Corey W.E. Rhodes

Corey William Emerson Rhodes, 33, a passionate, faith-filled, and selfless young man, of Scottdale, passed away on May 25, 2026, at his residence, surrounded by his loving family after a long and courageous battle with Fibrolamellar Hepatocelluar Carcinoma. He was born on August 5, 1992, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Roger K. and Gail A. Grabiak Rhodes of Scottdale. He lived a life marked by devotion to family, service to others, and a quiet determination that inspired everyone around him. Corey was a beloved son of Roger K. and Gail A. Grabiak Rhodes of Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and a cherished brother to Gary Rhodes of Scottdale and his girlfriend Renee Recker of Pittsburgh. Corey’s girlfriend, Melissa Burns of Youngwood and her children, Gracin and Haydin. Corey treasured his family deeply and was surrounded throughout his life by the love of his aunts and uncles, Ronald Grabiak and wife Rochelle of Scottdale, Kay Marie Seaman and husband Thomas of Greensburg, Dennis Rhodes of Scottdale, Barry Rhodes of Scottdale and Randy Rhodes and wife Cindy of Connellsville. His cousins, Kristian Dillard and husband Michael and their children Wyatt and Naomi of Moon Twp., Nicole Lori and Jonathan and their children Emily and Tristan of Scottdale, Joshua Grabiak and his girlfriend Paris Santiago and her daughter Lilly of Charles Town, W.V., Aleece Brown and husband Ryan and their son Hudson of Scottdale, Nicole Wiltrout and her son, Doltyn of Scottdale, Melanie Halstead and her children Emily and Noah, Danielle Halstead and husband Chad and their son Jake of New Stanton, Justin Rhodes and wife Stephanie and their children Bella, Nick and Fiona of Mt. Pleasant and Dana Moore and husband James and their children Trinity and Nathaniel. Dear family friends who will forever remember his warm spirit and generous heart, Gil and Kirsten Shaffer and their families. Corey was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, William T. Grabiak and Lois Grabiak; his paternal grandparents, Emerson Rhodes and Althea Rhodes; his uncle, Gary Grabiak; and aunt Martha Rhodes. Corey was a faithful member of the Partner Parish of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Scottdale, where his faith was a guiding force in his life. He graduated from Southmoreland High School in the Class of 2011 and continued his education at Westmoreland County Community College, where he earned his Associate Degree in Accounting. He later completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from California University. Corey’s dedication to learning and his strong work ethic carried into his professional life, and for the past nine years he was employed by Buckler, McKenney and Nadzai CPA’s. Earlier in his career, he also worked for Walmart and Seton Hill Child Services for two years. Corey was a man who found joy in sports and in the many ways they brought people together. He enjoyed golf, baseball, softball, and deck hockey, and he especially loved umpiring baseball games, coaching baseball teams, and working the chain gang on the sidelines for Southmoreland High School football home games. For many summers, he enjoyed bailing hay. He also took great pride in helping with the St. John’s fish fries over the past several years, where his willingness to serve and his friendly presence were appreciated by many. One of Corey’s most remarkable accomplishments was the founding of the Rhodes Cancer Foundation in 2024, which he created as a way to give back and make a difference in the lives of others despite his own battle. Corey never accepted a single cent for himself, choosing instead to pour every donation into the foundation’s mission. Through his leadership and compassion, more than 1,500 free meals were provided at the cancer center, nearly $50,000 was donated to the UPMC Liver Cancer Research Center, and $5,000 was awarded in scholarships. Beyond the numbers, Corey’s kindness touched countless lives and left a lasting legacy of hope, generosity, and courage. His family and friends will continue to honor his mission and carry forward the work that meant so much to him. Corey will be remembered for the way he lived his life with purpose and humility. He was passionate in all that he did, steadfast in his faith, and selfless in his care for others. Those who knew him will remember his devotion to family, his commitment to service, and his ability to bring encouragement and strength even in difficult times. His memory will remain a blessing to all who were fortunate enough to know him, and his legacy will continue to shine through the lives he touched. Special Thanks to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at Mountain View to Corey’s caring angels, Dr. Evans, Dr. Ehrlichman and Dr. Geller for all the love, kindness and professionalism that was shown to Corey and his family. Family and Friends of Corey are invited to the Frank Kapr Funeral Home, Inc., 417 Pittsburgh Street Scottdale, Thursday, May 28, 2026 from 5PM – 8PM and Friday, May 29, 2026 from 1PM-3PM and 5PM-8PM. Prayers of Transfer will be held Saturday, May 30, 2026 in the Funeral Home at 10:30AM with his Funeral Mass to follow in the Partner Parish of St. John the Baptist R.C. Church Scottdale, at 11AM with Fr. Peter Guardiano, as Celebrant. Committal Services and Interment will follow in St. John Parish Cemetery, Scottdale. Per Corey’s wishes, In lieu of flowers, please consider a generous donation to the Rhodes Cancer Foundation, 366 Wesley Chapel Road Scottdale, Pa. 15683. The Funeral Home doors will be locked in between visiting hours. To view online obituary, send online condolences, please visit www.kapr.com

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