Skook News Obituaries: December 29th, 2025
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
Gayle Sandra Heller was born June 26, 1937, to Doris and P. Wesley Heller in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. She died in Sarasota, Florida, on December 23, 2025.
Gayle grew up in Pottsville and was active in Trinity Lutheran Church, Girl Scouts as a Mariner Scout, Rainbow Girls, and was an original bagpiper in the Highland Lassie Corps of Pottsville High School. She graduated from Pottsville High School in 1955 and studied education at Kutztown State Teachers’ College, where she graduated in three and a half years. She began her career teaching history in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.
She met Jim Freed at Trinity Lutheran Church, and they were married there on December 26, 1959. They lived in Emmaus, although she continued teaching in Fleetwood. Their first daughter, Gretchen, was born in January 1961, and Jennifer was born in September 1964. When Jim’s job changed, the family moved to Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where Gayle became a stay-at-home mom while substituting as a teacher when needed. She was deeply involved in her children’s lives and activities and remained very close with her family. Christmas was especially meaningful to her, and family always gathered for the holiday as well as many others. Her home was always open to family.
Gayle continued her education and in 1984 earned her M.Ed. degree with certification in K–12 school counseling. After Jim passed away in 1986, she moved to Lancaster and secured a position as an elementary school counselor with the Penn Manor School District in Millersville, where she worked until retiring at age 62.
During this time, Gretchen married Michael Whalen and welcomed two children. Jennifer married Gregg Caplan, and three more grandchildren followed. Gayle was actively involved in all of her grandchildren’s activities. She also lovingly cared for her Aunt Marian and Uncle Phil, who lived in nearby assisted living.
Gayle became active in the Sweet Adelines in Lancaster, singing in the chorus as well as in a quartet. They traveled to competitions around the country and sang together in Europe. Her sister, Karen, moved to Montana in 1990, and Gayle visited nearly every year. The sisters traveled extensively, often to Glacier National Park, enjoyed a three-week trip to Alaska, and made many trips to Disney World with her grandchildren.
Around 2002, Gayle reconnected with Bill Hartstein, a friend from Pottsville, and they were married in Millersville in 2004. Bill had a home in Florida, and they traveled between both homes until deciding to move permanently to Englewood, Florida. They enjoyed traveling, many cruises, and many Christmases spent in Montana. Gayle joined the “Spirit of the Gulf” Sweet Adelines chorus, competing internationally and traveling to performances in Denver, Seattle, and Baltimore. At one point, the group placed second in the world competition.
Gayle was fascinated by family history and traced her roots back to Germany, completing extensive work on her family tree. She completed the complex paperwork required to become a Daughter of the American Revolution. Her paternal grandmother was a member of the Ream family, who settled Reamstown, Pennsylvania, in the early 1700s. She shared much of her research and many photos on Ancestry.com.
In her early 80s, it became more difficult for Gayle to memorize music for singing, and other subtle changes eventually led to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. For many years she remained at home, but in 2020, as her husband’s health declined, she entered Cadbury Memory Care at Jacaranda Trace in Venice, Florida. Bill visited daily for several years, and her caregivers were wonderful to both of them. In December 2024, she was transferred to The Inn at Sarasota Bay Club for more skilled nursing care. Family visited as often as possible.
Gayle passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025. We are certain she is now applying for a singing position in the Heavenly Angels’ Chorus.
Gayle was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Jim, and her daughter Gretchen. She is survived by her husband, Bill Hartstein, who resides in assisted living in Venice, Florida; her sister, Karen Heller; her daughter, Jennifer Caplan (Gregg); grandchildren Geremy Whalen, Mitchell Whalen (McKenna), Jordan McGuigan (Colin), Gillian Roque Perdomo (Bryan), and Jacey Caplan; and five great-grandchildren, Wesson, Lincoln, Layla, Oliver, and Sonny.
If desired, memorial donations may be made in her memory to a charity of one’s choice.
Born in Shenandoah, he was the son of the late Nelson and Ruth (Bright) Schuetrum.
Nelson served as a firefighter and EMT for many years in both Mahanoy City and St. Clair. He was a member of St. Mark’s UCC Church in Cressona and a former member of Trinity UCC Church in Shenandoah.
Besides his parents, Nelson was preceded by his daughter Angel Schuetrum and 4 siblings- Ruthie, Donna, Rick, and Candi.
Surviving family includes his two sons- Kyle Schuetrum with his wife Abbie of Landisville and Brent Schuetrum of Orefield, 2 brothers- Roger Schuetrum of Fountain Springs and Scott Schuetrum of Shenandoah, 1 sister- Darlene Wonderlick of South Carolina, along with many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews who affectionately called him “Uncle Sandwich”. He also leaves his beloved feline partner, his cat Cleo.
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, January 4th from 5 to 7pm at the Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc, 40 N. Jardin St, Shenandoah. Visitation will also take place the following morning, Monday, January 5th from 9 to 11am in the funeral home. Scripture services will be conducted on Monday morning at 11am by Pastor Craig Zimmerman. Burial will immediately follow in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.
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Kevin was an avid sports enthusiast and loves the San Francisco 49ers and the Florida Seminoles. He was a gentle giant known to his friends as Heavy Kevy, 67Kev, Rook and KP. Kevin had a heart of gold and would offer you the shirt off his back because that's who he was. His funny, loving and caring demeanor will be missed along with his wisecracks and the long conversations that were consistently full of riddles and sarcasm.
Surviving in addition to his father Kevin Spieles Sr and his sister Brylee Spieles both of Ashland, his Uncle and Aunt Andrew and Pamela (Mackey) Conner, Millersville
Cousins Lauren Conner Lancaster, Ryan and Hope (Graham) Conner Manheim, Angel and Erin(Conner) Irizarry Marietta and Morgan Conner Mt Joy. He was preceded in death by his mother Margaret (Craig) Spieles and sister Carlee Spieles.
Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday January 3, 2025 from Nice- Hart Funeral Home, Inc, 9 North Lehigh Avenue Frackville, PA 17931. Friends may call from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Frackville.
Nice Hart Funeral Home Inc., Frackville, is in charge of arrangements.
These obituaries are being brought to by Mark J. Hummel Funeral Home, Frackville
