Obituaries

Aug 9, 2023

William B. Bessman

January 17, 1935-August 9, 2023

William Bessman passed away peacefully on August 9, 2023, after a prolonged illness. Born in Brooklyn NY, Bill was a proud New York City firefighter for an elite rescue squad in mid-town Manhattan called Rescue 1. He was eventually...

Aug 9, 2023

Kathleen "Katie" Nowak, age 79, of Emmaus, Pennsylvania passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown. She was born September 30, 1943 in East Sussex, England and moved to Gaspe, Quebec, Canada in childhood. She lived in Montreal, Quebec before moving to the Lehigh Valley with her husband and two sons. She was the...

Aug 7, 2023

Donna A. Kersman, age 73, of Allentown passed away on August 7, 2023 in her residence. Born in Little Falls, NY, she was the daughter of the late Alfred N. and Carlotta C. (Spaar) Yelles.

She graduated from William Allen High School in 1968. She was employed as a CISR for various insurance agencies. She was a...

Aug 4, 2023

Peggy Anderson was born in Brooklyn NY to George and Maggie McNeil (Kiernan).  She grew up in and spent most of her life in Howard Beach NY.

She married Andy (Edwin) Anderson and they raised 5 children together.

Peggy was a talented artist whose paintings of boatyards and nautical themes were highly sought after.

Aug 3, 2023

Jean E. Jarrett, age 94, of Allentown formerly of Slatington, passed away on August 2, 2023 in Heather Glen Senior Living in Allentown. She was the loving wife of the late Homer R. Jarrett with whom they shared 62 years of marriage. Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Esther (Lucas) Shelhamer.

...

Aug 1, 2023

Gloria M. Steager, age 92, of Wayne, PA previously of Emmaus, PA, passed away on August 1, 2023 at The Wayne Center following a long battle with Alzheimers. Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Herbert and Marie (Bowersox) Moyer.

She graduated from William Allen High School in 1938. She worked as an Office...

Jul 29, 2023

Robert L. "Spike" Jaworski, age 69, of Emmaus, passed away on July 29, 2023 in Cedar Crest Post Acute in Allentown. Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Charles H. and Lillian K. (Reichard) Jaworski.

He graduated from Emmaus High School in 1971. He attended LCCC. He was a Machine Operator for Avery Dennison...

Jul 27, 2023

Paul Allen Wieder, 59, of Danielsville, formerly of Macungie, died July 27, 2023 in Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Willard D. and AnnaMae (Schafer) Wieder.  Paul graduated from Emmaus High School and the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21.  He went on to work for VIA of the Lehigh Valley.  The...

Jul 25, 2023

Rita H. Blyler, 88, formerly of Emmaus, died July 25, 2023 in Luther Crest. She was the loving wife of George E. Blyler. Born in Emmaus, she was the daughter of the late George and Mabel (Iobst) Fisher.  She graduated from Emmaus High School and East Stroudsburg University, where she was a basketball player. She was a gym teacher...

Jul 23, 2023

Itsu Bitting, 90, of Emmaus, died July 23, 2023 in her home surrounded by her family. Born in Japan, she was the daughter of the late Risaburo and Ino (Takahashi) Kawashima.  She worked as a sewing machine operator in the garment industry for many years and later at Day-Timer's before retiring in May of 1994.  Itsu, known to her...

Jul 22, 2023

Grant J. Geiger, age 59, of Emmaus, passed away on July 22, 2023 in Allentown. He was the loving husband of Maia T. (Blankenbiller) with whom they shared 23 years of marriage and renewed their vows in Italy in 2015. Born in Giessen, Germany, he was a son of R. Jay and Gloria (Yost) Geiger.

He graduated...

Jul 19, 2023

Cherolyn J. Washburn, age 81, of Emmaus, passed away on July 19, 2023 in Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest in Allentown. She was the loving wife to the late Frederick J. Washburn with whom they shared many years of marriage. Born in Emmaus, she was a daughter of the late Charles H. and Elsie M. (Kleinsmith) Meitzler.

Jul 17, 2023

Cassandra D. "Sandy" Sewell, age 82, of Allentown, passed away on July 17, 2023 in Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest. She was the loving wife of the late Murray A. Sewell. Born in York, PA, she was the daughter of George Sr., and Virginia (Gannett) Dellinger.

She graduated from William Penn Senior High School in 1958....

Jul 13, 2023

Eleanor R. Dickinson, 92, formerly of Macungie, died July 13, 2023 in Phoebe Home.  She was the wife of the late Whitford R. Dickinson, Jr.  Born in Nazareth, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth V. and Mabel M. (Fehr) Teada.  Eleanor worked in the cafeteria at Shoemaker Elementary School for 18 years, retiring in 1995.  She was...

Jul 12, 2023

Michael Angelo "Mike" Giannelli, 47, of Monterey, CA, passed away suddenly on July 12, 2023 in Monterey, CA, due to an accident/blunt force trauma. Words cannot express the profound sorrow and grief felt by family and friends at this untimely loss of Mike's genius.

Mike was born on April 30, 1976 at the US naval base in...

Jul 2, 2023

Gloria A. Hanawalt, 77, of Emmaus, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 2nd, 2023, at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hospice surrounded by her family.

Gloria was born in Pittsburgh on December 27, 1945 to Anthony and Jeannette Figliolia. She grew up in the Mount Washington area and later met her husband, Bob Hanawalt while he was attending the...

Jul 1, 2023

Richard A. Pinkham, of Emmaus, PA, passed away unexpectedly on July 1, 2023, at the Lehigh Valley Hospital with his family by his side.  He was 83 years young.

Rich was born April 21, 1940, in Valparaiso, Indiana to the late LaRoy and Dorothy (Michael) Pinkham.  Rich often told stories of his youth in Indiana and growing...

Jul 1, 2023

John D. Arndt, 88, of Macungie, died July 1, 2023 in St. Luke's Hospital Allentown Campus.  He was the husband of Gayle L. (Stamm) Arndt.  Born in Robesonia, he was the son of the late Raymond and Ida (Christman) Arndt.  John worked as a supervisor for Lehigh Valley Dairy and as a supervisor for Stroh's Brewing Company, retiring in...

Jun 30, 2023

Terry L. Schaeffer, 66, of Emmaus, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2023 in his home surrounded by his family.  He was the husband of Suzanne J. (Talarsky) Schaeffer.  Born in Reading, he was the son of the late Harold and Elaine (Eschleman) Schaeffer.  Terry worked as an auto mechanic and later as a service manager.  He was an...

Jun 23, 2023

Esther M. Mohr, age 92, of Macungie, passed away on June 23, 2023 in Legend of Allentown. She was the loving wife to the late Clarence W. Mohr, Jr. with whom they shared 52 years of marriage. Born in Macungie, she was a daughter of the late Jonathan and Emma (Kline) Schantzenbach.

She graduated from Emmaus High...