Obituaries

Loretta E. Thomas, 92 of Nazareth, PA died Saturday, December 28, 2019 at Gracedale. Born October 7, 1927 in Phillipsburg, NJ she was a daughter of the late Albert and Laura (Heins) Stubblebine. Her husband Harry G. Thomas died in 2013. She had been a baker for the Easton Area School District for 25 years before retiring in 1990. Loretta also served on the Board of South Easton Cemetery.

She is survived by her daughter: Deborah E. Harman (husband Nelson) of N. Myrtle Beach, SC; sister: Shirley Thatcher of Easton, PA; 3 grandchildren: Kelly-Jo Smith (husband Shawn), Deborah Frace (husband Brian) and Nelson Harman (wife Amy); sister-in-law: Joan Stubblebine, Seattle, WA; 6 great-grandchildren: Vanessa and Trevor Smith, Michael Frace (wife Kathryn), Jessica Davis (husband Sean), Alexis and Zoe Harman; and a great-great-granddaughter: Nova Smith. She was predeceased by 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

Services are 11 AM Friday (Jan. 3) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with visitation 10 to 11 AM. Interment is in Hays Cemetery (formerly South Easton Cemetery). Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. at www.alz.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William Pares, 100 of Easton, PA died Friday, December 27, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem, PA. Born Nov. 7, 1919 in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico he was a son of the late Asuncion (Jimenez) and Manuel Pares. He was predeceased by his wife the former Juanita Cruz. He was a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Force during WWII and a Supervisor for the US Postal Service in New York for many years before retiring.

He is survived by 2 daughters: Nancy Kraemer of Florahome, FL and Vivian Kroner of Easton, PA; 4 grandchildren: Lance and Spencer Kraemer, Laura Collopy and Lisa Zimmerman; 10 great grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter.

Services are 1:15 PM Thursday, January 2 at the Purcell Chapel, Beyers Funeral Home, Bushnell, FL with military honors and interment to follow at 2:30 PM in the Florida National Cemetery. Memorial contributions  in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Luke’s Hospice House, c/o 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA 18015. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Irene C. Strzepek, 98 formerly of Bethlehem Twp., PA died Friday, December 27, 2019 in Minnesota. Born August 8, 1921 in Wilkes-Barre, PA she was a daughter of the late Gilbert and Emma (Smith) Culp. Her husband Adolph A. “Strez” Strzepek died in 1993. A graduate of the Wyoming Seminary School of Business, Kingston she had been employed by Duplan Corp, Kingston, Phillipsburg Trust and the Bethlehem School District before retiring. She was a member of St. Andrews’s Lutheran Church, Easton where she served as Financial Secretary and was very active with SAW, the Lunch Bunch and Steel Magnolias.

She is survived by two children: William R. Strzepek (wife Denise) of Columbus, OH, Deborah A. Contreras (husband Tony) of Plymouth, MN; a sister: Marilyn Evans of Kingston, PA; 5 grandchildren: Elysia Springer, Brent and Andrew Contreras, Gabriel and Keegan Strzepek; and 2 great-grandchildren: August and Merit Springer.

Graveside services will be held 1 PM Wednesday, January 8 at St. John’s Lutheran/UCC Church Cemetery, 770 St. Johns Rd., Drums, PA with a reception to follow at Top of the 80’s, 3 Top of 80’s Rd., Hazleton, PA; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 3900 Freemansburg Ave., Easton, PA 18045. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Allen V. Hardy, Jr. 93 formerly of the Country Meadows Retirement Community died Monday, December 16, 2019 at Gracedale in Nazareth. Born March 19, 1926 in Lopatcong Twp., NJ he was a son of the late Margaret (Schlough) and Allen Hardy, Sr. He proudly served in the US Navy in the South Pacific during WWII and was employed by Met-Ed for more than 30 years before retiring. Allen was a member of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, the Ambassador’s Club, the West Easton AA and was a life member of the American Legion Lester Pfeffer Post and Fearless Fire Co.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 75 years: Evelyn (Moser) Hardy; 3 children: Allen “Skeeter” Hardy, III (wife Sandra) of Greensboro, NC, Karen Hardy- Kutz and Denise Klabunde (husband Scott) all of Palmer Twp., PA; sister: Mae Slack of Bloomsbury, NJ; 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother and 5 sisters.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 3900 Freemansburg Ave., Easton, PA 18045. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert L. Hinkel, 66 of Palmer Twp., PA died Friday, December 13, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus. Born February 18, 1953 in Easton, PA he was a son of the late Grace (Sortino) and Rolland “Bob” Hinkel. He was a graduate of Easton High School and a self-employed general contractor. He was also an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fly-fishing.

He is survived by his wife Mary M. (Wismer) Hinkel and two brothers: Jon C. Hinkel of Moore Twp. and Scott E. Hinkel of Palmer Twp., PA.

A calling period will be held from 10 to 11:30 AM Wednesday (Dec. 18) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.