Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Helen V. Sherman
Helen V. Sherman, 77, a resident of Plush Mills Senior Living in Wallingford, Nether Providence Township, and a former longtime resident of Ridley Park, died on January 1st at her residence.
Born in Chester, she was the daughter of the late Myron and Vera Sowiak. Mrs. Sherman was a resident of Plush Mills Senior Living for the last year, having lived in Ridley Park for 55 years before that.
Mrs. Sherman was employed as a ticket agent at the Ridley Park Train Station for 26 years until her retirement.
She was an active member of the Ridley Park Seniors, and was a talented painter primarily using watercolors. She was an excellent gardener and was known for her beautiful flowers in her garden. Mrs. Sherman was always seen enjoying the company of her cat.
She will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother and grandmother.
Mrs. Sherman was the mother of the late David Murray.
She is survived by her daughter, Diane Torelli of West Grove, Pa.; her brother, Milton Sowiak of Mercerville, N.J.; and her two grandchildren, Daniel Torelli and Lisa Torelli-Sauer.
Her funeral service ill be held on Wednesday at 10:30 A.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood. Her visitation ill be on Wednesday from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at the funeral home. Her burial will be in Lawn Croft Cemetery in Lower Chichester.
Contributions: To the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 125 S. 9th Street, Suite 202, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107.
Katherine 'Kay' Rodgers Abrams
Katherine “Kay” Rodgers Abrams, a lifelong resident of Prospect Park and an active choir member, died on December 31st at Fair Acres Geriatric Center in Middletown.
Born in Glenolden, Mrs. Abrams was a resident of Prospect Park for more than 80 years. She was a 1939 graduate of Prospect park High School and a was a member of the Alumni Association.
She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Ridley Park for over 20 years. Prior to that, and from childhood, she was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Prospect Park. Mrs. Abrams loved music and was gifted with a pretty contralto voice. She shared that gift, singing in the choir of both churches for most of her adult life. Mrs. Abrams also served as a Taylor Hospital volunteer for several years.
She was the widow of her beloved husband William “Bill” Abrams who died in 1988; was the daughter of the late Minnie B. and John R. Rodgers, Sr.; and was sister of her late brothers, Edward Rodgers who died in infancy, John R. Rodgers, Jr., The Reverend Kenneth R. Rodgers, and Harry B. Rodgers.
Mrs. Abrams will be remembered fondly by her children for her love and devotion as their mother and as wife to her husband, Bill.
She is survived by her daughter Joyce Abrams Bernasz and her son, Rodger E. Abrams.
Her memorial service and eucharist will be held on Saturday, January 9th, at 10 A.M. at Christ Episcopal Church, Sellers Avenue and Nevin Street, in Ridley Park. Her visitation will be immediately following the service in the Deppich Room of Christ Church. Her burial will be private in the Christ Church Memorial Garden at a later date.
Contributions: To Christ Church, 104 Nevin Street, Ridley Park, Pa. 19078 or to Taylor Hospital, 175 E. Chester Pike, Ridley Park, Pa. 19078 or to Caring Hospice Services, 400 Commerce Drive, Suite C, Fort Washington, Pa. 19034.
David M. Epright
David M. Epright, 54, a resident of Folsom, Ridley Township and of New London, Connecticut, died on December 30th at his residence in Connecticut.
Mr. Epright was a graduate of Ridley High School, Class of 1973, a graduate of Widener University, Class of 1977, and a graduate of McGill University in Montreal in 1979 with a Masters in Business Administration.
Mr. Epright was an international traveler and worked as a marketing and general manager of overseas operation of a number of large, well known, multi-national corporations. More recently, he has been involved with real estate and is the owner of Gatehouse Farm.
He enjoyed gardening, traveling, and the challenge of running his business. He will be remembered as a person who was devoted to his family and his friends.
Mr. Epright was predeceased by his mother, Elizabeth H. Epright.
He is survived by his father, Matthew S. Epright; his brothers, Alan Epright with Sue Ladislaw and Gary Epright with Kristine; his sister, Lisa Fielding with James; his dear friend, Mok Yee Kwong; his nieces, Mary Towle-Hilt with David and Elizabeth Epright; his nephew, Matthew Epright; his uncles, Albin Tkacz with Marjorie and Paul Tkacz with Joan; his cousins, Nancy Browne with Allen, and Betsy Lee and her Children, Anna and Laura.
His funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 3 P.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood. His visitation will be on Wednesday from 2 P.M. to 3 P.M. at the funeral home. His burial will be private.
Mary Elizabeth Ewachiw-Graefe
Mary Elizabeth Ewachiw-Graefe, 83, a longtime resident of Secane, died at her home and went to be with the Lord on December 22nd.
Raised in Milmont Park, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Frank and Mary Krayak. Mary’s schooling began at Our Lady of Peace in Milmont Park and continued at Notre Dame in Moylan. She worked at Baldwin’s Locomotive Parts in Eddystone; as a secretary for Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne; as a bookkeeper for RCA in Collingdale; and lastly, as an accounts receivable clerk for The Society of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters in Malvern and formerly in Media, retiring in 1997 after 28 years.
Mary loved to laugh. Her kindness and concern for others was deeply rooted both in her personality and in her spirituality. She thoroughly enjoyed her personal outreach program, mailing weekly handwritten cards of Christian encouragement to an ever growing list of friends. She volunteered extensively in retirement. Her assigned work as a reading tutor at Westbrook Park Elementary School, through The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, gave her special joy and many new children and teaching friends. And, as she loved music and her husband so, she became something of an informal “PR Manager” for the Sousa Band that he is involved with; selling their CD’s during performances. She especially loved God, people, gardening, traveling, and reading. Mostly, she will be remembered for her loving devotion to her husband, daughters and family, and to the countless sons and daughters she “adopted in her heart.”
Mary was predeceased by her sister, Alberta Newsome; and her two brothers, Joseph Morton Krayak and Frank Krayak.
Mary is survived by her husband, Paul Graefe, Jr; and her daughters, Mary Ann Glinske of Glenmoore, Joan Lind of Thornhurst, Diane Witt of Hartselle, AL, and Terry Favre of San Jose, CA; her ten grandchildren; and her four great-grandchildren.
The Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, December 29th, at 1 P.M. at the Folsom Church of Christ, located at 4th Ave and Tasker St, in Folsom, Pa. Her burial will be private.
Instead of flowers, if you wish to contribute to a place near and dear to Mary’s heart, it would be: Delaware Valley Christian Camp, Attention: Mr. Doug Edwards, 33 Camp Road, Douglassville, Pa. 19518.
Charles E. McIntyre
Charles E. McIntyre, 86, a resident of Rio Grande, N.J. and a former longtime resident of Tinicum Township, died on December 19th at The Taylor Hospice Residence in Ridley Park.
Born in Tinicum Township, he was the son of the late David and Catherine McIntyre. He was a resident of Rio Grande, N.J. for the last 20 years, having lived in Tinicum Township for many years prior to that.
He was employed in construction for many years until his retirement.
Mr. McIntyre enjoyed blue grass music, and played the dobro (flat guitar) with various blue grass groups in the area. He loved taking trips to the race track to bet on the horses, and then in his later years he enjoyed trips to the casinos in Atlantic City. While living in South Jersey, he was always seen going fishing with friends and family.
Mr. McIntyre was the husband of the late Roberta McIntyre. He was also predeceased by a grandson, Charles L. McIntyre, Jr.
He is survived by his sons, Charles L. McIntyre of Cochranville, Pa. and Lewis McIntyre of Linwood, Lower Chichester; his sister, Catherine Matuliewich of Tinicum Township; his four grandchildren and his three great-grandchildren.
His funeral service and interment will be private.
Contributions: To Taylor Hospice, P.O. Box 147, Ridley Park, Pa. 19078.
Evelyn Davis Sheppard
Evelyn Davis Sheppard, 81, a resident of the Woodbury Mews Assisted Living Community in Woodbury, N.J., and a former longtime Prospect Park resident, died on December 16th at her residence.
Born in Chester, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Florence Davis. Mrs. Sheppard worked with her late husband, Bill, for many years at Davis Motor Parts on Chester Pike in Prospect Park where she was a secretary; and then continued in that capacity when her husband took ownership of the store as Sheppard’s Motor Parts. They both retired fives later.
Mrs. Sheppard and her husband enjoyed many years at their vacation home at the Woodlands Camping Resort in Elkton, Maryland.
Mrs. Sheppard enjoyed knitting and sewing for her family, but most of all, will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
She is the wife of the late William “Bill” John Paul Sheppard, to whom she was married for 59 years.
She is survived by her sons, William E. Sheppard of Swedesboro, N.J. and Robin D. Sheppard of Norwood; her sister, Elva Schuler; and her grandchildren; Michelle and Christopher.
Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 10 A.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood, Pa. Her visitation will be on Tuesday from 8:30 A.M. to 10 A.M. at the funeral home. Her burial will be in Philadelphia Memorial Park in East Whiteland Township.
Contributions: To the Woodbury Mews Assisted Living Community, 124 Green Avenue, Woodbury, N.J. 08096.
Amber Dawn Muldowney
Amber Dawn Muldowney, 31, of Holmes, died on December 4th.
Born at Riddle Memorial Hospital in Media, Pa. She graduated from the Springfield High School and Venus Beauty School.
She enjoyed being with her son and going to the Jersey shore.
She was preceeded in death by her maternal grandparents, Leslie and Virginia (Ginny) Gillis and her paternal grandparents, Raymond and Dorothy Muldowney.
She is survived by her son, Dylan Matthew Muldowney; her mother, Diane L. Muldowney (nee Gillis) and her step-father, John Walton.
Friends and family are invited to her Memorial Service at 6 P.M., Thursday, December 10th at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, Norwood, Pa. Her burial will be Private.
Donations: In lieu of flowers, can be made to the Muldowney family C/O Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, P.O. Box 56, Norwood, Pa. 19074
William J. 'Midge' Revelli, Sr.
William J. “Midge” Revelli, Sr., 90, a longtime resident of Darby, died on December 4th at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland.
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Revelli was a resident of Darby for over 70 years. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946.
He was employed as a bus driver at the Inglis House in Philadelphia for 30 years until his retirement.
Mr. Revelli, who was known to his friends as “Midge”, loved to tinker with things, take things apart and rebuild them, repair any thing that needed fixing, and referred to himself as a general “handyman”. He loved taking trips to Atlantic City, N.J. with his family and friends. Most of all, he was devoted to his family, and will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
He is the father of the late William J. Revelli, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Norma Caruso Revelli; his daughters, Joyce Revelli of the Florida Keys and Carol McMonagle of Glenolden; his brother, Joe Revelli of Florida; his five grandchildren; and his four great-grandchildren.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday at 12 Noon at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood.His visitation will be on Thursday from 11 A.M. to 12 Noon at the funeral home.His entombment will be in Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Marple Township.
Contributions: To the American Heart Association, 5455 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43214.
Regina 'Jeannie' Adorno
Regina “Jeannie” Adorno, 49, a resident of Prospect Park, a person who lived life to its fullest and was known for her generosity and acts of kindness, died on November 21st at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Born in Darby, Mrs. Adorno was a resident of Prospect Park for the last 25 years. She was raised in Ridley Township and attended Our Lady of Peace Parish School in Milmont Park. She was a 1978 graduate of Cardinal O’Hara High School.
Mrs. Adorno worked as a retail sales clerk at Giannini Jewelers in Ardmore for a number of years.
Most of all, she will be remembered as a woman who loved life and enjoyed being with family and friends. She was known for her generosity and acts of kindness and for her ability to help anyone in need with her “problem solving” abilities.
Mrs. Adorno was a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter, and sister.
She is the daughter of the late Joseph Henry.
She is survived by her husband, Mark Adorno; her daughter, Kelly Adorno of Prospect Park; her mother, Regina Henry of Folsom, Ridley Township; her brothers, Joseph Henry of Lester, Tinicum Township, Dennis Henry of Wilmington, Delaware, Thomas Henry of Folsom, Ridley Township, and Patrick Henry of Woodlyn, Ridley Township; her sister, Eileen Henry of Rochester, N.Y.; and her many nieces and nephews.
Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 11 A.M. at St. Madeline Catholic Church, Penn Street and Morton Avenue in Ridley Park. Her visitation will be on Tuesday from 9 A.M. to 10:45 A.M. at the church. Her burial will be in Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery in Marple Township.
Contributions: To Gift of Life, 401 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19123
Charles B. Rodgers
Charles B. Rodgers, 81, a longtime Norwood resident who was dedicated to the well being of his community and was devoted to his family, died on November 17th at his residence.
Born in Essington, he was the son of the late William and Clara Rodgers. He was a resident of Norwood for the last 49 years. Mr. Rodgers served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1947, and then served in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to 1949. He was a member of American Legion Post #507 in Norwood.
He was employed as a union painter at Sun Shipbuilding and Penn Shipbuilding for seven years until they closed and then worked and retired from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Before that, he was a union painter for several local contractors.
An articulate and prolific writer, he was a frequent guest columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times and was known for expressing his opinions on both local and national topics.
Although never holding a public office, Mr. Rodgers was a major contributor to the success of the Norwood Democratic Party for over 30 years starting in 1972.
Mr. Rodgers held a pilot’s license and enjoyed flying seaplanes from the Philadelphia Seaplane Base in Essington. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, and always participated in the children’s and grandchildren’s activities. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, June Rodgers; his sons, Charles Rodgers of Prospect Park and Robert Rodgers of Spotsylvania, Virginia; and his seven grandchildren.
His memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21st, at 11 A.M. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Chester Pike & Winona Avenue, in Norwood. His visitation will be on Saturday from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. at the church. His burial will be private.
Contributions: To Delaware County Memorial Hospital Hospice, 5030 State Road, Suite 3001, Drexel Hill, Pa. 19026
Laurie L. Roach
Laurie L. Roach, 46, a resident of Prospect Park and a loving family caregiver, died on November 13th at her residence.
Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Barbara McGurl. Mrs Roach was a resident of Prospect Park since 1969 and was a 1980 graduate of Interboro High School.
A homemaker, she was employed for a period of time at Camco, a property management company located in Havertown.
Mrs. Roach will be remembered as a devoted and loving mother and as a loving care giver for the entire family. She was skilled in various crafts, especially beadwork, painting, and working with ceramics and was also known for her candy making.
Mrs. Roach was the sister of the late Keith McGurl, who died earlier this year.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Roach of Prospect Park; her daughter, Amanda Roach at home in Prospect Park; her brother, Kevin McGurl of West Grove, Pa.; her grandmother, Janet Santon of Palm Coast, Florida; and her sisters-in-law, Natalie McGurl of West Grove and Georganna McGurl of Aston.
Her memorial service will be held on Wednesday at 7:30 P.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood. Her visitation will be on Wednesday from 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. at the Funeral home. Her burial will be private.
Contributions: To the Amanda Roach Education Fund, c/o PNC Bank, 501 Chester Pike, Prospect Park, Pa. 19076.
John J. Miller, Sr.
John J. Miller, Sr., 93, a longtime resident of Ridley Park, died on November 12th at Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park.
Born in Florida, he was a resident of Ridley Park for the last 60 years. Mr. Miller was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater and had participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
Mr. Miller was employed as a pipe fitter at the American Viscose Co. in Marcus Hook for a number of years until his retirement and then worked at Fair Acres Geriatric Center for ten years.
He was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Ridley Park for over 50 years. Mr. Miller was a member of the former American Legion Post #168 that was in Prospect Park. He enjoyed the outdoors and especially enjoyed fishing; and was a Philadelphia sports fan, and always followed the Phillies’ games and the Eagles games.
Mr. Miller was the husband of the late Christine Miller, who died in 1999.
He is survived by his daughter, Justine M. Ferguson of Macon, Georgia; his son, John J. Miller, Jr. of Morton; his six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and his Great-great-grandson.
His funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11 A.M. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 628 E. Chester Pike, in Ridley Park. His visitation will be on Saturday from 9:30 A.M. to 11 A.M. at the church. His burial will be in Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Marple Township.
Contributions: To St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 628 E. Chester Pike, Ridley Park, Pa. 19078
