Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Marie L. Eiserman
Marie L. Eiserman, 86, a resident of the Pocopson Home in Pocopson Township and a former longtime resident of Norwood; died on March 16th at Chester County Hospital in West Chester.
Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Horace and Marie Eiserman.Miss Eiserman was a 1942 graduate of the former Glen-Nor High School.
She was employed as a rail traffic manager for the Soo Line Railroad in their Philadelphia office for many years until her retirement.
Miss Eiserman was a longtime member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Norwood. Among the things she enjoyed most in life was reading and her love of travel with her friends and family.
She will be remembered as a loving and devoted daughter, sister, and aunt.
Miss Eiserman is predeceased by her brother, Teddy Eiserman.
She is survived by her brother, Horace John “Jack” Eiserman of Sharon Hill; her sister, Nancy Kelly of Lincoln University; and her nieces and nephews.
Her funeral service will be held on Monday at 11 A.M. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, on Chester Pike and Winona Ave., in Norwood. Her visitation will be on Monday from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. at the church. Her burial will be in Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill.
Contributions: To Immanuel Lutheran Church, 501 Chester Pike, Norwood, Pa. 19074 or to Community of Love Lutheran Church, 117 N. 4th Street, Oxford, Pa. 19363.
Catherine Anne 'Cathy' Burch
Catherine Anne “Cathy” Burch, 40, a resident of the Lester, Tinicum Township and former resident of Philadelphia, died on March 15th at her residence.
Born in Lower Merion Township, she was a resident of the Lester section of Tinicum Township for the last six years, having lived in West Philadelphia most of her life before that.
Miss Burch loved all kinds of animals, but especially loved cats and dogs, and would go out of her way to care for them whenever she could. She was also an avid Phillies fan and followed their games every day during the season.
She was devoted to her family, and especially enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Miss Burch was the daughter of the late Anna C. Burch, who died in 2006.
She is survived by her father, Michael J. Burch of Lester, Tinicum Township; her sister, Nancy Burch Nelson of Conshohocken; her aunt, Gloria DiBattista of Lester, Tinicum Township; and her nieces, nephews, and her great-niece.
Her funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11 A.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood.Her visitation will be on Saturday from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. at the funeral home. Her burial will be private.
Contributions: To the Delaware County S.P.C.A., 555 Sandy Bank Road, Media, Pa. 19063.
Elizabeth 'Betty' Johnston
Elizabeth “Betty” Johnston, 92, a resident of Glenolden and former resident of Southwest Philadelphia who was proud of her Scottish heritage, died on March 13th at the Conner-Williams Nursing Home in Ridley Park. .
Born in Paisley, Scotland, she was the daughter of the late John and Margaret Lawson. Mrs. Johnston emigrated to this country from Scotland in 1948. She was a resident of Glenolden for the last 12 years, having lived in Southwest Philadelphia for many years prior to that.
Mrs. Johnston was a proud member and past Chief Daughter of The Daughters of Scotia Lady Hendenson Lodge # 245 of Ardmore, Pa. an organization of women of Scottish descent.
She will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who especially enjoyed spending time with children and grandchildren.
Mrs. Johnston is the wife of the late Adam Johnston, who died in 1983.
She is survived by her sons, George Johnston of Woolwich Township, N.J., Lawson Johnston of Pittsburgh, Pa., Adam Johnston, Jr. of Prospect Park, and Robert Johnston of Secane; her ten grandchildren; and her eleven great-grandchildren.
Her funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 11 A.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood. Her visitation will be on Wednesday from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. at the funeral home. Her burial will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Contributions: May be made in Betty’s memory to Conner-Williams Nursing Home, 105 Morton Avenue, Ridley Park, Pa. 19078.
Nettie Bondarchuk
Nettie Bondarchuk, 90, a longtime resident of Essington, Tinicum Township, who was known for her ceramics and china painting, died on March 11th at her residence.
Born in Mattituck, NY, she was the daughter of the late Alexandre and Stephanie Bonkoski. She was a longtime resident of Essington, Tinicum Township.
Mrs. Bondarchuk was very skilled and talented in ceramics and china painting, and maintained a ceramics studio in her home where she taught classes for many years. She is known for her beautiful ceramics and china painting with the markings, “Made by Nettie” to identify them. Mrs. Bondarchuk was very active in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and many of her former girl scouts have a piece of ceramics made in her classes.
Mrs. Bondarchuk and her late husband always enjoyed polka dancing; celebrating their heritage with their family and many friends.
She will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
Mrs. Bondarchuk is the wife of the late James Bondarchuk, who died in 2008. She is also predeceased by her two sons, James Bondarchuk and Kenneth Bondarchuk.
She is survived by her daughters, Christine Novelli of King of Prussia and Kathleen DiDomenico of West Chester; her sister, May Thilberg of Greenport, NY; and her three grandchildren, Lauren Novelli and Michael and Nicholas DiDomenico.
Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10 A.M. at St. Margaret Mary Alocoque Church, Wanamaker Ave. and Gov. Printz Blvd., in Essington. Her visitation will be on Monday from 8:30 A.M. to 9:30 A.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood, Pa. Her burial will be in Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery in Marple Township.
Contributions: May be made to the Tinicum Township Fire Co., 99 Wanamaker Ave., Essington, Pa. 19029 or to the Alzheimers Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106.
William Francis Welch III
William Francis Welch, III, 61, a resident of Audubon, New Jersey, died on March 5th at a dear, close friend’s home in Media, Pennsylvania after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mr. Welch, known as Bill, Billy, or Father Bill, was born in Syracuse, New York on March 8th, 1948, the son of the late Veronica and William Welch.
Mr. Welch was a Vietnam War veteran and served his country in the United States Navy from 1968 to 1970. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s University.
Mr. Welch was ordained as a Catholic priest on May 28th, 1981 at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Wilmington, Delaware. Known as Father Bill, he was an associate priest at Saint John Holy Angel Parish from 1981 to 1983 and from 1983 to 1985 at Saint Helena Parish of Wilmington, Delaware. He was a Teacher of Theology at Saint Marks High School from 1985 to 1987.
He joined CDI Corporation in Philadelphia where he worked as Vice-President of Operations. After Mr. Welch’s 20 year assignment ended with CDI, he worked as a Training Design Engineer at Comcast Corporation.
Mr. Welch was a humble priest and a beautiful, beloved, trustworthy friend to many. He never met a stranger, brightened the room as soon as he entered and always allowed everyone to feel proud as the individual they were.
He is predeceased by his siblings, Steven, Tommy, and Deborah.
Mr. Welch is survived by his sister, Judy Littlefield of California.
A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, April 6th, at 4 P.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood, Pa. A visitation period will be at the funeral home from 3 P.M. to 4 P.M. Burial will be private at a later date.
Contributions: Memorial contributions made in Bill’s name to The Hospice and Homecare Foundation, One Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 400, 100 Matsonford Road, Radnor, Pa. 19087 would be appreciated.
Alma M. Young
Alma M. Young, 81, a resident of Drexel Hill and a lifelong resident of Chester, died on March 3rd at her residence.
Born in Chadds Ford, she was the daughter of the late John Jack and Evelyn Krider. Mrs. Young was a resident of Chester for most of her life.
She was employed as a licensed registered nurse at Crozer-Chester Medical Center for many years until her retirement.
Mrs. Young always had a great sense of humor and lived her life to the fullest. She was also very fond of animals and cared for them whenever she could. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
Mrs. Young was predeceased by her brother, John Krider, and her sisters, Elizabeth Ambler, Mary Barksdale, and Ruth DiStellio.
She is survived by her son, Robert Worrell; her sister, Dorothy Krider of Providence, Rhode Island; and her nieces and nephews.
Her funeral service and burial will be private.
Contributions: To Vitas Hospice, 1740 Walton Road, Suite 100, Blue Bell, Pa. 19422.
Valeria T. Catona
Valeria T. Catona, 91, a resident of Pompano Beach, Florida and a former longtime resident of the Woodlyn section of Ridley Township, died on March 1st in Pompano Beach.
Born in Philadelphia, Mrs. Catona lived in the Woodlyn section of Ridley Township for over 50 years before moving to Florida.
She was the co-owner of Johnny’s Hamburgers formerly located in Ridley Township.
Mrs. Catona was pre-deceased by her husband, John J. Catona, Sr. who died in 1998.
She is survived by her beloved daughter, Annette C. Hannum of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; her beloved son with whom she lived, John F. Catona of Pompano Beach, Florida; her three grandchildren; her six great-grandchildren; and her great-great Grandson.
Her visitation will be held on Monday from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike in Norwood. Her burial will be private at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery in Marple Township.
Alma H. Reese
Alma H. Reese, 87, a lifelong resident of Norwood, died on February 11th at the Wallingford Health & Rehabilitation Center in Nether Providence Township.
Born in Hatboro, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Harry and Ethel Beans. She was a resident of Norwood for most of her life.
Mrs. Reese was a self-employed hairdresser and ran her shop out of her home in Norwood for many years until her retirement.
She was an avid bingo player, and played with many groups at many locations throughout the area. She was a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of V.F.W. Post #7213 in Norwood.
Mrs. Reese and her friends loved to camp at various locations in the tri-state area and called their group, the No-Nay-Mee Campers.
She will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Mrs. Reese is the wife of the late Horace B. Reese, who died in 1991. She is also predeceased by her brothers, Cornell and Tim Reese and her sisters, Ruth Feidler, Evelyn Ostrander and Doris McAlarney.
She is survived by her daughters, Denise Wood of Boothwyn, Upper Chichester and Cindy Sterns of Folsom, Ridley Township; her sisters, Florence Coleman of Doylestown and Emma Mack of Lansdale; her brother, Alan Beans of Richboro, Pa.; her five grandchildren and her ten great-grandchildren.
Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 11 A.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood. Her visitation will be on Tuesday from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. at the funeral home. Her burial will be in Glenwood Memorial Gardens in Marple Township.
Contributions: To Immanuel Lutheran Church, 501 Chester Pike, Norwood, Pa. 19074.
Laura M. Wolfe
Laura M. Wolfe, 82, a longtime resident of Norwood, died on February 8th at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby.
Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Thomas B. and Laura Filgate.
Mrs. Wolfe was employed as a supervisor for Wyeth Laboratories for 37 years until her retirement in 1986. She was a longtime member of Norwood United Methodist Church and was active at one time with the St. Gabriel’s Church Seniors Group.
Mrs. Wolfe is the wife of the late Harold S. Wolfe.
She is survived by her many friends and her church family.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 10 A.M. at the Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood. Her visitation will be on Saturday from 9 A.M. to 10 A.M. at the funeral home. Her burial will be in Edgewood Memorial Park in Concord Township.
Contributions: Memorial contributions may be sent to the Norwood United Methodist Church, 315 Chester Pike, Norwood, Pa. 19074
Steven F. McLaughlin
Steven F. McLaughlin, 52, a resident of Prospect Park and a former resident of Coatesville, died on February 6th at the Prospect Park Health & Rehabilitation Center.
Born in Philadelphia, he was raised in Norwood and attended Interboro High School. He lived in Prospect Park for a period of time before moving to Coatesville. He lived in Coatesville for a period of time before recently moving back to Prospect Park.
He was employed as a postal worker with the U.S. Postal Service for 20 years. Mr. McLaughlin loved music, and was very talented playing songs on his guitar. He often took comfort reading his Bible whenever he could.
He was a member for a period of time at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in West Chester.
He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends.
He is the son of the late Frank and Mildred McLaughlin.
He is survived by his daughters, Rosemary McLaughlin of Yeadon, Jessica McLaughlin of New Castle, Del., Kristina Gelety Folsom, Ridley Township, and Jennifer McLaughlin Pensacola, FL, his son, Steven McLaughlin of West Chester; his former wife, Maryanne Holland of Chattanooga, TN; and his grandchildren, Isabella and Liam.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday at 1 P.M. at The Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike in Norwood. His visitation will be on Thursday from 12 Noon to 1 P.M. at the funeral home. His burial will be in Edgewood Memorial Park in Concord Township.
Contributions: The Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1 Reed Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, Pa. 19147.
Charles W. Twesten, III
Charles W. Twesten, III, 88, a resident of the Masonic Village of Lafayette Hill, Pa. and a former Norwood resident, died on February 5th at the Masonic Village.
Mr. Twesten was born in 1921 in Norwood to the late Marion and Charles Twesten. He was a graduate of the Glen Nor High School, Class of 1939. He was an active member of the Episcopal Church and attended St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Norwood until 1993 when he moved to Williamstown, N.J. and became a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Glassboro, N.J. In 2004, he and his wife returned to Pennsylvania and took up residence at the Masonic Village of Lafayette Hill, Pa.
Mr. Twesten was a proud member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving during World War II in England and Casablanca. He served with the 8th Air Force, 303rd Bomb Group Mechanical Ground Crew maintaining B-17 bombers.
Upon his discharge from the Armed Services in 1945, Mr. Twesten joined his father in the Twesten Plumbing and Heating Business and married his wife, Inez. They were married 64 years. He became sole proprietor of the business upon his father’s death in 1951. In 1972, Mr. Twesten retired from his own plumbing business and worked for the Interboro School District, maintaining its plumbing and heating systems. He retired from the Interboro School District in 1984.
Mr. Twesten was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge and attended meetings at the Prospect Lodge #578 in Prospect Park. He was also a lifetime member of the John Wesley Cross Post #578 of the American Legion and was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, LeVan Smith Raibley Post #7213. He was an active member of the Norwood 4th of July Association for many years, and in 1985 the Borough honored him with the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Inez B. Twesten of the Masonic Village of Lafayette Hill; his daughter, Judith Rehm of Chester Heights; his son, Robert Twesten of Tucson, AZ; his four grandchildren, Glenn Eckard of Springfield, Mark Eckard of Wilmington, DE, Carolyn Twesten of Hillsborough, NC, and Dana Twesten of Sunnyside, NY; and his three great-grandchildren, David and Justin Eckard Of Springfield, and Campbell Olivia Eckard of Wilmington, DE.
His funeral service will be held on Friday, Feb. 12th, at 12 Noon at The Griffith Funeral Chapel, 520 Chester Pike, in Norwood. His visitation will be on Friday, Feb. 12th from 11 A.M. to 12 Noon at the funeral home. His burial will be private.
Contributions: To the Masonic Village of Lafayette Hill, 801 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, Pa. 19444.
Dorothy P. 'Dot' Ford
Dorothy P. “Dot” Ford, 76, a resident of West Wildwood, N.J. and a former resident of Ridley Park and Prospect Park, died on January 31, 2010 at the Courthouse Convalescent Center in Cape May Court House, N.J.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in Tinicum Township, Mrs. Ford was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Dorothy Forte. She was a resident of West Wildwood, N.J. since 1997, having lived in Ridley Park for 20 years before that and ten years in Prospect Park prior to that.
Mrs. Ford was an avid bowler, and bowled with leagues at Ridley Lanes while living in Ridley Park and then with leagues at Wildwood Lanes while living at the shore.
She loved to take trips to Wildwood with her family and it was her great desire to live there. She and her husband, Tom, moved there in 1997 much to her delight.
Mrs. Ford was known for her talent working with ceramics. She enjoyed trips to Atlantic City, and always enjoyed dining out with her family and friends.
She was devoted to her family, and her greatest love was spending time with her husband, her children, and her grandchildren.
Mrs. Ford was the mother of the late Thomas S. Ford, Jr., who died in 1974. She was also predeceased by a sister, Margaret Ziegler.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Thomas S. Ford; her son, Robert Ford of Reading, Pa.; her daughter, Diane Carpenter of Springfield; her sisters, Joan Maffei of Essington and Benay Forte of Quakertown; and her six grandchildren and her great-granddaughter.
Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 9th, at 10 A.M. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 2130 Franklin Avenue, in Morton. Her visitation will be on Saturday from 8:30 A.M. to 10 A.M. at the church. Her burial will be in Lawn Croft Cemetery in Lower Chichester Township.
Contributions: To St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942
