Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Mrs. Helen I. Cole Simmons
Mrs. Helen I. Cole Simmons, 87, of Allentown, died Monday in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown. She was the widow of Charles E. Simmons and William B. Cole.
Born in Trumbauersville, she was a daughter of the late Alvin and Laura (Bossert) Rotenberger.
Surviving are six sons, Thomas C. Cole Sr., Albert J. Cole and Raymond M. Cole, all of Allentown, Charles D. Cole of Macungie, Richard L. Cole of Walnutport and Donald P. Cole of Alburtis; two daughters, Jean E., wife of Carson W. Litzenberger of Allentown, and Geraldine M., wife of Charles R. Ward of Bethlehem; a sister, Mrs. Edna Doll of Allentown; 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Winifred M. Andre
Mrs. Winifred M. Andre, 87, of the Care Center of Lopatcong Township, N.J., formerly of Pleasant Valley, died Tuesday in the Warren Hospital, N.J. She was the widow of John W. Andre, who died in 1995.
Born in Hillside, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Edward and Coila (Shobert) Kresge.
She was a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Springtown, where she was a former Sunday school teacher and a member of the Lutheran Church Women.
Mrs. Andre was a member of the Franklin Grange, Springtown, and in her earlier years was active in the Palisades Players.
Surviving are a son, Paul E. of Pleasant Valley; two daughters, Lillian Strawn of Riegelsville and Janice E. Simms of Danielsville; a sister, Gladys Stout of Stroudsburg R.1; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Raymond J. Fronheiser
Raymond J. Fronheiser, 64, of 79 Gilberts Hill Road, Mahoning Township, died Tuesday in the Manor Care Nursing Center, Bethlehem. He was the husband of Doris (Gilbert) Fronheiser. They observed their 41st wedding anniversary last July 10.
He was a machine operator for Tam Pallet, Inc., Lehighton, for 38 years.
Born in Lehighton, he was a son of the late Howard J. and Mary (Freeby) Fronheiser.
He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Lehighton.
Fronheiser was an Army veteran, having served in 1961-62.
He was a life member of the Mahoning Valley Fire Company and a member of the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club, East Penn Sporting Club and Grundsow Lodge No. 8, East Penn Township.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Howard J. and Alan D., and a daughter Donna, wife of Robert Hall, all of Lehighton; a brother, Lamar F. of Ashfield; a sister Gladys, wife of Malcolm Everett of Weissport; and a granddaughter.
The Kenneth N. Phifer Funeral Home, Third and Alum streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Robert A. Carpenter
Robert Alan Carpenter, 35, a technical sergeant with the U.S. Air Force stationed in Turkey, died Jan. 16 in Turkey. He was the former husband of Kathy (Leiby) Carpenter of Lehighton.
He was a photographer with the Air Force since 1979.
Born in Jamestown, N.Y., he was a son of G. Frederick and Cynthia (Bramstong) Carpenter of Heber Springs, Ark.
The deceased was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lehighton.
Surviving in addition to his parents and former wife are a son, Chase Alan Leiby Carpenter, of Lehighton; and a brother, Brian Douglas of Little Rock, Ark.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Cletus E. Herman
Mrs. Mary M. Herman, 71, of Hatfield Township, died Friday night in the Grandview Hospital, West Rockhill Township, Bucks County. The wife of Cletus E. Herman, she had been in failing health for some time. They would have observed their 51st wedding anniversary tomorrow.
During World War II, she worked as a welder for Eastern Aircraft in Trenton, N.J. She was employed at the St. Mary Manor, Lansdale, and Elm Terrace Gardens, Lansdale.
Born in Mauch Chunk, she was a daughter of the late William and Mary (Farrell) Donovan, and had lived in Hatfield since moving there from Mauch Chunk 40 years ago.
She was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Lansdale.
Mrs. Herman was a volunteer collector for the Heart Fund for many years and was also a volunteer at the North Penn Hospital, Hatfield Township.
Surviving in addition to her husband are two daughters, Kathleen A., wife of H. William Kaelin of Montgomeryville, and Margaret M. Grote of Lansdale; two sons, Cletus G. of Quakertown and Gregory of Colmar; a sister, Audrienne Wright of Allentown; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held from the Huff and Lakjer Funeral Home, Derstine and Cannon avenues, Lansdale.
Michael Drusda
Michael Drusda, 82, of 3 Third St., Kelayres, died suddenly Monday evening in the Hazleton General Hospital. He was the husband of Josephine (Otterino) Drusda. They were married for 47 years.
He was a retired coal miner.
Born in Honey Brook, he was a son of the late John and Mary (Rusinko) Drusda.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and served in Pearl Harbor.
Drusda was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Kelayres, and was actively involved in the United Mine Workers of America for over 50 years.
He was a memer of the VFW of McAdoo and the Greater Hazleton Historical Society, and was a former Kline Township supervisor.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter, Joan, wife of James Sabatella of Hazleton; a sister, Julia Zavada of Hazleton; three brothers, Andrew of Weatherly and George and Basil, both of Kelayres; three grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Thomas F. Wallace Sr.
Thomas F. ³Tod² Wallace Sr., 86, of 427 Allen St., West Hazleton, died Tuesday morning. He was the husband of Dorothy (Koch) Wallace. They were married for 64 years.
He was a truck driver for Karnıs Transfer, Hazleton, and until his retirement drove a shuttle van for the Hazleton Blind Association for many years.
Born in Hazleton, he was a son of the late Robert and Susan (Evans) Wallace.
He was a member of Christ Memorial United Church of Christ, West Hazleton, and the Teamsters Local No. 401.
Surviving in addition to his widow are three sons, Robert of Conyngham, William of Weatherly and Thomas Jr. of West Hazleton; a daughter Joyce, wife of Fred Smith of Hobbie, Luzerne County; a brother Russell of Easton; three sisters, Alma Haswell of Easton and Doris Houser and Mrs. Steven (Elaine) Gasper, both of Harwood; 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Phyllis L. Fisher
Mrs. Phyllis L. Fisher, 68, of Lewistown Valley, Tamaqua R1, and formerly of Leck Kill, Northumberland County, died Tuesday in Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale. She was the wife of the Rev. Paul S. Fisher.
Prior to retiring in 1991, she had been employed as a case finder and tester for the Susquehanna Intermediate Unit in Sunbury.
Born in Lewistown Valley, Tamaqua R1, she was a daughter of the late Daniel F. and Irene (Nester) Leiby.
Mrs. Fisher was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Pottsville. A 1945 graduate of Tamaqua High School and a 1949 graduate of Kutztown University, she was a member of the Lewistown Valley Grange, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Lewistown Valley Garden Club.
Surviving, in addition to her husband, are two daughters, Hope E. Fisher, at home, and Mary, wife of William C. Warrick III of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Bertram Leiby of Tamaqua R1; two sisters, Mrs. Elinor Wagner of Harrisburg and Mrs. Joan James of Tamaqua R1; and two grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Timothy Paul Fisher.
The Jon M. Zizelmann Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Mrs. Roberta Opresko
Mrs. Roberta Opresko, 72, of 238 W. Patterson St., Lansford, died Tuesday in the Hometown Nursing Center, Tamaqua R.2. She was the widow of Stephen Opresko, who died in 1994.
She worked for the former Kiddie Kloes, Lansford, for 37 years before retiring. During World War II, she was an aircraft machinst in Harrisburg.
Born in Swoyersville, Luzerne County, she was a daughter of the late Lawrence and Sophie (Kalis) Gajewski.
She was a member of St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, Lansford, and was a former member of the Council of Catholic Women of St. Ann Catholic Church, Lansford, where she had also been active.
Surviving are two sons, Stephen of Lancaster and Gerard of Treichlers; a brother Walter of Lansford; four sisters, Victoria Porambo, Frances Hifko and Irene Polkendo, all of Lansford, and Gretta, wife of Emil Laskowski of Tamaqua; and five grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph and Martin; and five sisters, Stella, Mary, Stephanie Porambo, Veronica and Genevieve.
The Skrabak-Parambo Funeral Home, 210 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. John D. Miller
Mrs. Diane B. Miller, 47, of Allentown, died Wednesday in her home. She was the wife of John D. "Jack" Miller. They observed their 15th wedding anniversary in October.
She was a rental agent for Evergreen Realty Co., Allentown, from 1983-85, and previously had owned and operated the former Helping Hands Cleaning Co., Allentown, for two years.
A 1968 nursing graduate of Lehigh County Community College, she was a licensed practical nurse in the Lehigh Valley, including at the Good Shepherd Home, Allentown, from 1968-78.
Born in St. Louis, Mo., she was a daughter of Charles B. Bean of St. Louis and Mrs. Gloria M. (Mayers) Bean Forte of Danielsville, and a stepdaughter of Gloria Bean of St. Louis and the late Robert N.A. Forte Jr.
She was a member of Trinity Wesleyan Church, Allentown, where she was a former member of the Women's Missionary Society and a past director of the summer youth program. She was also a member of the Crossroads Baptist Church, Allentown.
Mrs. Miller was instrumental in organizing diabetic support groups in the Lehigh Valley and, most recently, was a freelance writer for numerous Christian magazines.
She was a member of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sons of God Christian Motorcycle Club and Calvary Chapel, both of Philadelphia, and the first graduating class of the Swain School, Allentown.
Surviving in addition to her husband, parents and stepmother are a son, Adam J. of Allentown; three stepdaughters, Michele L. Shellenberger of Allentown, Tamara A. Miller of Northampton and Tanya L. Ford in Florida; two brothers, Michael E. Forte of Tampa, Fla., and the Rev. Robert J. Forte III of Allentown; a sister, Mary M., wife of Glenn Becker of Palmerton; and three grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Gina Marie Millets.
Charles G. LaBadie Jr.
Charles G. LaBadie Jr., 48, of Saylorsburg R.4, died Tuesday in the Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg. He was the husband of Joy (Hoffner) LaBadie. They observed their sixth wedding anniversary in September.
He was employed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for the past 14 years, having worked the past year as a clerk at the liquor distribution center in Jay Park, Marshalls Creek.
Born in Stroudsburg, he was a son of Mrs. Anna Mae (Marsh) LaBadie of Anchorage, Alaska, and the late Charles G. LaBadie Sr.
He was a member of Zion United Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville.
LaBadie was an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are three sons, Sean C. of Swiftwater, Brandon G. of Allentown and Jamey Ryan Frederick of East Stroudsburg; three daughters, Ginny LaBadie of Stroudsburg, Regina, at home, and Kimberly of Reeders; a brother Larry of Anchorage; two sisters, Cindy Frailey of Stroudsburg and Evelyn Koerner of Reeders; and three grandchildren.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Anna Zangari
Mrs. Anna "Sue" Zangari, 70, of 3208 Walnut Drive, Danielsville, died Wednesday in the Muhlenberg Hospital Center, Bethlehem. She was the widow of Anthony Zangari, who died in 1995.
Born in Northampton, she was a daughter of the late Paul and Mary (Grohotolsky) Gasper.
She was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Berlinsville.
Surviving are a son Anthony of Whitehall Township; a daughter Ann, wife of Joseph Vargoof Danielsville; three brothers, John and Paul, both of Allentown, and Edward in Georgia; three sisters, Catherine, wife of James Fair of Bethlehem, Helen Bukovits of Northampton and Caroline Orvitz in New Jersey; and five grandchildren.
