Obituaries

Joan L. Vanover, 83, of Bethlehem, died Saturday, March 1, 2025 in her home. Born July 1, 1941 in Bethlehem, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Louise (Rentzheimer) Szakaly. She and her husband, Robert L. Vanover were married 38 years. Joan graduated from Hellertown High School in 1959 and was a creative religious artist and an accomplished quilter. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Freemansburg, Faith Lutheran Church, Forks Township, and Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Palm Bay, FL.

Surviving with her husband, Bob, are a son, Karl Bernhardt of Hellertown; two daughters, Ann Scibelli of Swampscott, MA and Jonna Rubin of Framingham, MA; three stepsons, Kevin Vanover of Charlotte, NC, Phillip Vanover of Roanoke, VA, and Brandon Vanover of Sydney, Australia; and ten grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, March 10, 2025 in Christ Lutheran Church, 302 Main St., Freemansburg. A visitation will be held from 10:30 am until service time on Monday in the church and from 6:00 to 7:30 pm on Sunday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Private interment will be held in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 302 Main St., Freemansburg, PA 18017. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

David L. Steible, 91 of Palmer Twp., PA died Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at home. Born April 28, 1933 in Forks Twp., PA he was the son of the late Maurice and Mae (Hess) Steible. He was a 1950 graduate of Easton High School and served in the Navy during the Korean War. He was employed by Ingersoll-Rand for many years before retiring and was a member of several area social clubs. Dave was a member of the Lehigh Mountain Combine, where he loved to show and race homing pigeons, even winning a championship.

He is survived by his companion of 32 years, JoAnn Murray; his children: Denice Steible of Palmer Twp., Kevin Steible (Joan) of Bangor, PA, Eric Steible (Tracy) of Palmer Twp.; a sister: Nancy Miller (Jay) of Walnutport, PA; 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son Jeffrey Steible in 2000.

Services will be held 11:30 AM Friday (Feb. 28) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with a calling period from 11 to 11:30 AM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. A Celebration of Life reception will be held 2 PM, March 15 at the Avona Volunteer Fire Hall, 2360 Front St., Easton. Memorial contributions may be made to www.pawoundedwarriors.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Douglas H. Long, Sr., 89, of Nazareth, passed away Monday, February 24, 2025 in St. Luke’s Hospital. Born September 23, 1935 in Easton, he was the son of the late Oscar B. Long, Sr. and Ida (Shover) Long. He and his wife, Edith E. (Deisbach) Long were married 68 years. He was the co-owner of Longs Plumbing and Heating and was a partner in 4-L Housing Associates, Wilson Borough. He also was the co-owner and operator of Long’s True Value Hardware. Douglas was a member of Fellowship Church, Phillipsburg where he was a youth leader and sang in the choir. He served on the Board of Directors of Preferred Security Components, Inc., Shippensburg.

Douglas became a believer in Jesus Christ when he was 15 years old and had shared the Good News with others, especially his own family members, ever since. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially fly fishing. He enjoyed being with and supporting his children and grandchildren in their various endeavors and simply being with family. Douglas also enjoyed reading and traveling with his wife Edith in their later years and he loved working outdoors and in the gardens.

Surviving with his wife, Edith, are a daughter, Julie Fischer and her husband, Carl; two sons, Douglas Long, Jr. and his wife, Leeann and Tim Long; eight grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two sisters, Cora Green and Ruth Fisher; and four brothers, Oscar Long, Benjamin Long, Stanley Long, and Bob Long.

Services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in Fellowship Church, 300 Cromwell St., Phillipsburg, NJ. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 am on Saturday in the church. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Beverly June Palmer-Martineau 86, passed away peacefully in her home in Oakland, FL surrounded by family members and caregivers on February 23, 2025. Born June 9, 1938 in Easton, PA to Donald & Mayola (Heil) Chegwidden, she graduated from Wilson Area High School in 1956 and started her work career as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone before she went on to her most cherished career as a full-time homemaker.  Throughout her journey of being a wife, mother and grandmother Beverly was involved in Brownies, Cub Scouts, Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member, Mother’s Club Member and volunteer at Safe Harbor shelter through Memorial United Church of Christ. 

She loved baking: especially Christmas cookies, pies and cakes. She sewed Barbie doll clothes to match her daughter’s, as well as Halloween costumes on her Singer pedal machine. She loved helping her children and grandchildren with homework assignments, especially art. Once the grandchildren came, Beverly poured herself into spending as much time with them as possible. She would go roller skating, ice skating, sledding, snowtubing, swimming and any other activity they wanted to do. Known as “Nanny” to her grandchildren and “Great Nanny” to her great grandchildren, she will be remembered most as being the best wife, mom, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

During the last months of her earthly journey, she was cared for around the clock by her “girls”: Marthe, Patricia, Cassandra and Lydie, who loved her as they did their own grandmothers and mothers. They are now part of our family. Cornerstone Hospice gave the utmost care and compassion throughout her time with them.

Beverly is survived by her children and their spouses: Larry Palmer, Jr. (Donna) of Easton, PA; Wayne Palmer (Ashley) of Alexandria VA; Laurie Palmer-Palmisano (Al) of Oakland, FL; and Michele Sherman (Steve) of Easton, PA; grandchildren: Daniel, Andrew, Sara, Evangeline, Hudson, David, Shane, Angelina, Ryan, Kyle and Elizabeth; great-grandchildren: Charlotte, James, Aiden and Asher; a brother: Donald Chegwidden, Jr.; a sister: Arlene Lopresti (Paul) of Easton, PA; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, Mayola; father, Donald, Sr.; brother, Earl; husband, Larry Palmer, Sr; and second husband, George Martineau, Jr.

A graveside service will be held 2 PM, March 8, 2025 at the Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Rd., Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone Hospice at www.cshospice.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Verna M. Miller, 93 of Forks Township, entered into eternal peace on Friday, February 21, 2025 with her loving family surrounding her. She was born on September 10, 1931, in East Stroudsburg, PA and was the daughter of the late Ethel and Herman Manhart. She and her husband, Donald R. Miller, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on August 23, 2017, prior to his passing in 2018. She was a member of the Easton Area High School Class of 1949 and served on the Roster Committee for their reunions. She was employed by Lafayette College for many years before retiring in 1995.

Verna was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton and had been an active member of the former St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on College Hill in Easton, where she was a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and Cradle Roll Supervisor. She was also a member of the Altar Guild, Worship and Music Committee, Lutheran Church Women and was a supply organist. She served as the blood bank coordinator for Miller Keystone for 20 years and was a member of the Easton Hospital Senior Circle and the Women’s Club of Easton.  Verna especially loved spending time with her four grandchildren, and she enjoyed gardening, sewing and music.

She is survived by two daughters: Donna Ellen Koch (Donald) of Forks Township and Janet Ann Mease (Paul Kuzma) of Williams Township; and four grandchildren: Matthew Mease (Amanda), Andrew Koch (Chelsea Cito), Rebecca Belcaro (Anthony), and Kaitlyn Williams (Tyler), and a nephew, John Schweitzer. She was predeceased by her beloved sister Pauline Hansen.

Services are 10:30 AM Wednesday (Feb. 26) in Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with visitation 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to Feline Urban Rescue and Rehab, P.O. Box 144, Stewartsville, NJ 08886 or to Safe Harbor of Easton, 536 Bushkill St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Mildred E. “Millie” Henning, 83 of Bethlehem Twp., PA died Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus. Born February 28, 1941 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Donald and Florence (McNair) Murphy. She was a graduate of Easton High School, Kutztown University and holds a Master’s Degree in Education with a Reading Specialist Certification from Lehigh University. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Administration with Elementary and Secondary Principal’s Certification from East Stroudsburg University. Millie began her career in public and nonpublic education working for the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit. At CLIU, she served as an educational consultant, a remedial and developmental reading teacher, an educational diagnostician, and a mentor teacher to new hires.

Millie also served as KSRA Chairperson, Governmental Relations Committee, an officer in the Colonial Association of Reading Educators, an officer in the Keystone State Reading Association, and a member of the International Reading Association—all professional organizations whose mission is to promote literacy, provide instructional leadership, support professional development, and advocate for literacy issues. Millie also served as an adjunct professor and college supervisor in the graduate school of Cabrini College.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Edward S. Henning; 3 children: Gary Henning (Carol) of Idaho Falls, ID, Mandy Slifer of Easton, PA, Brian Henning (Debbie) of Harmony Twp., NJ; and 2 grandchildren: Allison Henning and Kevin Slifer, Jr. She was predeceased by her first husband: Robert Butz who died in 1965 and her sister: Annetta Gottfried.

Services are 1:30 PM Friday (Feb. 21) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with a calling period from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Interment is in Hays Cemetery, Easton. Memorial contributions may be made at https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/PFFTribute/MillieHenning or www.felineurbanrescuereandrehab.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Evangelos Karaminas, 80 of Easton, PA died Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. Born January 16, 1945 in Samos, Greece, he was a son of the late Ioannis and Katina (Tsezmeli) Karaminas. He owned and operated Angelos Restaurant in Easton from 1976 until 2013. Prior to that he was employed by Continental Motors. Evangelos was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wilson Borough, where he was a past president of the Parish Council and member of AHEPA. He also played soccer for Easton United in the ‘70’s.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Maria (Bozakis) Karaminas; sons: Konstantinos Karaminas (Kelly) of Easton, Avgoustis Karaminas (Chase) of Palmer Twp., PA; a sister: Virginia Anastasiou of Athens, Greece; and 3 grandchildren: Evangelos, Georgios and Leonidas. He was predeceased by his siblings: Maria Riska and Konstantinos, George and Xenofon Karaminas.

Services are 11 AM Monday (Feb. 24) in Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 319 S. 20th St., Easton with visitation from 10 to 11 AM. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton, PA is handling arrangements. Interment is in Easton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Church Building Fund. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Vi Chanh Phan, 83, of Palmer Township, died Tuesday, February 18, 2025 in St. Luke’s Hospice House. Born November 16, 1941 in Vietnam, he was the son of the late Den Tien Phan and Nga Phung Phu. He worked for Circle Systems, Easton Hospital, Opt Industries, and Fluortek. He attended Vietnamese Gospel Mennonite Church and Palmer Moravian Church.

Surviving are his wife, On T. Nguyen; two daughters, Van Phan-Hewson and Chau Phan-Jones; a son, Tuan Gia Phan; a sister, Lien Ai Phan; seven brothers, Thuan Chanh Phan, Hung Chanh Phan, Tu Chanh Phan, The Chanh Phan, Duyen Chanh Phan, Ty Chanh Phan, and Mien Chanh Phan; six grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Anh Hang.

Services will be held from 11:00am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 22, 2025 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Friday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.