Obituaries

Anthony F. “Tony” DeVito, 99, of Palmer Township and Seminole, FL, died Thursday, December 28, 2023 in Country Meadows. Born September 26, 1924 in Brooklyn, he was the son of the late John and Lucy (Pasquarella) DeVito. His wife, Catherine T. (Forca) DeVito died in 2010. Tony served in the US Army during WWII and was a parts manager at Doug Cooper Auto. Prior to that he worked at Dana Motors, Staten Island. He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church parish and St. Justin, Martyr Catholic Church parish, Seminole, FL where he was a volunteer at the thrift shop.

Surviving are three children, Doreen T. Trocchio and her husband, Michael, Anthony M. DeVito and his wife, Mary, and Joseph T. DeVito and his companion, Brandy; a brother, Michael DeVito; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth DeVito; eight grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, John J. DeVito; two brothers; and two sisters.

A Mass of Christian Buial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 4, 2023 in St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 9th and Lehigh Streets, Easton. A visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnel to Towers, www.t2t.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Harry W. Martin, Jr. 65 of Bath, PA died Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Born July 16, 1958 in Phillipsburg, NJ he was a son of the late Harry Martin Sr. and Frances (Fogel) Fichtel Martin and grew up in Oxford, New Jersey. He was a construction laborer and past member of local 1174 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America in Allentown.

He is survived by a son: Michael Martin; grandson: Elijah Martin; sisters: Judith Duane (husband Kevin), Elsie Cromonic; brother: Charles Martin (wife Patricia); and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers: Harold and Richard Fichtel.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Moore Twp., PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Assoc. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Henrietta A. “Nanny” Nausbaum, 94, of Palmer Township, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 23, 2023 in St. Luke’s Hospice House. Born August 15, 1929 in Butztown, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Arline (Fritchman) Staats. She was the loving wife of the late Robert L. Nausbaum to whom she was married for 61 years until his passing in 2010. Her family takes great comfort in knowing they are together again. Henrietta grew up in Butztown, then moved to Wilson Borough where she graduated from Wilson High School in 1947. After marrying Bob, they moved to Palmer Township where she lived for the rest of her life. She worked for the Dixie Cup in Wilson Borough and Bon-Ton and Hess’s department stores in the Palmer Mall. She was mostly a homemaker, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to her family. She was a member of Palmer Moravian Church, Eastern Star Chapter 214, the Cedarettes, and the Ambassador Club. She had a great group of friends from Wilson High School, Eastern Star, and Cedarettes with whom she enjoyed many picnics, vacations, conventions, and get togethers.

Surviving are a daughter, Lynn R. Rich and her husband, Jim of Bethlehem Township; two sons, Lee R. Nausbaum of California and Robert H. Nausbaum with whom she resided; four grandchildren, Laura Collins, Patrick Collins and his wife, Michelle, James Rich, Jr., and Christian Rich and his wife, Vianka; and two great grandsons, Cole Patrick Collins and Elias Rich who brought her so much joy these past few months. She was predeceased by her sister, Dorothea Staats.

Services will be private. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Palmer Moravian Church, 2901 John St., Easton, PA 18045 or Muscular Dystrophy Association, www.mda.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Christie Sharita Lightner, 50, of Wilson Borough, died Thursday, December 21, 2023 in her home. Born November 6, 1973 in Plainfield, NJ, she was the daughter of the late William McKinley Lightner and Victoria Elizabeth (Kesely) Lightner. She was a secretary in the Phillipsburg School District, a telephone operator for Bell Atlantic, and a tech aide at Foster Wheeler. Christie was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church parish.

Surviving are a sister, Robin M. Barnes with whom she resided; her life partner, George E. Rupple; and two uncles, Joseph Kesely of North Carolina and Michael Kesely of Phillipsburg.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Memorial contributions may be made to NAMI Lehigh Valley, www.nami-lv.org or The Center for Animal Health and Welfare, www.healthyanimalcenter.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Isabelle Mae Parr, 98 of Easton, PA passed away Thursday, December 14, 2023 at New Eastwood Health and Rehab Center. Born August 24, 1925 in Phillipsburg, NJ she was a daughter of the late Christian and Elizabeth (Ricketts) Schlecht. Her husband Donald E. Parr died July 8, 1983. She retired from Acme Market after 30 years, then worked part-time for the Eric Theater and in the cafeteria at Tracy Elementary and Easton High School. Isabelle loved to dance, bake, crochet, stained glasswork and ceramics.

She is survived by her children: James Schultz (Mary) of Townsend, DE, Donald Parr, Jr. (Gina) of Carlsbad, CA, Darlene Haffner (Frank) of Brodheadsville, PA, Dana Parr (Kathy) of Williams Twp., PA, Denise Parr of Palmer Twp.; a brother: Harold Schlecht; 9 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, 4 brothers, 2 sisters and a granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held 4 PM Thursday (Dec. 21) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with a calling period from 3 to 4 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jeff Dailey Foundation at www.doitfordailey.com. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Lois D. Williams, 91, of Bethlehem, died Saturday, December 9, 2023 in St. Luke’s Hospital. Born March 28, 1932 in Easton, she was the daughter of the late Lewis J. and Florence T. (Blake) Brown. She was a graduate of Easton High School and Easton Hospital School of Nursing. Lois served in the US Air Force and took her basic training at Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. She graduated as a flight nurse in 1957 and was later promoted to 1st Lieutenant stationed at Mitchel Air Force Base, Long Island, New York. She was a nurse at Cedar Crest Hospital and a member of First Baptist Church, Bethlehem and Marine Corps League, Northampton County Detachment #298.

Surviving are three grandchildren, Blake, Wendy, and Ashleigh; and a sister, Gloria L. Riegel. She was predeceased by her children, Tracy A. Dennis and Kevin A. Williams.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Marine Corps League, Detachment #298, 1621 Lehigh St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Janet M. Bronico, 78, of Moore Township, formerly of Palmer Township, died Friday, December 8, 2023 in Lehigh Valley Hospital. Born October 9, 1945 in Easton, she was the daughter of the late Lester E. “Pete” and Dorothy J. (Madison) Pfeffer. She and her husband, John W. Bronico, were married 58 years. Janet graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1963 and was a pharmacy technician for C R Pharmacy, Palmer Township. She was a member of Living Hope Lighthouse, Palmerton and a former member of Middlecreek Christian Church, Kresgeville, Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church, Bethlehem Township, and First Evangelical Congregational Church, Easton.

Surviving with her husband, John, are her children, Mary Katherine Barnhardt and her husband, Thomas of Arlington, TX, Barbara A. Mathis and her husband, Jim of Palmer Township, Brian J. Bronico and his wife, Lezlie of North Richland Hills, TX, and Chris D. Bronico of Palmerton; seven grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. She was predeceased by a sister, Nancy J. Pfeffer and a granddaughter.

Services will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 14, 2023 in Living Hope Lighthouse, 705 Third St., Palmerton. A visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.