Obituaries

Linda Marie Paff, 79, of Phillipsburg, died Thursday, July 31, 2025 in Regency Jewish Heritage Nursing Center, Somerset, NJ. Born October 4, 1945 in Easton, she was the daughter of the late Clayton and Esther (Morgenstern) Brown. Linda was a librarian at the Phillipsburg Free Public Library for over 30 years and retired in 2015. She was a member of Phillipsburg Alliance Church.

Surviving are a son, Michael Paff and his wife, Karen; two sisters, Susan Dilts and Nancy Sliker; four grandchildren; and two great granddaughters. She was predeceased by a brother, George Brown and a grandson.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, August 4, 2025 in Phillipsburg Alliance Church, 255 Lincoln St., Phillipsburg. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Monday in the church. Interment will be in Easton Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William Daniel Joseph – 72 years old of Easton, PA passed into his eternal reward on the morning of July 30, 2025. He was the son of Jacob A. and Emily Sue (Boulous) Joseph. He graduated from Easton Area High School in 1970 and received a degree in mathematics from Lafayette College in 1974. In his younger years, he worked at the family business, assisting his father and family in selling wholesale fruit and vegetables. He was a computer programmer working as a consultant for Girard Bank, M+M/Mars, AT&T, and Pennsylvania Power & Light until his retirement. He was a member of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, Easton and was a referee and umpire for various community athletic leagues. Billy was known to many as a bull but with a heart of gold.

He was predeceased by his parents; sisters Wanda Lauer, Marion Estephan, and Marguerite Johnson; and an infant brother, Joseph.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne (Psitos). They would have celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary on August 30, 2025.

He is also survived by his son, Rev. Alex Joseph serving in Waterville, Maine, daughters Danielle of Bethlehem, PA, and Erena (partner Christina) of Easton, PA; grandchildren Lily and Isaak, both of Bethlehem, PA; brothers Elliot M. Joseph of Nazareth, PA and Jacob L. (Donna) Joseph, Sr. of Easton, PA.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am in Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, 55 South 4th St., Easton followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:30 am. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery, Palmer Township. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to NAMI, www.nami.org, to help spread awareness of mental health conditions. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Ronald W. Telepo, 81, of Easton, died Wednesday, July 30, 2025 in St. Luke’s Hospice House. Born November 29, 1943 in Easton, he was the son of the late John R. and Florence (Hoffner) Telepo.

Surviving are his sons, Jeffrey Telepo, Robert Telepo, Sean Telepo, Mark Telepo, Ronald Telepo, Jr., and Ronald Jurnock; a brother, Larry Telepo, a sister, Lorraina Telepo; and many grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother, John Telepo.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to The Children’s Home of Easton, www.thechildrenshome.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Peter J. Clarke 76 of Easton, PA died July 30th at home after a courageous battle with Motor Neuron disease…ALS. His wife of 52 years is the former Patricia Guido.

Born in Scranton to the late James and Mary Jones Clarke, he was a 1967 graduate of West Scranton High School. He was a proud US Army Veteran who served in the Vietnam War. His disease was a direct cause of environmental exposure in Vietnam. He was awarded the Vietnam Service medal, the Vietnam Campaign medal, the National Defense service medal and the Army Commendation medal for meritorious service. After discharge from the Army, he received an Associate degree in Electronics Technology from Ryder Technical Institute and was employed for 37 years as a Senior Electronics Technician at Metropolitan Edison/First Energy.

He loved hunting, swimming, gardening, exercise, Western movies, could repair anything, was an expert woodcarver and an avid golfer. He was a fan of Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies and Penn State. He coached Youth sports.

He was a member of Saint Philip and James Church, VFW, Med Ed Retirement Association, Met Ed Golf League and Sawmill Senior Golf League.

His caregivers were his wife Patricia and son Christopher. He is also survived by sisters Mary Barbara Adams, Clark Summit, and Catherine Smith, Scranton, sister-in-law Lorraine Rogers, Binghamton, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Rose Mazurik.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Saint Philips and James Catholic Church, Phillipsburg, NJ and interment with Military Honors at Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, PA.

Memorial contributions can be made online to HARK-ALS.org or St. Francis Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18509

The Ashton Funeral Home of Easton handled arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com

Rest now, good and faithful servant.

Wayne J. Kirk, 76, of Bethlehem Township, died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Born April 13, 1949 in Chicago, he was the son of the late Theodore and Frances (Szymborski) Kirk. Wayne served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and was a mail handler for the Post Office in Bethlehem for over 10 years until retiring in 2012. He also worked for AT&T for 25 years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and was a member of the Stockertown Rod and Gun Club since 1988.

Surviving are two daughters, Sarah Kirk and Lauren Kirk and her partner, Robert Wozniak; a sister, Karen Boots and her husband, Richard; his ex-wife, Deborah Bray; and his cat, Cash. He was predeceased by his brother, Howard Kirk.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Animal Health and Welfare, www.healthyanimalcenter.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Norton E. “Butch” Beers, 83 of Palmer Twp., PA died Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at St. Luke’s Hospital-Anderson Campus. Born July 1, 1942 in Upland, PA he was a son of the late Austin and Jessie (Walton) Beers. He was a 1961 graduate of Southern Wayne Jointure High School, several trade schools and served in the Army during the Vietnam era. He was employed by Bean, Inc. for 32 years and then Stewartsville NAPA Auto Parts before retiring.  He was a member of United Fellowship Church, Wilson, the former Wilson Boro Republican Club, American Legion Lester Pfeffer Post, Palmer Fire Co,. and the Stanley Goodwin Lodge #648 F&AM.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Jane (Bossert) Beers; children: Kevin Beers (wife Amal Haddad) of Catasauqua, PA, Tricia Beers-Hertzog of Clifton Twp., PA, David Campbell of Northampton, PA, Michael Campbell of Wilson Borough, PA, Robert Campbell of Palmer Twp., PA; siblings: Jack Beers and Amber Stout of Madisonville, PA; many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Siblings: Otis and Wilbert Beers and Effie Pickerel predeceased him.

Services are 11 AM Saturday (July 19) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with visitation from 10 to 11 AM. Interment in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorials may be made to NAMI of Lehigh Valley. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Florence “Flo” (Dungan) Bernhardt, 86, passed away peacefully July 11, 2025, in her hometown of Easton, PA. Born May 1, 1939, Florence graduated from Easton Area High School in 1956. She worked for over 25 years at Binney and Smith before finishing her career as an office manager at Strober, where she was known for her dedication and warm heart.

Flo lived life with a zest for adventure, creativity, and humor. She traveled the country camping with her husband, Jack and their sons, and loved attending car shows with Jack in their matching 1956 Mercury Montclairs. She found great joy in stained glass art, crafts, and puzzles of every kind — from jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, and card games to any word game she could find. She was an avid reader, having read every book in the Easton Public Library. She adored her dogs throughout her lifetime — Puppy, Fluffy, and Duke — and found delight in serving her grandchildren peanut butter and fluff sandwiches and all kinds of cakes always baked in Grammy’s cake tin.  Flo was known for her sharp sense of humor and her love of a good joke — she never missed an April Fools’ Day and was always ready with a bit of sarcasm and laughter, right up until her final days.

One of her greatest pleasures was bringing the Dungan family together — whether it was through annual family reunions, hosting Thanksgiving every year, or maintaining a meticulously kept family tree of all her siblings’ spouses, children, and grandchildren — a 30+ page book including birth dates, wedding anniversaries, and passing dates. She leaves behind not just family and friends, but a legacy of laughter, kindness, and the reminder that there is always time for a joke, a puzzle, or a slice of cake. Her absence will be deeply felt, but the love she gave will never fade.

Flo was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, John “Jack” Bernhardt, and by ten of her siblings. She is survived by her sister, Mary Jane Hosier; her sons, Bob Bernhardt and Ron Bernhardt and his wife, Sharon Bernhardt; and her cherished grandchildren, Korynn, Brandon, and Chenoa Bernhardt.

Services are 10 AM Monday, July 21, in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with visitation from 9 to 10 AM. Entombment will follow in the St. Philips and James Holy Apostles Mausoleum, Phillipsburg, NJ. The family wishes to thank the staff at Abington Manor for their support and compassion.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.