Obituaries

Andrew R. “Andy” Merwarth, 49 of Palmer Twp., PA died Friday, January 20, 2017 at St. Luke’s Hospital.  He was born Nov. 21, 1967 in Easton, PA and graduated from Faith Christian School, Roseto in 1985. Andy worked in the family business, Merwarth’s Floral Shop for many years before their closing. He was a member of the Blessed Hope Church of the Nazarene where he loved doing things for the youth of the church.

He is survived by his mother: Bonnie (Brunstetter) Steuer and her husband Franklin with whom he resided; his father: Donald Merwarth and his wife Christine of Easton, PA; 2 sisters: Jennifer Hawk and Martha Zavala both of Forks Twp., PA; 2 brothers: Jonathan Merwarth of Bethlehem, PA, Stephen Merwarth of Tobhanna, PA; and his beloved 6 nieces and 6 nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held 11 AM Saturday (Jan.28) in the Blessed Hope Church of the Nazarene, 42 Mercer St., Phillipsburg, NJ.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Konstantinos N. “Gus” Hatges, 71, of Palmer Township, died Sunday, January 15, 2017 in his home.

Born August 15, 1945 in Nea Figalia, Greece, he was a son of the late Nicholas and Georgia (Flessas) Hatges. He and his wife, Maria (Pavlos) Hatges were married 34 years.

Gus owned the Dolly Madison Restaurant, Easton and the Portland Diner, Portland Borough. He was a very hard worker and created many great things for his wife and daughter. He was a member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wilson Borough.

Surviving with his wife, Maria, is his daughter, Georgia Hatges. He has four brothers that have passed in earlier years. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, and grand nephews and nieces here and in Greece. He loved all of them very much like they were his own. He treated everyone with respect, kindness, and love. He took care of the needs of many especially all of his extended family here and in Greece. He was always the first to show them love and support in good and bad times. He put his wife, daughter, and all his family before the needs of his own. He was truly a great man that will be missed terribly and forever.

Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Thursday in Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 319 S. 20th Street, Wilson Borough. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday in the church and from noon until service time Thursday in the church. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to the building fund of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 319 S. 20th Street, Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.

Dorothy E. Metz, 90 of Forks Twp., PA died Saturday, January 14, 2017 at Gracedale. Born December 4, 1926 in Bronx, NY she was a daughter of the late Fred and Anna (Stangl) Hoferer.  Her husband, Morris D. Metz died in August of 2016. A 1945 graduate of Morris High School in Bronx, NY, she was employed by the Easton Area Athletic Department from 1962 to 1993 assisting four Athletic Directors: Ben Everitt, John Maitland, Bob Kearn and Bob Shriver. Coach Shriver once stated: “From a coaching standpoint, Dot did everything for you before it had to be done. Dorothy was almost invisible because she never made a mistake.” In 1993 she received the Easton Area Schoolman’s Association Community Service Award and in 2016 she was an EASD Wall of Fame Inductee.

She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church where she had been treasurer of the LWML and was a member of the Parent Teacher Student Association and the Forks Twp. Emergency Squad. She had also served as Secretary for the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.

She is survived by a son Douglas Metz, a daughter Deborah Zarate and her husband Vincent all of Forks Twp., PA; a sister: Frederica Muller of Stirling, NJ; 5 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren and 2 step-great-grandchildren.

Services are 10 AM Friday, (Jan. 20) in Faith Lutheran Church, 2012 Sullivan Trail, Easton, PA with visitation 5:30 to 7 PM Thursday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment is in Forks Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 2012 Sullivan Trail, Easton, PA 18040.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Shirley Smith Foley, 87 of Phillipsburg, NJ formerly of West Easton, PA died Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at home. Born July 21, 1929 in Phillipsburg, NJ she was a daughter of the late Abram and Ruth (Turner) Scott. A 1947 graduate of Wilson High School, she had been employed by Mack Printing for several years and as a housekeeper/nanny for area families. She earned the nickname “Shotgun Shirley” after helping to apprehend armed robbers in 1974. Shirley was a member of the Red Hat Society and AARP but she especially cherished time spent at her family cabin in Pike County. For 85 years she enjoyed this Pocono Mountains retreat where she was often found feeding the animals and entertaining family and friends.

She is survived by her husband of 32 years: John B. Foley; her daughter: Cindy Lou Moskella and her husband Michael of Williams Twp., PA; 5 grandchildren: Christopher Smith, Jessica Pretopapa, Jaclyn Best, Carin Kocher, Alexander Smith; 5 great-grandchildren: Adrianna, Chase, Carly, Rowan and Rylan and a second cousin who was like a daughter to her: Doris Pianelli of Phillipsburg. She was predeceased by her first husband: John H. Smith; son: John K. Smith and brothers: Jack and Milton Scott.

A Graveside Service will be held 11 AM Thursday, January 19 at New Williams Cemetery, Morgan Hill Road, Easton followed by a Celebration of her Life at Noon at The Meadows in Hellertown; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillipsburg Emergency Squad or any veteran’s organization. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.