Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
John J. Sheehan
John J. Sheehan, 78, of 1000 W. 27th St., Hazleton, died Thursday afternoon at the Hazleton General Hospital.
He was a mechanic in the trucking industry and worked most of his life in the Boston, Mass., area before retiring.
Born in Boston, he was the son of the late John J. and Edna (Bading) Sheehan.
He was a Navy veteran and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hazleton.
He was the last member of his immediate family.
Surviving are a daughter, Johanna Apple of Tamaqua; a son, Robert Erb in California; and two grandchildren.
Elizabeth Spicer
Elizabeth (Gearhart) Spicer, 82, a Palmerton native, died Thursday evening at the Hanover Terrace Healthcare in Hanover, N.H., following a long illness. She was the widow of Capt. Emmet Robinson Spicer, M.D., who died in World War II.
Born in Palmerton, she was a daughter of the late Franklin B. and Helen (Foster) Gearhart.
She was a graduate of the S.S. Palmer High School in Palmerton, and she attended Colby Junior College in New London, N.H., Connecticut College for Women in New London, Ct., and in 1936, graduated with "Distinction" in voice pedagogy from the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y.
In 1942, she received her Master of Music in music literature, also from the University of Rochester. From 1939-1942, Mrs. Spicer, a noted singer, has a live weekly 15-minute radio program over WCBA in Allentown.
She was a glee club and choir director and taught voice and music appreciation at the Grier School for Girls, Peace Junior College, the Goldsboro Public Schools, the Moorestown Friends School, the Springside School (1952-1968) in Chestnut Hill, and the Swain School (1968-1976) in Allentown. Following her retirement in 1976, she moved to Burlington, Vt. In 1991, she moved to Hanover to be near her daughter.
Survivng with her daughter, Margaret E. sSpicer of Norwich, Vt., is a brother, The Rev. David F. Gearhart of Centreville, Md.; nieces and nephews and a cousin.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Foster L. Gearhart and Thomas A. Gearhart; an infant daughter, Barbara Elizabeth.
A graveside service will be held in Palmerton at a later date.
Pauline Macik
Pauline Macik, 87, formerly of Lansford, died Friday in the Miners Geriatric Center, Coaldale.
Born in Lansford, she was a daughter of the late John and Susanna (Puskar) Macik.
She worked in the garment industry for many years prior to her retirement. She was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association of Lansford.
She was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Lansford.
She is survived by nieces and nephews.
The Roche Funeral Home-McNamara Chapel, Lansford, is in charge of arrangements.
Robert A. Carpenter
Robert A. Carpenter, 35, of Incirlik Air Force Base, Turkey, died Thursday of natural causes. He was a technical sergeant with the Air Force.
He has been living in Turkey for the past two years.
His ex-wife is the former Kathy Leiby of Lehighton. They have one son, Chase, age 6, of Lehighton.
Funeral arrangements are pending from the Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth & Iron St., Lehighton.
Barbara Harmonosky
Barbara Harmonosky, 83, of 300 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, died Friday in the Gnaden Huetten Hospital, Lehighton. She was the widow of Andrew Harmonosky who died in 1978.
Born in Czechoslovakia, she was a daughter of the late John and Barbara (Alzo) Petrovich.
She worked for the former Kiddie Klothes in Lansford for 42 years, retiring in 1976.
She was a member of St. Michael's Church, Lansford, and the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Union.
Surviving is a son, Joseph, of Lansford; a daughter, Barbara, wife of John Skrapits of Jim Thorpe; a brother, Joseph of Jim Thorpe; a sister Mary, wife of John Wargo of Jim Thorpe; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The Skrabak-Parambo Funeral Home, 210 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of arrangements.
M.Josephine Rudelitsch
M. Josephine Rudelitsch, 68, formerly of 476 Mahoning Drive East, Lehighton, died Friday at the home of her daughter in Ringtown R.2. She was the widow of Arthur E. Rudelitsch, who died in 1994.
Born in Mahoning Valley, she was a daughter of the late Howard W. and Mary P. (Zehner) Fritz.
She worked as a bookeeper for the Lehigh Portland Cement Co., and formerly worked for the Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. in the same capacity.
She was a graduate of Bethlehem Business College.
She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Mahoning Valley, and was active in the church choir.
She also belonged to the Eastern Star; the Mahoning Valley Golden Agers, and the Ringtown Valley Grange.
Surviving is a daughter, Louise F., wife of Joseph D. Tomtishen, with whom she resided; a son, Arthur E. II of Lehighton; two sisters, Olive E. Frey, Mahoning Valley, and Helen M. Beers of Palmerton R.2; also two grandchildren.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron Streets, Lehighton, is in charge of arrangements.
Olive J. Hauser
Olive J. Hauser, 71, of 700 County Ave., Secaucus, N.J., formerly of the Lehighton area, died Thursday in the Palisades General Hospital, North Bergen, N.J.
She was a packer for a coffee company in New Jersey.
Born in Jersey City, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Garrett and Mabel (Shellhammer) Hauser.
Surviving are nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held this afternoon from the Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron streets, Lehighton, followed by interment in the Dinkey Memorial Cemetery, Ashfield, with Rev. Paul Fisher officiating.
Mrs. Ethel J. Reiss
Mrs. Ethel J. Reiss, 80, of 124 S. Sixth St., Allentown, died Saturday in her home. She was the widow of George O. Reiss.
She was a past president and pianist for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 13 Auxiliary, Allentown, and a past president of the V.F.W. District 8 Auxiliary.
She was formerly employed in the accounting department of the Service Loan Corporation, Northampton, and previously had been a legal secretary for Attorney Irving W. Coleman, Northampton. Many years ago, she played the trombone for a local all-girl band.
Born in Lower Macungie Township, she was a daughter of the late Charles Erich and Katie (Lewis) Erich Dries.
Surviving are two brothers, Glen of Lansford and Emory of Emmaus; and three sisters, June, wife of Andrew Nicholson of Quakertown, and Mrs. Jeanette Buss and Alma, wife of Frank Koch, both of Emmaus.
Mrs. Albert R. Sandel
Mrs. Marion C. Sandel, 93, of 1400 Scott St., Reading, formerly of Laureldale, Berks County, died Friday in the Reading Hospital and Medical Center, Reading, where she was a patient since Jan. 8. She was the wife of Albert R. Sandel, a guest at Manor Care Health Services, Laureldale.
She was employed in the cafeteria of the former Western Electric Company, Allentown, and by the former Reading Clothes Company before retiring.
Born in Lehighton, she was a daughter of the late Elmer and Clara (Becker) Dunkle, and had resided in Laureldale for 50 years.
Since 1943, she was a member of the Rosedale United Church of Christ, Lenhartsville, where she belonged to the Ladies Guild.
Surviving in addition to her husband are nieces and nephews.
The Walter R. Christ Funeral Home, 3300 Kutztown Road, Laureldale, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Helen Yurchak
Mrs. Helen Yurchak, 70, of 105 E. Railroad St., Nesquehoning, died Saturday in the home of her daughter Lynn of Swedesboro, N.J.
The deceased was the widow of Andrew Yurchak.
She worked in the garment industry for 18 years.
Born in Palmerton, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Julia (Julonich) Harduby.
She was a member of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Nesquehoning.
Surviving in addition to her daughter are two sons, Andrew of Jim Thorpe and Thomas of Allentown; a brother John of Skytop, Monroe County; a sister, Mary Snyder of Bethlehem; two grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
The Bruce A. Nalesnik Funeral Home, 57 W. Center St., Nesquehoning, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Verna C. Brotzman
Mrs. Verna C. Brotzman, 93, of Kunkletown R.5, died Friday in the Palmerton Hospital. She was the widow of Vian Brotzman.
Born in Saylorsburg, she was a daughter of the late Monroe and Alice (Switzgabel) Balliet.
She was a member of St. Matthew United Church of Christ, Kunkletown, the Kunkletown Volunteer Fire Company and its Ladies Auxiliary.
Surviving are a son Sterling, two daughters, Alice Gower and Betty Kleintop, and a brother Arling, all of Kunkletown; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a son Floyd and a grandson.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Floyd J. Lahr
Floyd J. Lahr, 103, formerly of Bushkill Township, died Friday in the Moravian Hall Square Skilled Care Center, Nazareth. He was the husband of the late Nellie M. (George) Lahr.
He was a farmer in Bushkill Township for many years before retiring in 1960.
Born in Bushkill Township, he was a son of the late Amazon and Mary (Kostenbader) Lahr.
He was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hecktown, where he was secretary and treasurer for 48 years.
Lahr was an Army veteran of World War I, having served in France.
He was a past president and past treasurer of the Bushkill Township School Board; past secretary of the Northampton-Monroe Farmers Association; a charter member of the Bushkill Township Volunteer Fire Company; member of the Pennsylvania Production Credit Association; and a sales clerk for Huber-Kist Auctioneers for 49 years.
Lahr was a member of Whitefield Lodge No. 622, Tatamy, Confident Lodge No. 1133, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Hecktown, and the Bushkill Encampment No. 55, I.O.O.F., Bushkill Center.
Surviving are three sons, Gerald of Easton, Ernest of Dolan Springs, Ariz., and Amazon of Bushkill Township; two daughters, Eleanor Muller of Gibsonville, N.C., and Margaret Reimer of Nazareth; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
