Obituaries by LocationFebruary 25, 1997
Harold A. Small
Harold A. Small, 79, of Holder, Fla., formerly of Westport, Mass., and Lehighton, died Thursday, Feb. 20, in the Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness, Fla. He was the husband of Pearl Small.
He was a retired restaurant owner.
Born in Lehighton, he was a son of the late Ruben T. and Mary E. (Koch) Small, and had resided in Holder for the past 23 years.
A member of the United Methodist Church, Inverness, he was of the Protestant faith.
He was a member of the Eastern Star, Cortez Allen Lodge, and the F. & A.M., Noqudchoke Lodge, both of Westport.
In addition, he was a Shriner and a member of the Egypt Temple, Tampa, Fla.; the Scottish Rite of Free Masons, Ocala, Fla.; and the Sword of Bunker Hill, Gaspee Order No. 99, Providence, R.I.
Surviving in addition to his wife are a son, Terry A. of Fort White, Fla.; a grandson and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas A., and a brother, William E.
Mrs. Myrtle Frantz
Mrs. Myrtle Frantz, 89, formerly of 55 Frantz Lane, Lower Towamensing Township, died Monday in Margaret's Victorian Manor, Jim Thorpe, where she had resided for two months. She was the widow of Monroe T. Frantz.
Born in Palmerton, she was a daughter of the late Artanus and Percy (Drumheller) Stroup.
She was a member of St. John Towamensing Lutheran Church, Palmerton.
Surviving are four sons, Stinson of Ocala, Fla., Robert of Port St. Lucie, Fla., Donald of College Park, Md., and Stanford of Palmerton; a sister, Nettie Hagenbuch of Palmerton; a brother Preston of Norristown, Montgomery County; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
The Thomas K. Thomas Funeral Home, 145 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Job G. Ahner
Job G. Ahner, 69, of 516 Vine St., Lehighton, was dead on arrival Monday at the Palmerton Hospital. He was the husband of the late Geraldine (Smith) Ahner, who died in 1995.
He was last employed by the Bennett Lehighton Ford car dealership.
Born in Packerton, he was a son of the late Jacob and Bertha (Horne) Ahner.
He was a member of the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club, Lehighton, and the Bee Hollow Hunting Club, Franklin Township.
Surviving are two daughters, Kathy, wife of Ronald Beers Sr., and Donna, two sons, Leonard and Darrin, all of Lehighton; two sisters, Henrietta Schoch and Shirley Heisler, and a brother Curtis, all of Lehighton; and seven grandchildren.
The Mayes-Melber Funeral Home, 200 Franklin St., Weissport, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Donald C. Belzner
Mrs. Mary M. Belzner, 76, of 704 Eighth Ave., Bethlehem, died Monday in the Muhlenberg Hospital Center, Bethlehem. She was the wife of Donald C. Belzner. They observed their 52nd wedding anniversary last April.
She was a practical nurse at Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem.
Born in Indianapolis, Ind., she was a daughter of the late George and Barbara (Galayda) Fisher.
She was a member of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Bethlehem, and a secretary of the senior citizen's group at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Allentown.
Surviving in addition to her husband are four sons, John J. of Bethlehem, George B. of Allentown, Stephen A. of Jim Thorpe and David C. of Parlin, N.J.; two daughters, Janice C., wife of Robert C. Radle of Bethlehem Township, and Mary L., wife of Leo K. Howell Jr. of Macungie; a sister, Clara Pacaro of Allentown; 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Vivian L. Lindaman
Mrs. Vivian L. Lindaman, 83, formerly of Northampton, died Monday in the Liberty Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Allentown. She was the widow of Alfred J. Lindaman.
She was a sewing machine operator for the former Hy-Grade Silk Mill, Allentown.
Born in Cementon, she was a daughter of the late Archie R. and Estella M. (Leibenguth) Zellner.
She was a member of Bethany Wesleyan Church, Cherryville.
Surviving are three sons, James Zellner of Mustang, Okla., Frederick Lindaman of Walnutport and Glenn Lindaman of Whitehall Township; two daughters, Melodie Peters of Whitehall and Cheryl, wife of Richard O'Brien of Mertztown; 23 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Lucy Fritz
Mrs. Lucy Fritz, 89, of 214 W. Water St., Lansford, died Monday in the Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale. She was the widow of John Fritz.
Born in Little Italy, Nesquehoning, she was a daughter of the late Matthew and Brigid (Cava) Maradeo.
She was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Lansford.
Surviving are a daughter, Philomena M. Bloomfield of Whitehall; three sons, Frank of Macungie, Gabe of Lansford and Ted, with whom she resided; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The Roche Funeral Home-McNamara Chapel, 3 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Joseph F. Doris
Joseph Francis Doris, 59, of Clearwater, Frankford, Del., formerly of Coaldale, died Sunday in the BeeBe Medical Center, Lewes, Del.
He was a comptroller for 24 years for Fitting, Inc., Seattle, Wash.
Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late James and Marie (McCall) Doris.
He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Bethany Beach, Del.
Doris was a Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict and a member of the Mason-Dixon Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7234, Quillen Point, Ocean View, Del.
Surviving are two brothers, Robert of Hamilton, N.J., and Paul of Los Angeles, Calif.; and three sisters, Marie A. Tessatore of Ocean View and Ann Curvey and Jean McClafferty, both of Tamaqua.
The Roche Funeral Home, 237 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
Macenka services
Funeral services for Mrs. Helen Macenka, 87, of 142 Coal St., Nesquehoning, who died Sunday in the Hazleton-St. Joseph Medical Center, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday from the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home, 655 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, with the Rev. George Bujnak officiating, followed by interment
in the St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church Cemetery , Nesquehoning. Calling hours are scheduled from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday and 10-10:30 a.m. Thursday.
Mrs. Albert W. Hubler
Mrs. Emily M. Hubler, 73, of Pinehurst, N.C., died Friday in the Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst. She was the wife of Albert W. Hubler.
Born in Frackville, she was a daughter of the late Stanislaus and Josephine (Navickas) Lazauskas.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Pinehurst.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a daughter, Joyce A. of Pinehurst; three sons, Albert J. and Vincent A., both of Pinehurst, and Richard A. of New Tripoli; a brother, Walter Lazusky of Cochranton, Crawford County; and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Anthony Massi
Mrs. Helen M. Massi, 82, of 1123 Upper Pennsylvania Ave., Bangor, died Sunday in the Slate Belt Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Bangor R.2. She was the wife of Anthony Massi.
She was a sewing machine operator for the Bangor Clothing Company for many years.
Born in Palmerton, she was a daughter of the late Stephen and Helen (Hudec) Mlchuch.
She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Roseto.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a brother Joseph in Tennessee; a sister, Anna Kline of Lehighton; a stepbrother, John Duyka of Palmerton; three stepsisters, Margaret Fabian and Pauline Andrews, both of Palmerton, and Martha Bizousky of Schnecksville; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Stinson.
Mrs. Frank J. Suborits
Mrs. Erna T. Suborits, 78, of 1470 Lindberg Road, Bethlehem, died Sunday in the St. Luke Hospital, Fountain Hill, Bethlehem. She was the wife of Frank J. Suborits. They observed their 48th wedding anniversary in December.
She worked for the former Forte Tie Company, Bethlehem.
Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Victoria (Schenk) Fischl.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Miller Heights.
Mrs. Suborits was an air raid warden in Allentown during World War II.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a son, Paul F. of Bethlehem Township; three sisters, Mrs. Theresa Bogert and Mrs. Emma Eberwein, both of Allentown, and Mrs. Elsie Pearson of Kresgeville; and two grandchildren.
Mrs. Agnes Gratto
Mrs. Agnes Gratto, 58, of Monmouth Junction, N.J., died Feb. 18. She was the wife of the late Edward Parano and Haldaine Gratto.
Born and raised in Lansford, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Maria Koltishko.
Surviving are three sons, Luke Parano of White Haven and David Parano and Kenneth Gratto, both in New Jersey; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The was the last member of her immediate family, she was preceded in death by six brothers, Frank, Joseph, Paul, George, Isadore and Aloysious; and a sister, Mary Chabala.
Funeral services were held in New Jersey.
Mrs. Evelyn Casper
Mrs. Evelyn H. Casper, of Bryan, Tex., formerly of West Hazleton, died Friday in her daughter's home in Bryan. She was the widow of William Casper, who died in 1984.
Before retirement, she and her husband owned and operated a grocery store on Winters Avenue in West Hazleton.
Born in Lebanon, she was a daughter of the late Herbert and Kathryn Green, former Tamaqua residents.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, West Hazleton.
Surviving are two daughters, Catherine, wife of Francis Oravetz of Houston, Tex., and Evelyn, wife of Dr. Jerome Kapes, with whom she resided; a son, Dr. William J. of San Diego, Calif.; a sister, Jane Ike of Tamaqua; a granddaughter and nieces and nephews.
Morgans additions
John Morgans, 76, of Matawan, N.J., who died Feb. 18 in his home, was preceded in death by his first wife, Catherine (Gallagher) Morgans, who died in 1948.
The deceased is also survived by a daughter Lois, wife of Charles Welsh of Hazleton.
Daniel D. Van Mater Jr.
Daniel D. Van Mater Jr., 84, formerly of Plainfield, N.J., and a Palmerton native, died Sunday in the Memorial Hospital of Burlington, Mount Holly, N.J. He was the husband of Gertrude (Rogers) Flynn Van Matter and the late Sarah (Ebersol) Van Matter.
A dairy farmer, he was the owner and operator of Crescent Farms.
He was a 1932 graduate of Plainfield High School and a 1936 graduate of Rutgers University, where he received a bachelor's degree in agriculture and was a one-time lacrosse All-American.
Surviving in addition to his widow are four sons, Daniel D. III, Charles H. and Robert E., all of Columbus, and Peter G. of West Chester; a daughter, Betty Jane Matthews of Lisbon, N.H.; a brother Holmes of Columbus; three stepchildren, 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
Dorothy M. Bennage
Dorothy M. (Gerber) Bennage, 76, of the Manor Care Health Services home in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, and formerly of Clamtown, died yesterday in the home.
She is the widow of Arthur C. Bennage, who died in 1992.
She had worked as a secretary for the Middletown Red Cross before retiring.
She is survived by a son, Craig A. of Harrisburg, and a daughter, Lana D. Hill of Pocono Pines, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
