Obituaries by LocationFebruary 26, 1997
Mrs. Peter R. Morgans
Mrs. Marie M. 'Dolly' Morgans, 61, of 53 W. Railroad St., Nesquehoning, died Tuesday in her home. She was the wife of Peter R. Morgans.
She was a sewing machine operator for the Kaijay Pants Company, Nesquehoning, for the past 25 years.
Born in Nesquehoning, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Tessitore) Kuzo.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, both of Nesquehoning.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a son Richard, a daughter Brenda, wife of Michael Barry, and a sister, Theresa Ann, wife of Joseph Pavlik, all of Nesquehoning; and two grandchildren.
The Bruce A. Nalesnik Funeral Home, 57 W. Center St., Nesquehoning, is in charge of the arrangements.
Barry J. Verba
Barry J. Verba, 35, of 4044 Friedens Road, Slatington, died Tuesday in the University Hospital of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, after a construction accident Monday at the Confab Manufacturing Plant, King of Prussia. He was the husband of Louanne (Andrews) Verba.
He was a sheet metal foreman for Crown Contractors, North Wales, since 1995, and previously had owned and operated B. Verba Home Improvements, Slatington.
Born in Palmerton, he was a son of Mrs. Shirley D. (Kennel) Verba of Slatington and the late Charles W. Verba.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are a daughter Emily, at home; and a brother, Bruce W., and a stepbrother, Gregory W. Demsyk, both of Slatington.
Mrs. Henry G. Wells
Mrs. Miriam R. Wells, 79, of Bradenton, Fla., formerly of Stroudsburg and Allentown, died Tuesday in her home. She was the wife of Henry G. Wells.
Born in Packer Township, Weatherly R.D., she was a daughter of the late Franklin P. and Ann M.F. (Weil) Werner.
She was a former member of East Stroudsburg United Church of Christ.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a daughter, Beverly DeLeon of Bethlehem; a sister, Katherine Dragone of Baltimore, Md.; a grandson, three great-grandchildren and a niece.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Huseman
Mrs. Elizabeth R. 'Betty' Huseman, 77, formerly of Bethlehem, died Tuesday in the Sayre House Nursing Home, Sayre, Bradford County. She was the widow of Norman E. Huseman, who died in 1993.
She worked in the cafeteria of the Nitschmann Middle School, Bethlehem, before retiring.
Born in Coaldale, she was a daughter of the late Jenkin and Elizabeth (Williams) Jones.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bethlehem.
Surviving are a son David of Butler; a daughter Lynn, wife of James Goodrich of Gillett, Bradford County; three brothers, Raymond of Lansford, Jenkin of Pottsville and Carl of Coaldale; five sisters, Priscilla Winter of Freemont, Calif., Margaret Maloney and Gwen Jones, both of Linwood, Delaware County, Eleanor Horn of Ringtown and Catherine Yeager of Coaldale; and four grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, David and James; and two sisters, Dorothy Bell and Sarah Evans.
The Lamar Christ Funeral Home, Hometown, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Mason
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Mason, 74, of 139 Milton St., Catasauqua, died Monday in the St. Luke Hospital, Fountain Hill, Bethlehem. She was the widow of William M. Mason Jr.
A housekeeper for 30 years, she worked at the former Royal Manufacturing, Allentown, and the former George Washington Motor Lodge, Quality Inn and Sears, all in Whitehall Township.
Born in Carbon County, she was a daughter of the late George and Sarah (Yates) Sorber.
Surviving are three sons, William M. III of Allentown, Robert of Catasauqua and James of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County; a daughter, Jane Berry of Catasauqua; a brother William of East Brunswick, N.J.; a sister, Ruth Reiber of Summit Hill; four granddaughters and a great-grandson.
Lizzie Etta Landis
Lizzie Etta Landis, 92, of Souderton Mennonite Homes, formerly of Landis Farm Homestead, Lower Salford Township, died Tuesday in the Souderton Mennonite Homes.
She was employed for 24 years by Grand View Hospital, West Rockhill Township, where she was a central services technician in the hospital's central supply unit, a job she continued on a part-time basis until the age of 78. At one time, she worked in the hosiery industry.
Born in Lower Salford Township, she was a daughter of the late Abraham L. and Emma S. (Nice) Landis.
She was a member of Salford Mennonite Church, Harleysville, where she taught Sunday school and Summer Bible School.
Surviving are nieces and nephews, including Emma A. Landis and S. Kathryn Landis of Towamensing Township, who formerly resided with her.
February 27, 1997
Mrs. Lois E. Hettler Cawley
Mrs. Lois E. Hettler Cawley, 64, of Weatherwood, Weatherly, a former Lehighton and Jim Thorpe resident, died Wednesday in the Hazleton General Hospital. She was the widow of Norman Cawley, who died in 1992, and Ira Hettler Jr. who died in 1981.
Born in Lehighton, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Ethel (Benner) Kershner.
She attended Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, Lehighton.
Surviving are three daughters, Betty, wife of Richard Holtzer of Slatington, Cindy, wife of James Counterman of Weatherly, and Donna, wife of Richard Behler of Parryville; one son, John C. Hettler of Lehighton; two brothers, Gordon of Largo, Fla., and Ward of Lehighton; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard and a sister Patience.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Raymond J. Kressley
Raymond J. Kressley, 76, of New Tripoli, died Wednesday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of Mildred L. (Rex) Kressley. They observed their 53rd wedding anniversary last July.
A farmer for most of his life in Weisenberg Township until retiring in 1984, he was also a heavy equipment operator at Ralph Kressley, Inc., Orefield, for 20 years before retiring.
Born in Weisenberg Township, he was a son of the late Elmer and Ida (Werley) Kressley.
He was a member of Weisenberg Lutheran Church, New Tripoli, where he was a Sunday school pianist for 35 years, a choir member and the organist for 30 years.
Kressley was a member of the Ontelaunee Lions Club, New Tripoli, and the Schnecksville Senior Citizens, where he was a former pianist in its kitchen band.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, Kermit C. of Allentown; a daughter, Diane M., at home; two brothers, Leo F. of Emmaus and Ralph H. of Orefield; two sisters, Althea M. Dengler and Lillian M., wife of Elmer Gressley, both of New Tripoli; and two grandchildren.
Francis X. Smith
Francis X. "Moe" Smith, 73, of 2937 Whitemarsh Place, Macungie, died Tuesday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of Patricia A. (Shepherd) Smith. They observed their 21st wedding anniversary in October.
He was a tool and die maker for Mechanical Services, Inc., Allentown, for 50 years before retiring in 1991.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Stephen M. and Anna E. (Yurko) Smith.
He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Emmaus.
Smith was an Army veteran of World War II, having served as a corporal in the Pacific Theater of Operations and receiving four Bronze Stars.
He was a life member of the Fullerton Fire Company and a member of the Macungie V.F.W. Post 9264 and American Legion Post 191, Emmaus.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, Gregory W., and a daughter, Barbara S., wife of Frank P. Crampsie, both of Whitehall; two brothers, Bernard of Berkley Heights, N.J., and Richard of Fairfax, Va.; three sisters, Irene Fredericks in Virginia, Kathleen Boykas of Allentown and Veronica, wife of Luther Wenner of Hatfield; and four grandchildren.
Alta M. Berger
Alta M. Berger, 83, formerly of 237 E. Walnut St., Kutztown, died Wednesday in the Kutztown Manor.
A graduate of St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Reading, she was a nurse for the Berks Visiting Nurses Association; St. Joseph Hospital, Reading; and for Dr. John P. Scully, Reading, for 16 years. She retired in 1976.
Born in Albrightsville, she was a daughter of the late Theodore E. and Sylvania O. (Huseman) Berger.
She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Kutztown.
Berger was an Army Nursing Corps veteran of World War II.
Surviving are two sisters, Laura J., wife of Robert Tuck of Tucson, Ariz., and Mrs. Genie M. Kershner of Reading; and two brothers, Lloyd H. of Kutztown and Luther A. of Bethlehem.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Icy Berger, who died last Thursday.
Sister M. Celestis
Sister M. Celestis, 64, a missionary sister of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, died Wednesday at 2:45 a.m. in St. Michael Convent, Reading, where she had resided for 22 years.
Born in Lansford, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary (Cuzy) Bubak.
She entered the convent in 1950 and was also a graduate of the University of Dayton.
She taught at parochial schools in Allentown, Nazareth, Reading, Lansford and Hilltown for 12 years, and later taught in the diocesan schools of Allentown and Pottsville.
In 1974, she retired to the convent in Reading, but continued to be active as a receptionist and librarian until 1989.
Surviving are a brother Frank of Harrisburg; and a sister, Ann Kutay of Warner Robbins, Ga.
Funeral services will be held Saturday morning in Reading.
Mrs. Bertha Friedman
Mrs. Bertha (Segel) Friedman, 77, of Chatsworth, Calif., formerly of Santa Monica, Calif., Easton and Palmerton, died Feb. 7. She was the widow of Alfred Fritz" Friedman, who died in 1980.
Born and raised in Palmerton, she graduated in 1937 from Palmerton High School and worked at the family business, Segel's By The Bridge, on Delaware Avenue in Palmerton from her early youth.
After her marriage in 1946, she and her husband settled in Easton. They lived there until 1970, moving to Santa Monica. They lived in Santa Monica for nine years.
Surviving are a daughter Sharon of Chatsworth; a son Neal of Simi Valley, Calif.; two grandsons and nieces and nephews.
Gratto correction
Mrs. Agnes Gratto of Monmouth Junction, N.J., who died Feb. 18 was 85 years of age and not 58 as had been listed in her obituary. Born and raised in Lansford, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Maria Koltishko.
Theodore D. Heim
Theodore D. Heim, 68, of 24B, Frieden Manor, Schuylkill Haven, died Wednesday morning at his home. He was ill the past year. He was the husband of the late Ruby E. (Daubenspeck) Heim, who died in February, 1996.
Born in Orwigsburg, he was a son of the late George S. and Carrie E. (Ream) Heim.
He was a machine operator for the former J.S. Zulick Co. and the Kepner-Scott Shoe Co., both of Orwigsburg. He retired in 1993.
He was an Army veteran of the Korean War, and was a member of the Reedsville E.C. Church, Wayne Township.
He was a life member of V.F.W. Post 2198, Orwigsburg, and belonged to the Pine Grove Legion.
Surviving are three sons, Charles and Howard, both of Schuylkill Haven, and Fred of Pottsville; four sisters, Celia Stoudt, Amy Roland, Julie Meisner, all of Orwigsburg, and Alice Zinkus of Pottsville. Also four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, George, John, Walter, Emery and Charles; and three sisters, Kathryn Nester, Esther Zulick and Edith Knaus.
The John H. Lundbye Funeral Home, Inc., Orwigsburg, is in charge of arrangements.
