Skook News Obituaries: August 7, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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She was born March 26, 1937, in Pottsville a daughter of late F. Pierce and Thelma Painter Spehrley.
She was a 1955 graduate of Pottsville High School.
Prior to retiring Carol worked for Transvideo and Pottsville Voter Registration.
She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Pottsville and the former Yorkville Hose Ladies Auxiliary.
Throughout her life she loved being involved with her children and grandchildren’s activities and enjoyed knitting, crafts, and gardening.
She was preceded in death by her brother, James Spehrley and his wife C. Nancy.
Surviving are her husband of 65 years, Robert Artz; 2 daughters, Deborah Artz and her husband Jerome McKeran, Saint Johns, FL; Donna Artz Kalovcak, and her husband John, Pottsville; 4 grandchildren, Dr. Kelly Kalovcak and her husband Bill Rhoads, Pottsville; Kimberly Kalovcak, Pottsville; Kevin McKernan, Jacksonville, FL; Kristin McKernan, Raleigh, NC; 1 great-grandson, Brady Rhoads; a nephew, James Spehrley and his wife Jane, Pottsville; and Linda Spehrley Gregg and her husband Chuck, Chesapeake, MD; her cat Pumpkin.
Funeral services will be held 11AM Thursday at James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville. Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 9:30AM until time of services. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Carol be made to Yorkville Hose Company, PO Box 1222, Pottsville, PA 17901. Interment will follow in Charles Baber Cemetery, Pottsville.
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Barbara M. Zehner, 80, of New Ringgold, passed away Sunday, August 6, 2023, in her home. She was the widow of Francis E. “Peck” Zehner, who died December 20, 2021.
Prior to retiring, she was employed at Young’s Medical Equipment, Easton for 15 years. She was also previously employed by Gracedale Nursing Home, Nazareth.
Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Walter Holland and Catherine (Kresge) Hill. Barb was a beautiful person inside and out. She enjoyed being with her family and friends as they were her passion and delight. She was a member of the West Penn Rod and Gun Club.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Brenda Welch.
Surviving are three sons, Thomas Ford and his wife, Virginia, of Stroudsburg, Angelo Zervos, of Tamaqua, and Pete Zervos, of New Ringgold; stepdaughter, Heather, wife of Ammon “Mike” Hartwell, of Tamaqua; two grandchildren, Samantha Edmonds and Brandon Zervos; two step grandchildren, Kayla and Damon Hartwell; great granddaughter, Eden Edmonds; niece, Vicki Luchini and nephew, John Welch.
A memorial visitation will be held from 5-7pm on Tuesday, August 15, at Hartman Funeral Home.
Arrangements are being handled by the Hartman Funeral Home, 1791 West Penn Pike, Rte. 309, New Ringgold.
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Bernice M. Troy, 90, of Schuylkill Haven, passed away Monday, August 7th, at home.
Born on the family farm in Summit Station on May 21, 1933, she was a daughter of the late Charles & Sallie (Schaeffer) Mengel.
She was the widow of Lewis M. Troy, who passed away June 7, 2006.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is also preceded in death by all of her siblings: George, Paul, Wilbert, Marvin, & Guy Mengel, Miriam Books, & Ruth Oxenrider.
Bernice was a 1951 graduate of Cressona High School.
She had worked in the office of the Walk-In Shoe Company, as well as in the office of Dr. Herbert Rubright, and retired in 1989. In retirement she used her skills in needlework and crocheting to make items such as Christmas stockings and bookbags for Samaritan's Purse and lap robes for local nursing homes.
Bernice was an active member of Grace Evangelical Congregational Church, Schuylkill Haven,
In addition to needlework, she also enjoyed gardening and especially being actively involved in her grandsons' lives.
Bernice is survived by a daughter, Rosanne, wife of Jim Chesakis, Schuylkill Haven, and three grandsons: Ryan Chesakis, Orwigsburg, Andrew Chesakis, husband of Monica, Elizabethtown, & David Chesakis, husband of Kelsey, Hollidaysburg.
A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 11th at Grace Evangelical Congregational Church, Schuylkill Haven with Rev. Ted Rathman officiating. A viewing will be held from 9:30 AM until the time of service.
Interment will follow at Manbeck's Cemetery, Washington Township.
At the family's request, memorial donations in Bernice's name may be forwarded to Grace EC Church, 151 Earl Stoyer Drive Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972.
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Elma C. Brown, 93, of Cressona, passed away August 4th at Rosewood Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Schuylkill Haven.
Born in Schuylkill Haven on October 25, 1929, she was a daughter of the late Alfred & Helen (Roeder) Strauch.
Elma was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, the late Donald J. Brown.
She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Summer Hill, Auburn, and retired in 1990 as a supervisor for H. L. Miller, Schuylkill Haven.
Elma is survived by a daughter, Sheila Baer, of Phoenix, AZ, and a brother, John Strauch, of Schuylkill Haven.
A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Ebling-Stabingas Funeral Home, Cressona. A viewing will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of service. Interment will follow at Cressona Cemetery, Cressona.
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Born on April 16, 1953 in Levittown, Long Island, N.Y. she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Audrey Bailey Rogers.
She graduated from Cumberland Valley High School in 1971 and Central Penn Business School.
Debra worked in customer replenishment for Reckitt Benckiser.
She was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother and loved animals.
Surviving are her husband of 49 years, Kenneth Stahl; a son Shaun and wife Nicole Stahl of Knoxville, TN; a daughter, Ashly and husband Mark McAloose of Tower City; six grandchildren, Trent McAloose, Taylor McAloose, Makaya McAloose, Madison McAloose, Zoey Stahl and Aidin McAloose; two sisters, Diane Lopardo of Massachusetts, Denise Ebling of Mechanicsburg; a brother Drew Rogers of Austin, TX, her dogs, Ming, Max, Toby and Tucker.
All Services will be held at the convenience of the family with interment in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, 18 Wertz Dr., Pine Grove, Pa. 17963 in her memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements.
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Born Friday, March 10, 1967 in Pottsville the son of the late Thomas, and Dorothy A. (Sedlock) Watsula.
Surviving are daughters, Amanda Watsula of New York, NY, Sarah Watsula of Mount Aetna, PA.
A 1985 Tamaqua Area High School graduate, Tom served honorably in the United States Army. Returning home he attended both LCCC and then Penn State Schuylkill Haven Campus before starting his successful career in industrial/architectural engineering. Tom was a Preconstruction Manager for SiteloglQ.
Catholic by faith, Tom enjoyed bowling, learning guitar, meeting fellow Greyhound owners, and was an ardent Phillies fan. Tom was a member of Legion Post #272 of Linglestown.
Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
Funeral services will be held on Thursday August 10, 2023 at 11 o'clock A.M. from the funeral home. Friends may call from 9:30 A.M. until time of services.
Interment with Military Honors bestowed will be in Sky-View Memorial Park, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.
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Donald F. McGovern, Sr., 88 of Pottsville, died Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill, East Norwegian St.
He was born February, 24, 1935 in Mount Carbon a son of the late Terrance W., Sr and Mary Alma Coughlin McGovern.
He was a 1952 graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School.
He then served his country in the Army.
Prior to retiring he was employed by W.H. Sales.
Donald was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Patricia Buckley McGovern, on May 11, 2018; 3 brothers, Terrance W. McGovern, Sr.; Lawrence McGovern, and James McGovern.
Surviving are his children, Maribeth McGovern and her husband Majid Al-Sharif, Huston TX; 3 sons, Donald F. McGovern, Jr., and his wife Susan Bennett, Pottsville; David McGovern, Pottsville; Robert J. McGovern and his wife Suzanne, Pottsville: 4 grandchildren, Collin, Zachary and his wife Samantha, Elise, and Tariq; nieces and nephews.
Services will be announced later this month The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory. of Donald be made to St. Patrick Memorial Fund, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, PA 17901. Arrangements are under the care of James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville.
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These obituaries are being brought to by Anthony Urban Law Offices. P.C.
