Obituaries

Cecile W. Wolff, 96, formerly of Easton, PA, died Sunday, August 25, 2019, at Kirkland Village, Bethlehem, PA. Born on March 12, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Reba (Walter) and George Woodring. She married her high school sweetheart Ahlert D. Wolff, who died in 2001. Cecile graduated from Easton High School and attended Peace College in Raleigh, NC. When Ahlert left to serve in World War II, Cecile joined the war effort working for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft in Allentown. Upon his return, they both had life-long careers in community service. Cecile volunteered as a Cub Scout den mother and later for Meals on Wheels, Westminster Village, and as a longtime board member of the Easton Home for Aged Women. After moving to Kirkland Village she co-founded The Window Shoppe and served on the library and music committees. She was a member of The Northampton Country Club, The Forest Lake Club, College Hill Presbyterian Church in Easton and later the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem.

Above all, Cecile was a dedicated mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt and friend. She treasured her children and especially loved her role as Nana with her grandchildren. She cherished time spent with family and many wonderful lifelong friends. Her happiest memories included traveling with Ahlert to their favorite places including Fort Myers Beach, FL; Stone Harbor, NJ; Hicks Pond, NY; and the family home at The Forest Lake Club, Hawley, PA. Cecile was passionate about music, particularly the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. She enjoyed bowling, fishing, watching tennis and the British royals.

Cecile is survived by children: Marshall Wolff (Kay) of Easton, Susan Semmelman (Joe) of York, PA, and David Wolff (Christine) of Easton; 7 grandchildren: Amy Wolff, PJ Semmelman, Sarah Bartz (Ryan), James Wolff (Elizabeth), Megan Irvin (Taylor), Andrew Wolff and Ben Wolff (Angela); great grandchildren Hudson and Oliver Bartz; sister-in-law Sally Frame, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by son Jimmy, brother George and sister Betsy.

Calling hours will be held Friday, September 6, from 5 to 7:00 p.m. at the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, September 7, at 11:00 a.m. in the Kirkland Village Auditorium, 1 Kirkland Village Circle, Bethlehem, PA. Interment will be private in Easton Cemetery. Offer online condolences at www. AshtonFuneralHome. Com.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, 440 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem, PA 18018 or Kirkland Village, 1 Kirkland Village Circle, Bethlehem, PA 18017 or to the James A. Wolff Memorial Scholarship Fund, Lafayette College, Development and College Relations, 307 Markle Hall, Easton, PA 18042.

Ethel V. Pecora, 94, of Bethlehem Township, died Sunday, August 25, 2019 at home surrounded by her family. Born January 6, 1925 in Weston, PA, she was a daughter of the late Agnes (Hasker) and Joseph Moff. She and her husband Joseph Pecora were married 71 years. She retired from Trio Togs, Bethlehem Township, was a member of Sacred Heart Church and loved gardening and cooking.

She is survived by her husband, Joseph; children, Diane Magargal and Joette Marnell; brothers, Joseph and Gerald Moff; sisters, Marion VanHorn and Lauretta Chenkus; granddaughters, Cher Carl-Kline and Nicole Patterson; great-grandsons, Nolan and Chase Kline. She was predeceased by a sister Gloria Schrader.

Mass will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, August 29, 2019 in Sacred Heart Church, 1817 First St., Bethlehem. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Patricia (Maxwell) Miller Keller, 93 of Palmer Twp., PA died Sunday, August 18, 2019 at home. Born Emily Hall Patricia Maxwell, June 15, 1926 in Easton, PA, she was the daughter of the late Emily Rowan (Brown) and Henry D. Maxwell, Jr. Patricia was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and a graduate of Radcliff College, class of 1948. An avid reader and patron of the arts, she traveled extensively and gave generously to civic and charitable organizations. She lived a wonderful life, uplifted by her faith, family and friends. Her later years were enriched by the friendship and support she received from members of the Glenmoor Community. Patricia’s final days were made more comfortable by the attentive care she received from St. Luke’s Home Hospice.

She is survived by her son: Conrad C. Miller, III, with whom she resided; her daughter: Emily Rowan Cronin of Wilmington, NC and grandson: Jared Maxwell Cronin. She was predeceased by husbands: Conrad C. Miller Jr. and David P. Keller; her son: Henry Maxwell Miller; and son-in-law: Daniel Cronin.

A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday, September 17 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 234 Spring Garden St, Easton, PA with a calling period from 5 to 6:30 PM Monday, September 16 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment will be private in the Trinity Episcopal Remembrance Garden.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to: Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church Street, Easton, PA 18042, Lafayette College, 730 High St, Easton, PA 18042 or Trinity Episcopal Church, 234 Spring Garden St, Easton, PA 18042.

Karen R. Vazquies, 64 of Easton, PA died Saturday, August 17, 2019 at home. Born September 15, 1954 in Fountainhill, PA she was a daughter of the late Doris (Naylor) and Lester Vazquies. Karen was a graduate of Saucon Valley High School.

She is survived by her life partner Susan Shupp with whom she resided; sister: Linda Vazquies of Bethlehem, PA; brothers: Larry Vazquies in CO, Ronald Vazquies of Breinigsville, PA; nieces and nephews.

Services are 10:30 AM Friday (August 23) in Christ United Methodist Church, 400 W. Berwick St., Easton with visitation 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment is in Union Cemetery of Hellertown.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Ruth Mary McIlroy, 82 of Bethlehem Twp., PA died Friday, August 16, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus. Born September 7, 1936 in Williams Twp., PA she was a daughter of the late Mable (Flyte) and George Yob. She and her husband Earle R. McIlroy would have been married 64 years on Tuesday. A 1955 graduate of Easton High School, she was employed by Easton Hospital at their school of nursing and medical records for many years before retiring in 1998. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilson and past president of their women’s group. Ruth was also a Past Worthy Matron of William Parsons Chapter #185, Order of the Eastern Star.

She is survived by her husband Earle; 3 daughters: Deborah Glovas (husband Joseph), Ruthann “Annie” Fretz (husband Joseph) all of Williams Twp., Virginia Altemose (husband Jeff) of Stroudsburg, PA; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. A brother Kenneth Yob and sister Helen Fogel died earlier.

Services are 10:30 AM Wednesday (August 21) in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2115 Washington Boulevard, Easton. A visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 PM Tuesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with an O.E.S. service at 7:30 PM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3893 Adler Place, Ste. 170, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Margaret M. Wilson, 88, formerly of Palmer Township, died Thursday, August 15, 2019 in Alexandria Manor.

Born May 21, 1931 in Phillipsburg, she was a daughter of the late John T. Fell, Sr. and Mary (Rissmiller) Fell. Her husband, Robert W. Wilson died in 2016.

Surviving are three children, Gail Williams, Diane Garis and her husband, Don, and Robert Wilson, Jr.; two sisters, Joann Crouch and Doris Feiser; 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Her brothers, Russell and Jackie Fell died earlier.

Services will be held at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to National Kidney Foundation, www.kidney.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Ray M. Walters, 86, of Palmer Township, died Thursday, August 15, 2019 at Moravian Village surrounded by his family.

Born October 1, 1932 in Easton, he was a son of the late Kenneth R. and Mary (Humphrey) Walters. His wife, Dorothy (Ott) Walters died in 2015.

Ray was a sergeant in the Army during the Korean War. He worked for IBM in Philadelphia and Bethlehem for 36 years and retired in 1991. Prior to that he worked for Stahley Electric, Easton. He graduated from Wilson High School in 1950, served in the National Guard, Battalion #213 and was a volunteer for the Easton Children’s Home for many years.

Surviving are his children, Gary Walters and his wife, Dee, Kenneth Walters and his partner, Donna, Karen Hanchett and her husband, Bill and Diane Horvath and her husband, David; 8 grandchildren, Keri, J.R., Matt, Mark, Chris, Heather, Melissa and Katie and 14 great grandchildren. His brothers, James, Edward and Kenneth Walters died earlier.

Services will be held at 10:30 am on August 27, 2019 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 10:00 to 10:30 am in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, LBDA.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.