Obituaries

Ruth Morgenstern Schlough, a beloved child of God, died peacefully at the age of 104 at Bridges-Cornell Heights, Ithaca, NY on Sept. 27, 2018. She was the wife of Ralph Richard Schlough to whom she was married for 45 years.  Born April 12, 1914 in Easton, PA, she was the oldest child of Harvey and Clara (Lambert) Morgenstern. Ruth was a graduate of the Allentown School of Nursing and practiced nursing in the Easton area until her marriage in 1938. Ruth and Ralph were active members of the Moravian Church congregations in Easton and Nazareth, PA until their move to Ithaca where they joined the Presbyterian Church. Ruth was a life-long advocate of “back to the land” agrarian living and kept a prolific garden well into her nineties.  She was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice and sang in church choirs into her eighties.

She is survived by her children: Eleanor Lassiter (husband Richard) of Prescott, AZ, Charles A. Schlough of Trumansburg, NY, James R. Schlough (wife Lynne) of Seattle, WA; her sister: Esther Brown; 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband: Ralph; a sister: Hannah Hess; brothers: Mike, John and Frederick Morgenstern; and grandson: Michael Richardson.

Her life will be celebrated 10:30 AM Friday (Oct. 5) at First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton, PA with visitation 10 to 10:30 AM in the church. Interment is in Easton Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospicare of Tomkins County. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Carolyn J. Fritchman, 67 of Bethlehem, PA formerly of Emmaus, PA died Saturday, September 22, 2018 at St. Luke’s Hospital Anderson.  Born February 18, 1951 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Virginia (Keiper) and Robert Kocher. She was a 1969 graduate of Wilson High School where she was a member of the band. She received an associate degree from Northampton Community College and was a member of the former Memorial UCC. She was employed at various locations in the Lehigh Valley in retail and accounts payables but her true passion was nurturing and spending time with her grandchildren. Carolyn was a selfless, wonderful mother and grandmother.

She is survived by her children: Scott Fritchman (wife Allison) of Coopersburg, PA, Jennifer Kukel (husband Jeff) of Berlin, MD; brother: Robert Kocher of Palmer Twp., PA; sister: Deborah Golden of Bethlehem Twp., PA; and 4 grandchildren: Colin, Emmit, Ella, and Reef.

A Memorial Service will be held 5 PM Saturday (Sept. 29) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton., with a calling period from 4 to 5 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Emmaus Public Library, 11 East Main St., Emmaus, PA 1804

Dr. Alan H. Kunkel, Jr., 65 of Palmer Twp., PA died Thursday, September 20, 2018 at home. Born October 2, 1952 in Easton he was a son of the late Lorraine (Kramer) and Alan Kunkel, Sr. He and his wife Diane (Snyder) Kunkel just celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary. He graduated from Easton High School in 1970 and from the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1975. Dr. Kunkel owned and operated the Wind Gap Chiropractic Center since 1976 and was a member of the Slate Belt Church in Pen Argyl.

He is survived by his wife Diane; his daughter Heather Tita and her husband Louis of Stroudsburg, PA; a sister Lori Kunkel of Ocean City, MD; and 3 grandchildren: Lorenzo, Angelina and Bianca.

Services are 10:30 AM Monday (Sept. 24) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with visitation 5 to 7 PM Sunday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to Slate Belt Church, 1620 Church Road, Pen Argyl, PA 18072. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Jeffrey Joseph Notarianni, 30 formerly of Clarks Summit, PA died September 18, 2018 in Portsmouth, VA. Born September 1, 1988 he was a son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Kemp) Notarianni. He was a graduate of Temple University and Tulane University and a Maritime Law Attorney.

He is survived by his parents; his wife Hillary (Harvey); a son: Joseph; brothers: Andrew and Brian; and maternal grandmother: Mary Kemp.

A memorial mass will be celebrated 10:30 AM Saturday, November 3, at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Avenue, Easton, PA; with a calling period from 9:30 to 10:30 AM in the church. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Bruce Charles VanNess, 56 of Bethlehem, PA died Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at home. Born January 30, 1962 in Wytheville, VA he was the son of the late Catharine (Hellick) and Charles G. VanNess. He was a 1981 graduate of Liberty High School and member of Central Moravian Church where he sang in the choir. Bruce was a civilian crossing guard for the Bethlehem Police Department for 15 years and had worked for Suburban EMS and The Café restaurant. He was also a volunteer fire fighter with the Nancy Run Fire Company for the past 13 years, a Medic 9 volunteer and member of Pink Heals, Lehigh Valley Chapter. He is survived by his uncle George F. Hellick, III (wife Mary Jo) of Hellertown, PA; cousins: Susanne Hellick, Jan Halliburton, Kate Finn; and his fellow brothers and sisters at the Nancy Run Fire Company.

Services are 10:30 AM Monday (Sept. 17) at Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church St., Bethlehem with a calling period 10 to 10:30 AM. Interment will be in Easton Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Nancy Run Fire Company, 3564 Easton Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18020. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Grace M. Deemer, 92 formerly of Holland Twp., NJ died Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at Abington Manor-Memory Care, Easton, PA. Born on April 13, 1926 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Elsie Mae (Transue) and William “Art” Haring, Sr. A graduate of Easton High School, she attended Churchman Business School in the 11th and 12th grades. She was married to Carl Deemer, Jr. for almost 69 years before his passing in 2015 and resided in Milford, NJ and Holland Township for most of their life. She worked as a Defense Worker during WWII at Magnetic Winding in Easton. Grace was then employed by Riegel Paper and James River for 30 years in the Accounting Department as the Executive Secretary to the Controller of Accounting before retiring in 1988. She was a member of Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church, Stewartsville, NJ and a former member of Alpha Legion Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary #7857, Eastern Star Orion Lodge #177, Holland Township Senior Citizens, Milford Senior Citizens, AARP, Easton 500 Club and WIBC PA State Bowling Association.

She is survived by a son: Carl Deemer, III; 2 daughters: Gail Vasko (husband Joseph), and Yvonne Deemer; a brother: William A. Haring, Jr.; 6 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren and her devoted friend: Lorna “Cookie” Rothermel. She was predeceased by her husband Carl and 3 sisters: Elizabeth Sandt, Sarah Lewis and Florence Black.

Services are 10:30 AM Saturday (Sept. 15) in Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church, 17 Greenwich Church Road, Stewartsville, NJ with a calling period from 10 to 10:30 AM. Interment is in Greenwich Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the church. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.