Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Claude O. Mertz Jr.
Claude O. Mertz Jr., 81, of Port Charlotte, Fla., formerly of Bethlehem, died Sunday in his vacation home at Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, Lake Ariel. He was the husband of Mary (Werner) Mertz. They were married for 56 years.
He was an accountant for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation before retiring.
Born in Nesquehoning, he was a son of the late Claude Sr. and Helen (Beagle) Mertz.
He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Bethlehem.
Mertz was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Fountain Hill American Legion Post.
He was a volunteer for the Freemansburg Little League and an organizer of the Claude Lamar Band, Bethlehem.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter, Claudia Fantasia of Land O'Lakes, Fla.; a son Thomas of Port Charlotte; two sisters, Joyce Brown of Sinking Spring, Berks County, and Helen Krauss of Bethlehem; and three grandchildren.
Alfred Dorsey
Alfred Dorsey, 90, of 3856 Bronx Blvd., The Bronx, N.Y., died Sunday in the Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, The Bronx. He was the husband of the late Julia M. (Jacobs) Dorsey, formerly of Hauto.
Prior to retiring, he was a shop foreman for 45 years for the Charles Francis Press Company, New York.
Born in New York City, N.Y., he was a son of the late Ignatius and Mary (Koren) Dorsey, and was a lifelong resident of New York.
Surviving is a son, Donald S. of New York.
The Joseph S. Blazosky Funeral Home, 81 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, is in charge of the arrangements.
Sylvester J. "Tex" Dallas
Sylvester J. "Tex" Dallas, 82, of 233 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, died this morning in the Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale.
The Jon M. Zizelmann Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of arrangements.
Patsy Fauzio
Patsy Fauzio, 86, of 460 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, died this morning in the Hazleton General Hospital. He was the husband of Connie (Vito) Fauzio.
Born in the Little Italy section of Nesquehoning, he was a son of the late Joseph P. and Rosaria (Miraglia) Fauzio.
He was a life-long resident of that community, and was a resident of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church.
He was a life-long pigeon flyer, competing in various races in a three-county area.
He began working for the Fauzio Brothers Freight Hauling Co. in the 1920s. In the 1930s through the 1950s he worked for Fauzio Brothers Coal and Stripping Co. before becoming owner of the Greenwood Stripping and Mining Operation until 1974.
Surviving with his widow is a son, Joseph, at home; two daughters, Rosemary Fauzio of New Jersey and Patricia, wife of Frank Kattner of Hauto; a sister, Mary Gogal of Lake Hauto, four granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.
He was predeced in death by four brothers, William, Frank, James and Paul, and two sisters, Jennie and Rose.
The Joseph S. Blazosky Funeral Home, 81 E. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles H. Fritz
Charles H. Fritz, 57, of Harrisburg, a Tamaqua native, died Monday at his home.
Born in Tamaqua, he was a son of the late Blanche Gallagher.
He was of the Catholic faith, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Surviving is a brother, Frank Gallagher of Arlington, Va.
The Roche Funeral Home, 237 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of arrangements.
Walter "Jack" Mikulsky
Walter "Jack" Mikulsky 75, of 64 Andrewsville, Lansford, died Monday in his residence.
The Skrabak-Parambo Funeral Home, 210 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Edward R. Binder
Mrs. Marie Elaine "Sissy" Binder, 50, of 201 North St., Jim Thorpe, died Thursday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. She was the wife of Edward R. Binder. They observed their ninth wedding anniversary on April 15.
She was a self-employed beautician, having operated a salon at her home.
Born in Jim Thorpe, she was a daughter of Elaine (Eckhart) Gavornik of Jim Thorpe and the late Paul "Pockets" Gavornik.
The deceased was a member of Christ United Church of Christ, Jim Thorpe.
Surviving in addition to her husband and mother are a daughter, Jaime Rehrig of Lehighton; a son, William Rehrig, a stepdaughter Evelyn, wife of Darryl Angstead, a sister, Rose Sibbach, and a brother, Paul F., all of Jim Thorpe; a stepson, Leo C. Binder of Lansford; three step-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by a brother Michael.
The Edward F. Melber Funeral Home, 524 Center St., Jim Thorpe, is in charge of the arrangements.
Gerald F. Reihman
Gerald F. "Jep" Reihman, 87, formerly of 629 North St., Jim Thorpe, died Thursday in the Gnaden Huetten Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Lehighton. He was the husband of Margaret (Kindred) Reihman, who died in 1993.
He was a coal miner at the former Nesquehoning Colliery, and later worked at the Hull Machine Shop, Lehighton.
Born in East Mauch Chunk, he was a son of the late Charles and Carrie (Huber) Reihman.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, American Legion Post 304 and the Fairview Hose Company, all of Jim Thorpe.
Reihman was a Navy veteran of World War II.
Surviving are a daughter, Janet Barno of Jim Thorpe; two sisters, Harriet, wife of Stephen Hydro of Jim Thorpe, and Wilma Arnold of Scranton; a grandson and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Edmund, Charles, John and Herman.
The Edward F. Melber Funeral Home, 524 Center St., Jim Thorpe, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Frank J. Vasko
Mrs. Helen J. Vasko, 78, of 88 Hahn's Dairy Road, Palmerton, died Thursday in the St. Luke Hospital, Quakertown. She was the wife of Frank J. Vasko. They observed their 57th wedding anniversary on May 13.
She was a self-employed beautician before retiring, having operated Helen's Beauty Salon in Palmerton.
Born in New York City, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Adam and Catherine (Pastier) Yamrich.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Palmerton.
Surviving in addition to her husband are three sons, Frank A. of Alexandria, Va., and Robert A. and Stephen A., both of Palmerton; five granddaughters and eight great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Anna Lovi.
The Campton Funeral Home, 525 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Vernon F. Sinn
Vernon F. Sinn, 59, of Sellersville, recently of Montgomery County, died Wednesday evening in the Grand View Hospital, Sellersville, following an illness. He was the husband of Bette (Dinos) Sinn. They would have observed their 36th wedding anniversary in December.
Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late Varnon F. Sr. and Mary Ellen (Lorah) Sinn.
He graduated from Tamaqua High School in 1955 and attended Pennsylvania State University, State College. He transfered to Bloomsburg State College to receive his teaching degree in 1960.
From 1960-65, he taught in Woodbury, N.J. He furthered his education from 1965-67 at Lehigh University, where he received his master's degree.
Upon moving to Lansdale in 1965, he held the position of head teacher at the York Avenue School for that year, and served as principal of the school the ensuing year.
The Sinns moved to Montgomery Township in 1967, where he taught at the Montgomery Township Elementary School until it closed and then he continued his teaching career at Pennfield in Hatfield Township until retiring in January, 1992.
Sinn was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale, where he was a current council member and had been a member of the finance committee and a teacher in the adult Sunday school.
He was also active in Montgomery Township affairs, having served six terms as tax collector, from 1974-95.
In 1992, he started Sinn Painting with his son Andrew of Collegeville, Pa., who currently operates the business.
Surviving in addition to his widow and son are a daughter, Lauran A., wife of Kermit C. Corr of Sellersville; another son, V. Christopher of Lansdale; three sisters, Eleanor, wife of Robert Stevenson of Forest, Ga., Ida Mae, wife of Francis Piccin of Tamaqua, and Mrs. Sandra Yemm of Reading; two grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
The Huff and Lakjer Funeral Funeral Home, Derstine and Cannon avenues, Lansdale, is in charge of the arrangements.
Joseph J. Schwartz Sr.
Joseph J. "Sep" Schwartz Sr., 92, of 476 E. 10th St., Northampton, died Thursday in the Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township. he was the husband of Mary (Schimeneck) Schwartz. They observed their 68th wedding anniversary in June.
He was a repairman for the former Universal Atlas Cement Company, Northampton, for 29 years before retiring in 1969.
Born in Stiles, he was a son of the late Joseph and Cecelia (Pheiffer) Schwartz.
He was a member of Our Lady of Hungary Catholic Church, Northampton.
Schwartz was a bowler since 1922, having competed in many leagues, including the Penn Jersey Classic, where his high series was 761. He was the national Sokols yournament champion two years in a row and also won the all-events championship in Allentown in 1944 and 1951. He was inducted into the Allentown Bowling Hall of Fame in 1978.
Schwartz was a founder of the Promised Land Sportsman's Association in Pike County and a life member of the West Coplay Maennechor and the Northampton Liederkranz.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Joseph Jr. of Northampton and Richard J. of Whitehall Township; a daughter Patricia, wife of Alfred Berner of Whitehall; two sisters, Cecelia Binder of Walnutport and Mary Mulitsch of Easton; a brother Andrew of Whitehall; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Michael Patochek
Michael Patochek, 79, of 5 N. Walnut St., Lansford, died Thursday in the Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville. He was the husband of Julie (Danchak) Patochek.
The Skrabak-Parambo Funeral Home, 210 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Robert C. Hallman Jr.
Robert C. Hallman Jr., 58, of 7186 Church Road, Germansville, died Wednesday in his home. He was the husband of Perma F. (Dornblaser) Hallman. They observed their 27th wedding anniversary last November.
He was a kiln operator for Horsehead Resource Development Company, Palmerton, for the past 31 years.
Born in Slatington, he was a son of the late Robert C. Sr. and Adama (Lauchnor) Hallman.
He was a member of Union United Church of Christ, Neffs.
Hallman was a Navy veteran.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sisters, Beverly, wife of John Woodman of Lexington Park, Md., and Ann, wife of Curtis Seltzer of California, Md.
