Obituaries

C. Elaine Greek, 89, of Bethlehem Township, died Tuesday, January 8, 2019 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Born September 14, 1929 in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late A. Fred and Evelyn (Matter) Treher.  She and her husband, Don M. Greek were married 60 years.

Elaine was the Director of Development at Cedar Crest College for 10 years and retired in 2001.  Prior to that she was the assistant secretary and treasurer at Treher-Montague, Easton.
She graduated from Cedar Crest College in 1951 and was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.  She was a founding member and president of Little Stone House Museum Association, Easton; a docent for the Northampton County Historical Society; secretary for the Easton Heritage Committee; past president of the Board of Directors of Cedar Crest College Alumni Association; Arts and Antiques chair of the Channel 39 Great on Air Auction; member of AAUW, Easton, the Women’s Board of Easton Hospital, and Junior Women’s Club, Easton.  She also served on the Board of Trustees at Easton Hospital and Cedar Crest College and the Board of Directors of Great Valley Girl Scout Council and Lehigh Valley Children’s Center.

Surviving with her husband, Don, are two daughters, Dawn Billick and her husband, Bill; and Donna Cicchiello and her husband, Joe; a sister, Pat Lessig; and two grandchildren, Dee and Ryan.  Her daughter, Diane Hancharik died in 2012.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Noon on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at Blue, 4431 Easton Ave., Bethlehem.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Contributions may be made to Cedar Crest College Alumni Association in memory of E. Greek ‘51.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Francis Edward Caskey, 86 of Easton, PA formerly of Maplewood, NJ died Sunday, January 6, 2019 at home. Born December 31, 1932 in Passaic, NJ he was the son of the late Frank and Caroline (Penk) Caskey. He was a graduate of St. Peter’s Prep and Seton Hall University. He owned and operated several businesses in New Jersey before retiring in 1990 and was a member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, Easton.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, the former Gladys Zimmerman; daughters: Karen Maron formerly of Westfield, NJ; Alice Stolarz formerly of Hopatcong, NJ; F. Elaine Foote of Bethel, NY; Beth Caskey of Easton, PA; Kathryn DiBerardino of Belgrade Lakes, ME; son: Paul Caskey of West Milford, NJ; sister: A. Patricia Johnson of Cary, NC; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a great-great granddaughter. He was predeceased by a daughter: Theresa Garrison and 4 grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 AM Thursday (Jan. 10) at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Avenue, Easton, PA; with visitation 6 to 7:30 PM Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment is in St. Teresa’s Cemetery, Summit, NJ.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Charles E. Staples, 92, of Easton, PA died Saturday, December 29, 2018 at Country Meadows. Born January 21, 1926 in Easton, he was the son of the late Helen Elizabeth (Snyder) and Paul Winston Staples. He graduated from Easton High School in 1942 and Lafayette College in 1946. After serving as a naval officer in WWII, he received a M.B.A. degree with distinction from Harvard in 1948. He was an advertising and sales executive for Philco Corporation in Philadelphia until he returned to Harvard as an Instructor in Government and Business. He then entered Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1955. Except for two years as a parish minister in Stroudsburg, PA, he spent his entire ministry until retirement in 1988 at Lafayette College where he was an Instructor in the Department of Religion, an Admissions Officer and Assistant to the President and Administrative Secretary to the Board of Trustees. During his retirement he was very active as a volunteer receiving several awards for services rendered. For many years, he was a volunteer patient representative at Easton Hospital and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of ProJeCt of Easton, Easton Heritage Alliance and Historic Easton Cemetery; a member of the Advisory Board of The Easton Home, the Community Advisory Panel of Ashland Chemical Company, the Lehigh Valley Partnership Religious Community Committee, the Lehigh Presbytery Peacemaking Committee, Parish Associate for Pastoral care and member of the Worship Committee of College Hill Presbyterian Church, Easton. He also served on the Church Relations Council at Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC.

He is survived by his sister, Paula S. Ballard of Bethlehem, PA; niece, Jill Hamilton, her husband Will and their 3 sons, Chase, his wife Hannah, Cuyler and Griffin; nephew, Matt Ballard, his wife Samantha and their 3 sons, William, Wyatt and Cooper; Henry T. Koch III, husband of the late niece Jennifer and their two daughters, Jane and Madeline.

Services are private; interment will be in Church Hill Cemetery, Martins Creek, PA. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Paul Winston and Helen Elizabeth Staples Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Lafayette College, Office of Development, 307 Markle Hall, Easton, PA 18042 or to ProJeCt of Easton, 320 Ferry Street, Easton PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Shirley A. Klemka, 83 of Forks Twp., PA died Friday, Dec. 21, 2018 at Atria Senior Living in Bethlehem. Born Sept. 10, 1935 in Flicksville, PA she was a daughter of the late Mary Alice (Pensyl) and Oliver Jennings. A 1953 graduate of Bangor High School, she had been employed by Laneco and Binney & Smith.  Shirley was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Forks Twp., the Keen Agers and the Tatamy Social Club. She was kind and giving to many, a lady full of grace & forgiveness.

She is survived by her son: David Stem (Louise); grandson: Jason Stem; step-children: Alan Klemka (Joan), Kathleen Yarnell (Robert); brother: Robert Jennings (Linda); nieces, nephews; and great-niece and primary caregiver since Ed’s passing: Betty Ann Schaefer. Husbands Floyd Stem and Edward Klemka, son Charles Stem, grandchildren Anna Marie Stem and Michael David all died earlier.

Services are 11 AM Saturday (Dec. 29) in Faith Lutheran Church, 2012 Sullivan Trail, Easton with visitation 10 to 11 AM. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.