Obituaries

Aida L. Ortiz, 76 of Easton, PA went home on September 20, 2019. She was born December 13, 1942 in San Juan, Puerto Rico to the late Victor and Aida (Muniz) Rosario. She worked and managed the dietary department at St. Mary’s Hospital in Hoboken, NJ before retiring. Aida was loved by many and will be dearly missed. She had a loving heart and strongly believed in family unity. She was always welcoming to friends and family and an EXCELLENT cook who made sure everyone who visited left with a full belly. Aida’s favorite past times were family gatherings, going to the casino and playing bingo.

She is survived by children: Victor Rivera, Violet Rivera, Elizabeth Lopez and Jose Lopez; brother: Nelson Rosario; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her daughters: Olga Rivera, Aida Rivera, grandchildren: Billy Bosch, Angel Bosch and recently her sister: Olga Delsalto.

Services are from 6 PM Tuesday (Sept. 24) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Pearl M. Howard, 96 of Easton, PA died Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at the Gardens for Memory Care, Easton. Born January 22, 1923 in Grand Valley, Ontario, Canada she was a daughter of the late Ethel (Fisher) and Harry Brayford. She was a nurse at Gracedale in Nazareth for many years before retiring.

Pearl is survived by her son Michael D. Howard and his wife Eileen of Bethlehem, PA; 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Floyd Howard and son Robert Howard.

A graveside service will be held 2:30 PM Tuesday (Sept. 24) in Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Rd., Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Helene H. Pursel, 83, of Cape May Beach, NJ, formerly of Palmer Township, passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2019 in the home of her daughter, Heather. Born December 19, 1935 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late James J. and Helen (Augustine) Hanlon. Her husband, John T. Pursel passed away in 2015.

Helene worked for the City of Cape May. Prior to that she worked for Dixie Cup and Bell Telephone. She graduated from Easton High School in 1954 and was a volunteer for the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities, Cape May.

Helene’s family includes three daughters, Kimberly P. Cooper and her husband, the late Bill Cooper of Clifton Park, NY, Amy P. Ashton and her husband, Kline Ashton of Easton, and Heather A. Horn and her husband, Drek Horn of Palmer Township; two brothers, Bernard Hanlon and Richard Hanlon and his wife, Honey; a sister, MaryEllen Orloski and her husband, Walt; eight grandchildren, Caitlin and her husband, Ramfis; JT and his wife, Emily; Emily; Tanner; Robby; Victoria; Ryan; and Summer; and a great grandson, Henry. Her brother, James J. Hanlon, Jr. and her sister, Nanette L. Jones died earlier.

Services will be private with interment in Easton Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

F. Marian Bittle, 90 of Palmer Twp., PA formerly of Plainfield and Lakewood, NJ died Friday, September 13, 2019 at home. Born September 2, 1929 in Willow Grove, PA she was a daughter of the late Minerva (Garges) and E.A. Reeves. Her husband Irving Bittle died in 2014. She was a member of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, Palmer and had been a member and Deaconess of the Evangelical Free Church in Lakehurst, NJ.

She is survived by her children: Susan Carol Harrison (husband Rod) of Palmer Twp., Marian Louise Rosen of Gum Spring, VA, Janet Grace Kopecky (husband Joseph) of Readington, NJ, Edward M. Bittle, Sr. (wife Anne) of Whitehall, NY; sisters: Arline Heath, Mary Ellen Moore; brother: Caswell Reeves; grandchildren; great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter. A sister: Alice Pittman and brothers: Samuel and Robert Hunsicker all died earlier.

Services are 11 AM Wednesday (Sept. 18) at Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, 715 Chestnut Lane, Easton, PA with a calling period from 10 to 11 AM in the church. Interment is in Schwenksville Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, 715 Chestnut Lane, Easton, PA 18045. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Sara Jeanelle Hoffert, 87, recently of Bethlehem Township, PA., and prior to that, a long-time resident of St. Louis, MO., died Saturday, September 7, 2019, in Hot Springs, AR.

Born March 15, 1932 in London, AR, Jeanelle was one of two daughters of the late Corbett and Mildred (Wade) Rye, of Little Rock, AR. Jeanelle was preceded in death by her loving husband, of nearly 69 years, Fred W. Hoffert, Jr. who passed away, June 3, 2017. Jeanelle was also preceded in death by her younger brother, James C. Rye, of Chicago, IL. Jeanelle worked for Mallinckrodt Chemical, Co., St. Louis, MO, for 25 years. Both Jeanelle, and her husband, were members of Epworth United Methodist Church, Bethlehem, PA. Jeanelle was a woman of faith and believed strongly that she would be reunited with her loved ones in the hereafter.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and dear friend of many, Jeanelle is survived by her twin sister, Jeaniece (Rye) Roe, of North Little Rock, AR.; her children, Fred W. Hoffert, III and his wife Elizabeth (Wakeman) Hoffert, of Phoenix, AZ., Dennis K. Hoffert, of St. Louis, MO., her former daughter-in-law, Deborah M. Koenig, of Pensacola, FL., and Cindy L.(Hoffert) Mahaney, and her husband, Raymond L. Mahaney, of Hot Springs Village, AR., and three grandsons, Dennis K. Hoffert, Jr., of Pensacola, FL., Aaron T. Mahaney, of Montevallo, AL., and Andrew P. Mahaney, of Athens, GA.. Jeanelle was also blessed with two great-granddaughters, whom she adored, Kai Morgan and Lily Katelin Hoffert, both of Pensacola, FL., together with sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and many friends.

The family would like to extend their thanks to all at Arkansas Hospice, Hot Springs, AR., for the care and support they provided Jeanelle, and her family, in her final days. Jeanelle donated her body for medical research. The family requests that contributions, in Jeanelle’s name, be made to the Missouri Botanical Garden, Commemorative Gift Program, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO., 63110. (A Commemorative Gift envelope may be obtained by calling the Garden at (314) 577-5118. An online giving Form may be found at: http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/donate/tributes-and-memorials.aspx), or any charity of your choice.

Services will be private, with interment in Price Family Cemetery, London, AR. Offer on line condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

It is with great sadness to announce that on September 6, 2019, Galen S. Tarboro, 71, of Bethlehem, PA, passed on to a better life and is sorely missed.

Galen was born on January 2, 1948 to Gladys and Oscar L. Tarboro in Somers Point, NJ. He grew up in the city of Bethlehem and is a graduate of Bethlehem High School and York College. He is a Veteran of the United States Army, a retired employee of Bethlehem Steel, and a retired supervisor of the United Parcel Service. Galen is known for his genuine sense of humor, caring personality, and for selflessly assisting others amid his own hardships.

He is predeceased by his mother Gladys, his father Oscar, Sr., and two sisters, Mitzi Brantley and Stephanie A. Stephens. He is survived by his daughter, Shawna Tarboro, three grandchildren, Zechariah who serves in the US Navy, Ashlyn, and Halleiyah Halle. He has two sisters, Arlene Irby, Karen Tarboro Hawkins and six brothers, Oscar, Jr., Gerald, Stephen, Jeffrey, John, and Thomas Tarboro, a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Galen also cherished a special relationship with his aunt Fannie Freeman Davis, 96, of Pleasantville, NJ.

Services celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 21, 2019 in St. Paul Baptist Church, 925 E. Goepp St., Bethlehem. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.