Obituaries

Gloria Joan (Stannard) Kocher passed away on Friday, February 5, 2021, at the age of 86. She was a caring wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, and friend. She will be remembered for many things but especially her contagious smile, sparkling blue eyes, and kindness.

She was the loving wife of John Earl Charles Kocher Jr. They shared many wonderful memories in their 60 years of marriage. They had a mutual love of animals, birds, and butterflies. She had two grand-dog-ters, Abby and Whittle, along with two grandbirds, Abby and Boppers, that will miss her. She had an affinity for cats from her first Persian cat given to her by her husband as a Valentine’s Day gift early in their marriage to her last cat that was a Snowshoe Siamese, Picabo, who passed in 2018.

She was born on November 17, 1934, in Nazareth to the late Arthur Albert and Marion Charlotte (Jones) Stannard. Gloria and her family lived next to her parents in Stockertown until their passing. She enjoyed having them next door and took very good care of both her parents.

She graduated from Nazareth Area High School in 1952. She was a proud member of the Nazareth Blue Eagle Marching Band and Nazareth All-Girl Band playing first chair clarinet. She enjoyed playing many sports at Nazareth including baseball, volleyball, hockey, and basketball. She was also a member of their Glee Club. She was forever a Nazareth Blue Eagle throughout her life. She loved reminiscing about her years in Nazareth. One of her favorite things was seeing her classmates at their reunions. She was an active member of the Class of 1952 Reunion Committee up until her passing. She also was a welcome receptionist for Nazareth Area High School briefly after her retirement.

She also graduated with a Secretarial Degree from Churchman’s Business School. Before retiring, she worked as a clerk in the Tax Revenue Division of the Northampton County Government Center for many years.

Gloria was a member of Chapter 185 William Parsons Order of the Eastern Star; a member and past Royal Matron of the Dorothy Lim Memorial Court #110, Order of Amaranth; and member of the Allentown Shrine #27 Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem.

Surviving with her husband are three daughters and a son-in-law, who she felt was more of a son than an in-law. Her children are Sharon Allison Leh and her husband, Timothy, of Fredericksburg, PA; Karin Joan Kocher and Shawn-Kimberly Kocher, both of Stockertown. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Arthur Albert Stannard Jr. in 1982.

Service will be private at the mausoleum at Northampton Memorial Shrine in Easton. Arrangements are in the care of Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton Street in Easton. There will be no viewing hours.

The family requests that memorial remembrances be made to the Nazareth Area Blue Eagle Class of 1952 in care of Mrs. Bernice Correll, P.O. Box 398, Tatamy, PA 18085.

The Kocher Family thanks the members of the Nazareth Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Bushkill Township Ambulance Corps for their quick response and emergency care. We also thank the St. Luke’s – Anderson Campus Emergency Department staff for their emergency care and compassion.