family and friends are having a spaghetti dinner in Struthers to celebrate the life of Amanda Seman, 26, who was killed at a residence on Falls Avenue in New Castle, Pa., on Nov. 19, 2014.

“Amanda was wonderful. ... She was a silly, loving person,” said Christine Seman, Amanda’s mother and owner of the Sno Castle, 706 Youngstown-Poland Road.

The dinner will take place at the Bowery bar, 2729 E. Midlothian Blvd., at noon March 1. The cost is $8 per person.

Christine’s daughter grew up in Struthers where she played basketball in high school before graduating in 2006. Christine said Amanda would volunteer her time at the Sno Castle during the summer.

Amanda did have her struggles with heroin addiction, Christine added. But that changed when she gave birth to her son, Brenton, last June.

“Her son was everything to her,” Christine said. “She was just trying to get back on her feet.”

Amanda’s grandparents had a life-insurance policy that covered funeral costs, but are left with raising $4,900 for the headstone, said Sheila Lodwick, Christine’s roommate.

The spaghetti dinner would help raise the money for Amanda’s headstone. The dinner also would feature an auction and music.

According to Vindicator files, Robert D. Johns, 40, was charged after Neshannock Township police found Amanda’s body in an upstairs bedroom at the New Castle residence Nov. 21, 2014. Police said the suspect and victim knew each other and Amanda was shot in the head after a confrontation with Johns, who also was found at the residence.

Christine said Johns’ trial has been postponed several times, with the latest date set in March.