Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Patricia Jane Eppolito
Patricia Jane Eppolito, 74 of Honesdale died Monday April 20, 2009 at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Born February 10, 1935 in Ridgewood, NY, she was the daughter of the late James and Elizabeth Chestnut Hanrahan. Pat arrived into this world during a blizzard and was delivered at home. She enjoyed a happy childhood with her mother and grandparents. Attending New York City public schools and excelling in swimming with the Police Athletic League, Pat won many awards and swimming medals. After completing her education, Pat began a career in the insurance field but quickly gave up her working days to marry Richard Eppolito in 1955. Pat and "Eppy"
welcomed a daughter, Jacqueline, now known as Jackie Murphy.
After many years as a stay at home Mom, Pat began a new career in the banking industry. During her 27 year career Pat held many positions within the Ridgewood Savings Bank, ultimately holding the title of Mortgage Officer at the time of her retirement.
In addition to enjoying her work pat also liked to travel and took many trips, cruises and weekend getaways. She frequently visited the Honesdale area and was determined to retire to Pennsylvania. After retiring Pat made that dream come true and moved to Honesdale in 2001.
In her retirement Pat enjoyed learning the local history on Northeastern PA, reading, doing crossword puzzles and dining out with friends.
She is survived by her daughter Jackie and one grand-dog, Ozzy.
Cremation was held at Maple Hill at Salem Crematory in Archbald. A memorial service will be held on Monday at 4 at the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale by Pastor Rebekah Sweet of the Central United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 2 to 4.
Patricia Jane Eppolito
Patricia Jane Eppolito, 74 of Honesdale died Monday April 20, 2009 at Wayne Memorial
Hospital.
Born February 10, 1935 in Ridgewood, NY, she was the daughter of the late James and
Elizabeth Chestnut Hanrahan. Pat arrived into this world during a blizzard and was
delivered at home. She enjoyed a happy childhood with her mother and grandparents.
Attending New York City public schools and excelling in swimming with the Police Athletic
League, Pat won many awards and swimming medals. After completing her education, Pat
began a career in the insurance field but quickly gave up her working days to marry
Richard Eppolito in 1955. Pat and "Eppy" welcomed a daughter, Jacqueline, now known as
Jackie Murphy.
After many years as a stay at home Mom, Pat began a new career in the banking industry.
During her 27 year career Pat held many positions within the Ridgewood Savings Bank,
ultimately holding the title of Mortgage Officer at the time of her retirement.
In addition to enjoying her work pat also liked to travel and took many trips, cruises
and weekend getaways. She frequently visited the Honesdale area and was determined to
retire to Pennsylvania. After retiring Pat made that dream come true and moved to
Honesdale in 2001. In her retirement Pat enjoyed learning the local history on
Northeastern PA, reading, doing crossword puzzles and dining out with friends.
She is survived by her daughter Jackie and one grand-dog, Ozzy.
Cremation was held at Maple Hill at Salem Crematory in Archbald. A memorial service will
be held on Monday at 4 at the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale by Pastor
Rebekah Sweet of the Central United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends
prior to the service from 2 to 4.
Margaret E. Meszler
Margaret E. Meszler, 81, a resident of Carbondale Nursing Home,
formerly of Hawley, died April 2, 2009 following a lengthy illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Norman V.
Meszler who died Dec. 30, 2008.
Born December 6, 1927 in Tunkhannock, PA she was the daughter of the
late Philip and Mary Strong Coliskey. She was a kind and loving
homemaker. She enjoyed needlepoint and crocheting. She shared many
of her treasures with family and friends. She was a member of St.
Joseph's Parish in White Mills.
Her family would like to thank Dr. Bekele for the excellent care he
gave their mother. They are deeply grateful to the Carbondale Nursing
Home and its entire staff for the excellent care she received during
her time there.
She is survived by a son Philip Meszler of Hawley; daughters Rosann
Altier and husband Tony of Honesdale, Maggie and Barbara Meszler both
of Hawley; two nieces, a nephew and several cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church in
White Mills on Wednesday at 10 AM. Private interment will be in Queen
of Peace Cemetery in Hawley. Friends may visit the Hessling Funeral
Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale on Tuesday from 5 to 8.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can made to the White Mills
Volunteer Fire Co., PO Box 273 White Mills, PA 18473 or the Dessin
Animal Shelter, 138 Miller Rd. Honesdale, PA 18431.
Leland "Pete" Harold Reid
Leland "Pete" Harold Reid, 81 of Honesdale, died April 1, 2009 at Wayne Woodlands Manor in Waymart. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, the former Nora M. Miller. The couple married May 1, 1954.
Born January 6, 1928 in Paupack, he was the son of the late Charles and Louise Singer Reid. For many years, he worked for Penn Dot and later retired from Wayne Highlands School District where he was a custodian. He was a member for 45 years and oldest member of the Seelyville Fire Company.
Pete enjoyed hunting and fishing with his grandson Jeff and square dancing with his wife. He loved to travel, especially to Branson, MO and visiting his sister Jeanette and indulging in happy hour. He was of the Methodist faith.
He was very devoted to his family and enjoyed the family barbecues.
He will be sadly missed.
Also surviving is his daughter Donna Non and husband Paul D. of Honesdale; a sister Jeanette McCarty of Chalfont, PA; a grandson Jeff Sporer Jr.; a step grandson Brian Non; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his infant son Ronald and a brother William Reid.
Funeral services will be held on Friday at Noon at Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale with Rev. Patricia Hanley officiating.
Interment will follow in Bethany Cemetery. Friends may visit on Thursday from 2 to 5 and Friday from 11 to service time.
Memorial contributions can be made to Seelyville Fire Co., 1200 Bridge St. Honesdale, PA 18431.
Herta Lepp
Herta Lepp, RN 88 of Honesdale and formerly of Equinunk and Lindenhurst Long Island, died April 22, 2009 at Wayne Memorial Hospital after a short illness. She was preceded in death by her husband Ilmar Arved Lepp who died Dec. 31, 2000.
Born September 6, 1920 in Dortmund, Germany she was the daughter and last surviving family member of the late Hugo and Ida Froehlich Zikoll. After school she began her training to become a nurse in 1938. After World War II she started to work in an American hospital in Frankfurt, Germany and was only 60 miles away from where her younger sister Ruth Zikoll Hofmann was living. In 1954 she arrived on her first visit to her American relatives living on Long Island on Labor Day. Upon returning to Germany, she worked as a nurse in a hospital in Hamburg, Germany, where her other sister Else Zikioll Dutz lived.
On Memorial Day in 1957 she arrived at New York again, this time with an immigrant visa. Her aunt Elfriede Recknagel owned and operated the Dock Casino in Lindenhurst, L.I. she worked for her aunt, and thereafter met her husband, Ilmar Lepp. The two were married in 1959 and went on a honeymoon to Germany to introduce her husband to her family. In 1967 she obtained her American Citizenship. In 1971 she decided to go back to her old job as a nurse and went to school to get her American license. She worked as a nurse on Long Island until she retired and moved with her husband to Equinunk, PA.
She is survived by her niece, Barbara Hofmann Vorndran, and two nephews Rainer Hofmann and Juergen Dutz; 5 grandnieces and nephews Bettina, Sylvia, Joerg, Tim and Sven all of Germany. Her American relatives, a cousin Gerda Zikoll Cornell and husband Thomas, their children Thomas Jr., Michael, Matthew and Rachel all of Long Island and Florida; and Kenneth Mannale and Corinne Mannale Forrester and families.
She was predeceased by her two younger sisters.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at Hessling Funeral Home,
428 Main St. Honesdale at 1pm by Pastor Alice Pedone of the Equinunk United Methodist Church. Friends may visit from noon to service time.
As per her request, cremation will follow at Maple Hill at Salem Crematory and her cremated remains will be buried beside her husband in Tallinn, Estonia.
Lawrence W. Brundage
Lawrence W. Brundage, 61 a lifelong resident of Honesdale, died Wednesday March 11, 2009 at the VNA Hospice Unit at CMC in Scranton after an illness. He is survived by his wife the former Donna Klinkiewicz.
Born July 24, 1947 in Honesdale, he was the son of the late William and Audrey Rimlinger Brundage. He was a graduate of Honesdale High School where he served as the president of his graduating class. He attended the University of Scranton where he obtained a business degree. Later he ran and operated the Larry Brundage Refuse Service for 15 years. After retiring the business he drove for the Honesdale Transportation Service.
Larry served as an Alter boy at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Honesdale while growing up. Many people knew him as the milk boy, mechanic at his fathers garage or when he was a Prudential Agent when younger.
He loved his family, friends, reading, golfing and most of all helping other people. He was a loving husband, Father, and friend who always made his family the center of his life. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
Also surviving are his sons Dr. Michael Brundage and wife Christine of Waymart and their children Leah and Anna; SFC Jeffrey Brundage and wife Kristen of Texas; his daughter Amanda O'Rourke and husband Michael of Waymart; his sisters Sharyn Wertman and husband Jack of Honesdale, Patricia Roe of Lakeville and Mary Menotti of Honesdale; his uncle Henry Rimlinger of Hawley; his aunt Claire Meunch of Matamoras; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded by his brother Robert T. Brundage in 2002.
8921Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 7 at the Hessling Funeral Home,
428 Main St. Honesdale. Private Blessing service will be held Saturday at the families convenience. Cremation will follow at Maple Hill at Salem Crematory in Archbald.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society Wayne Unit, 100 4th St. Honesdale, PA 18431.
Albert J. Widmer
Albert J. Widmer, 88 of Honesdale died Monday, March 9, 2009 at Wayne
Memorial Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former
Johanna Putre- Troha on May 10, 2006. The couple married Sept. 13,
1995.
Born August 18, 1920 in Cleveland, OH, he was the son of the late
Frank and Johanna Zekoll Widmer. He and his family operated Widmer's
Brookmeadow Farm. He worked and retired from the Pennsylvania Highway
Department. He served his country in World War II in the U.S. Coast
Guard and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 531. He
belonged to the Gottscheer Heritage and Genealogy Association.
Most of all Albert loved people and traveling with his wife Johanna to
Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland to visit family and friends. He
enjoyed his 2007 Wayne County Tour of Honor visit to the National
World War II Memorial with fellow veterans.
He is survived by his step-daughter Katharina Bacher of Austria.
He was preceded in death by his son Robert Widmer and brother George Widmer.
As per his request, cremation was held at Maple Hill at Salem
Crematory in Archbald. Arrangements by Hessling Funeral Home, 428
Main St. Honesdale.
Brian "Newt" Hafler
Brian "Newt" Hafler, 48 of Honesdale died Monday, March 9, 2009 at Wayne Memorial
Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 25 years,
the former Mary Anne Mullen. The couple married Sept. 10, 1983.
Born October 22, 1960 in Honesdale, he is the son of the former Claire McCullough Hafler
of Honesdale and the late Edwin Hafler in 1997. Newt worked at Woodloch Pines Resort for
16 years as a maintenance man. He was a die hard fan of the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago
Cubs and Nascar's driver Kasey Kahne. An avid football fan, he especially loved watching
his children in high school. He also enjoyed bowling and was in three different leagues
including one with his wife.
Also surviving is his daughter Dannielle and fiance Robert Gabell; his son Matthew and
fiance Jessica Barton; his sister Joy and husband Lynn Johannes; aunts, uncles, nieces,
nephews, cousins and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by mother in law Susanna Mullen in 1993 and Father in law in
2009.
Funeral services will be Friday at the Central United Methodist Church in Honesdale at 11
AM with Pastor Rebekah Sweet officiating. As per his request cremation will follow at
Maple Hill at Salem Crematory. Friends may visit the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St.
Honesdale on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, Wayne Unit, 100 4th
St. Suite 9, Honesdale, PA 18431.
Teresa M. McErlean
Teresa M. McErlean, 73 of Pleasant Mount passed away peacefully March 8, 2009 at Wayne Memorial Hospital. She is survived by her significant other Willis Cudney.
Born May 1, 1935 in Brooklyn, NY she was the daughter of the late William I. and Helen T. Schneider Connors. She was a graduate of St.
Francis Xavier High School in Brooklyn, NY and from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. Before retiring to raise her family, she taught elementary physical education at Hempstead School District on Long Island. After moving to Shohola, PA she found great pleasure in driving a school bus for the Delaware Valley School District. In
1998 she and Willis moved to Pleasant Mount.
Teresa was a strong caring woman who loved everything about the outdoors, especially fishing. Among her many interest were crocheting, playing the piano and reading.
Also surviving are her children Kathleen Caligiuri and husband Thomas, Michael McErlean and wife Jana, Jane Harrington and husband Kevin, Margaret Ann McErlean-Hoy and husband Doug and James Stemmle; sisters Sister Helen Francis Connors, SC and Sister Virginia Ann Connors, OP; grandchildren Nicholas, Angela, Brenna, Elizabeth, John, Sean, Alex, Sarah, Madison, Lucy and Jennifer; her great grandson Kellan; step children Terrance McErlean and wife Anna and Joanne Kolakowski and husband Paul and their children Paul, Jacqueline and Olivia.
She was preceded in death by her son Timothy John McErlean and her brother William J. Connors.
A blessing service will be held Thursday at Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale at 10 AM by Fr. Martin Boylan, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish. Friends may visit on Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9.
Interment will be in Poplar Grove Cemetery in Phillipsport, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004 or the donors favorite charity.
Charles J. Morelli
Wayne County Sheriff, Charles J. Morelli, 67 of Honesdale died March 2, 2009 at Kindred Hospital Wyoming Valley in Wilkes Barre. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, the former Genevieve Howell. The couple married October 24, 1964 at St. Patrick's Church.
Born May 21, 1941 in Oregon Twp., he was the son of the late Guerrino and Mabel Fritzenger Morelli. He attended Honesdale High School and later pursued numerous law enforcement courses including Dickinson Law School. He was a correction officer from 1980 to 1990 at the Wayne County Prison and from 1990 to 2000 he was the Chief Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff William Bluff. In 2000 he was elected as Wayne County Sheriff and has held the position since.
Besides being Sheriff, he enjoyed providing security at the Wayne County Fair, auctions, and parades. As Sheriff, he cared greatly for Wayne County and the people that lived here and was very proud to be apart of the community.
A strong man with a caring heart, he was always trying to be of assistance to anyone who needed help. During trout season, he would provide coffee for fishermen throughout the county. He loved his family and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them.
He was a member of the sons of American Legion, Post 807 in Hamlin.
He and his wife attended St. Patrick's Church in Cherry Ridge.
Also surviving are his sons Charles and wife Melissa of Richmond, TX and Michael and wife Mary Kay of Sparta, NJ; a daughter Lisa Butler and husband John of Mt. Cobb; grandchildren Annie, Jake, Sadie, Jack, Mallory Morelli and Brandon and Bradley Butler; brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.
Liturgy of the Word will be celebrated on Monday, March 9, 2009 at St. Mary's Church in Waymart at 11AM. Interment will be in the spring in Canaan Corners Cemetery. Friends may visit the Hessling Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9.
Memorials can be made to Wayne County Children's Christmas Bureau, Attn: Carleen Faatz, Area of Aging, 323 10th St., Honesdale, PA 18431.
