Obituaries published for the Schuylkill County area on .
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Gail E. (Kelly) Wilder
Gail E. (Kelly) Wilder, 64, of Florida, passed away peacefully Monday evening with family by her side.
Born January 29, 1962, in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Donald and Dorothy (Barr) Kelly.
Gail was a 1979 graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School and a graduate of St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Reading, where she prepared to become a registered nurse. She continued her nursing career and became a director of nursing.
During her 39 years in nursing, Gail worked at Pottsville Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Reading and several long-term nursing care facilities. She was driven by her care for patients and their families and took pride in leading and teaching nurses throughout her career.
After retirement, she moved to Florida with Joe to enjoy retirement and escape the cold. Although her time in Florida was short, she loved the friends she made and quickly joined her community activities group.
Gail had a lifelong love for all her dogs, too many to name individually, and is now reunited with all of them.
Gail was preceded in death by her beloved children, Alexis J. Wilder and Matthew J. Manning, whose absence she felt deeply and whom she missed immensely.
She is survived by her son, Brian Manning of Pottsville; her sister, Donna Stokes, and her husband, Alex, of Pine Grove; her niece, Kristina Sanders, and her husband, Joseph, of North Carolina; her nephew, Kristian Stokes, and his wife, Renee, and Gigi to Vivian, of Maryland; George Manning and his wife, Sylvia, of Florida; Joseph Manning of Florida; and her granddaughters, Morgan Murphy and Grace Murphy, along with many close friends.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hillside SPCA, P.O. Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901.
A viewing for family and friends will be held at Lord Ebling Haus Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., Pottsville, on Wednesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. A Celebration of Life funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Chris Rothharpt at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Interment will be held privately at the convenience of the family.
Lord Ebling Haus Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., Pottsville, has been entrusted with arrangements.
Carolyn J. Schaeffer
Carolyn J. Schaeffer, 82, of Tremont, passed away at her home surrounded by her five children and their families.
Born October 9, 1943, she was the daughter of the late William Carl and Mabel Kehler Carl.
Carolyn attended Line Mountain Area School District.
She was a cook at Tremont Nursing Home for numerous years. She loved her family, and cooking for them was something she always enjoyed. She treasured spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She also enjoyed playing cards, Yahtzee, listening to music and simply sitting around her table with friends and family while enjoying coffee.
Carolyn is survived by her five children: Lamar L. Schaeffer Jr., husband of Shirley, of Tremont; Stephen M. Schaeffer, husband of Holly, of Pine Grove; Brian C. Schaeffer and his companion, Dorothy Krammes, of Tremont; Elizabeth Bender, wife of Brian, of Joliett; and Pamela D. Hindman, wife of Mark, of Tremont.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Tyler, Josh, Jake, Joey, Emily, Ethan and Makenna, as well as her great-grandchildren, Addison, Abigail, Flynt, Lilli, Mazie, Nolan, Lainey, Zachary and Mason.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lamar Lee Schaeffer Sr., and her 12 siblings, of whom she was the last surviving member.
A memorial service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Grabowski Funeral Home in Schuylkill Haven. Family and friends are welcome from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will follow at Schuylkill Memorial Park in Schuylkill Haven.
Memories and condolences may be shared through the Grabowski Funeral Home website.
Janice E. (Bloch) Neumeister
Janice E. (Bloch) Neumeister, 85, of Barry Township, passed away Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Serenity Gardens in Kulpmont.
She was born March 19, 1941, a daughter of the late Harold E. Bloch and Alma A. (Koch) Bloch.
She was a seamstress before her retirement. Janice found great joy in gardening and caring for stray cats. She had a special place in her heart for them and could never turn one away, always making sure they had a meal and a little extra care.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 61 years, Bruce I. Neumeister; her daughter, Bonnie Keim; and her brothers, Ronald Bloch and Ricky Bloch.
She is survived by two daughters, Donna L. Ferraiolo and her husband, Dave, of Ashland, and Kathy A. Freeman and her husband, Bennett, of Hegins; a grandson, Denny Keim of Shamokin; three granddaughters, Tara Keim of Ashland, Erica Ferraiolo of Philadelphia and Vanessa Ferraiolo of Philadelphia; two great-granddaughters, Sarah Ringo of Ashland and Emma Keim of Shamokin; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 16, 2026, at Barry Salem United Methodist Church in Weishample, with the Rev. Jeff Merwine officiating.
A viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will follow in Salem Cemetery in Weishample.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Inc., Valley View, is honored to serve the Neumeister family.
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Anna M. Shoener
Anna M. Shoener, 92, of Orwigsburg, passed away peacefully at her home Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Anna was born in Orwigsburg on December 25, 1933, a daughter of the late Kathryn Mae (Fryer) and Aaron Milton Strouse Sr.
She was the widow of Daniel O. Shoener.
Anna was a 1951 graduate of Orwigsburg High School. In addition to being a homemaker, she was head cashier at Boyer’s in Orwigsburg for many years.
She enjoyed puzzles of all types and was active in Congregational Free Church of Christ when she was able. She also enjoyed crocheting and baking.
Anna is survived by her daughter, Carol L. Murray and her husband, Michael, of Harrisburg; three sons, Dale E. Shoener and his wife, Rebecca, of Lancaster, Richard A. Shoener and his wife, Karen, of Orwigsburg, and Robert L. Shoener of Deer Lake; and two sisters, Gladys Ketner, widow of Bill, and Sandra Shappell, widow of Marlin “Butch.”
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Levi Welling and his wife, Dannee, Ben Shoener, Alexandra Shoener, Lindsey Shoener, Taylor Laird, Heather Murray-Shimer, Megan Wiles and her husband, Kevin, Caitlin Hart and her husband, Dylan, Lucas Shoener and his fiancée, Havila, Logan Shoener, Sierra Shoener and Cheyenne Shoener.
Her great-grandchildren include Melissa Laird, Aubrie Shoener, Sophia Shoener, Owen Shoener, Chjaihsavanh Welling, Brandon Shimer and his wife, Erin, Lily Benko and her fiancé, Matthew, Jacob Shimer, Gavin Wiles, Ashton Parsons, Jessica Wiles, Everett Shimer and Cora Shimer.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Janet E. Shoener; her sisters, Esther Kerwick, Wilhelmina Kleckner, Kathy Reber; and her brother, Aaron “Jack” Strouse Jr.
An evening viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 15, at Hamilton-Breiner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Orwigsburg.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 16, at Congregational Free Church of Christ, 81 McKeans Ridge Road, Orwigsburg. The Rev. Jeffrey C. Stonesifer will officiate. The public may also attend a viewing from 10 a.m. until the service begins at the church. Interment will be private.