Obituaries

Thomas Edward Wheelen, Sr. 76 of Easton, PA died Friday, December 29, 2017 at ManorCare, Easton. Born July 31, 1941 in Easton he was a son of the late William and Helen (Abel) Wheelen.  His wife, Theodora (Garrity) died in April of 2017. A 1959 graduate of Easton High School he was employed by Mack Trucks in Easton for many years and was a courier for the Brown Daub Dealership before retiring.

He is survived by three children: Thomas Wheelen, Jr., Terri Wheelen and Tracy Wheelen all of Easton; a sister: Elizabeth Hendershot and three grandchildren: Justin, Rachel and Gary. He was predeceased by his wife, Theodora and his brother: William Wheelen, II.

Services are 1:30 PM Thursday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with visitation 1:00 to 1:30 PM. Interment is in Easton Cemetery. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Sheila Marie Gaines, 71, of Allentown, died Thursday, December 28, 2017 in her home.

Born December 6, 1946 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Arthur and Gloria (Merritt) Fredericks.  Her husband, Larry Lee Gaines died in 2010.

Sheila worked at Bethlehem Steel for many years and was a former member of Greater Shiloh Church, Easton.

Surviving are her daughter, Kerstin L. Burgess; her siblings, Eugene, Rita, Michele and Andrea Fredericks and two granddaughters.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:00 pm on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Resurrected Life Community Church, 144 N. 9th St., Allentown.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com

W. Asher Daub, 53, of Easton, died Wednesday, December 27, 2017 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Born December 26, 1964 in Easton, he was the son of Dita (West) and W. John Daub, III of Bethlehem.

He graduated from Easton Area High School in 1983 and was a graduate of Northwood Institute, Midland, Michigan.  Asher was the former general manager for Brown-Daub, Bath.

Surviving with his parents, John and Dita, are his son, Luke Michael Daub of Easton and his sister, Laura Merante of Bozeman, Montana.

Services will be private.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Hospice, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA 18015.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Christa G. Bermudez, 45, of Palmer Township, died Friday, December 15, 2017.

Born February 2, 1972 in Wilson Borough, she was the daughter of Mario J. and Sharon (Peters) Capecci.  She and her husband, Luis Bermudez were married 11 years.

Christa co-owned with her husband, Luca’s Italian Bistro, Palmer Township.  Prior to that she owned Casa Italia Restaurant, Forks Township.

Surviving with her husband and parents are three children, Ryan Cerino, Mario Cerino and Alex Gonzalez and a brother, Joseph Capecci.  Her daughter, Shakera died in infancy.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  Private interment services will be in Forks Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, www.chop.edu/giving.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Harold G. Kist, 94, formerly of Palmer Township, died Thursday, December 14, 2017 in Alexandria Manor, Bethlehem.

Born March 16, 1923 in Easton, he was a son of the late George R. and Agnes C. (Monsam) Kist.  His wife, Ethel “Joan” (McEvoy) Kist died in 2006.

He graduated from Easton High School in 1940 and attended Admiral Farragut Naval Academy Preparatory School and Louisiana State University.

Harold served in the Army during WWII, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded a Bronze Star.

He and his wife owned and operated the Hotel Lafayette from 1953 to 1976 and he was a real estate agent from 1976 until retiring in 1989.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Palmer Township Sewer Authority, the Bushkill-Lower Lehigh Joint Sewer Authority and the Easton Area Joint Sewer Authority.  He was a member of the Palmer Township Citizen’s Advisory Committee; the Palmer Township Historical Society; the Advisory Committee of Career Institute of Technology; the American Legion, Brown and Lynch Post #9; the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge; the 99th Infantry Division Association; the Royal Arch Chapter #173; Pomp Council #20; Hugh de Payens Commandery #19, Knights Templar; Rajah Shrine and Forks of the Delaware Shrine Club.  He was a member of Dallas-Lafayette Lodge #396, F&AM, for over 50 years.

Surviving are a nephew, Eric Bryfogle and his wife, Patty, and a niece, Heidi Moyer and her husband, David.

Services and entombment were private under the direction of the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton.

Contributions may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042.
Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.