Obituaries

Christine June Kuder, 72 of Wilson Borough, PA died Thursday, February 22, 2024 at home. Born March 21, 1951 in Abington, PA she was a daughter of the late Pauline (Kunz) and Rev. Harry Buchanan, Sr. She was a graduate of Clifton Heights High School and a member of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Kent D. Kuder; her three children: Melissa, Sarah (husband Rhett), and Steven (wife Crystal); brother: Philip Buchanan; and five grandsons: Hans, Garrick, Ansley, Peter, and Charlie. A brother Harry Buchanan, Jr. died earlier.

Services will be held 11 AM Thursday (Feb. 29) at Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, 715 Chestnut Lane, Easton with visitation from 10 to 11 AM in the church. Interment is in Forks Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, 715 Chestnut Lane, Easton, PA 18045. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Barbara Joan Hall, 89 of Easton, PA passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Born September 30, 1934 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Mildred (Dungan) and John Patterson, Sr. She was the loving wife of LeRoy Hall, Sr., with whom she raised a family and ran a family business. She worked at Friedman Brothers Pants Factory after graduating from Easton High School. After her marriage to LeRoy, June 8, 1953, and raising their children, they opened Hall’s Grocery Store in Easton on N. 7th St. until its closing in 2018 after almost 50 years. They also owned and operated rental properties over the years. They were known for their kindness and helpfulness to others.

She is survived by her husband, LeRoy; her children: Linda Wollman (husband John “Red” Wollman, deceased), LeRoy Hall, Jr. (partner Debi Watts), Lisa Hall (partner Payne Shelton), Jon Hall (wife Lisa); grandchildren: Jonathon and Tyler Hall; 3 great-grandchildren; and siblings: John Patterson (wife Debbie), James Patterson, Pat Patterson, Louise Aber (husband Don, deceased), Nancy Storm (husband Tony, deceased), Susan Haskins (husband Bob, deceased), Thomas Patterson (wife Susan); and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter: Mae Hall; grandson: Michael Hall; and siblings, Jeannette Viglione and Roselyn Patterson.

Services will be held at a later date. The Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Hans Smestad, 94 of Forks Twp., PA formerly of Manalapan, NJ, Brooklyn, NY and Hamar, Norway died Monday, February 19, 2024 at the Lehigh Valley Hospice. Born April 27, 1929 in Hamar, Norway, he was a son of the late Leif and Astrid (Nygaard) Smestad. His wife of 69 years, Anna (Thoresen) Smestad died in 2020. He was employed by the Local 1456 Carpenter’s Union in New York City for many years before retiring.

Hans grew up in Norway and survived the Nazi occupation there during WWII. He was 16 when the war ended, and with few prospects at home, went to sea as a merchant marine for five years, eventually settling in the Norwegian section of Brooklyn, Bay Ridge. That is where he met the love of his life, Anna, who had also survived the war. They married and had six children together. He was a very active member of Arndt’s Lutheran Church, Forks Twp. and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He also loved to bowl and especially loved time with his family.

He is survived by his children: Linda Smestad (Eivind) in Norway, John Smestad (Kim) of Forks Twp., PA, Judy Smestad-Nunn (Richard) of Brick, NJ, Astri Smestad-Myhre (Sigbjorn) of Cranford, NJ, Kristian Smestad (Jerelyn) of Westerly, RI; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Anna and his son: Erik Smestad.

A Memorial Service will be held 3 PM Saturday (Feb. 24) in Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Road, Easton, PA with a calling period from 2 to 3 PM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Arndts Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Easton, PA 18040. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com. 

Lothar D. Gumberich, 90, of Palmer Township, died Saturday, February 17, 2024. Born May 15, 1933 in Heidelberg, Germany, he was the son of the late Julius and Selma (Wimpfheimer) Gumberich. His wife of 48 years, Wendy (Lipton) Gumberich, died in 2017. Lothar was a graduate of City University of New York; Harvard Business School Executive Management program and he served in the US Army. He last worked for the Penn State University Management Development Program for 15 years. Prior to that he held several executive marketing and management positions with blue chip corporations.
He was a member of Congregation Bnai Shalom where he was a board member and past president. He also served on the board of Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley and served as an associate chaplain for Easton Hospital. Lothar was an avid reader, lifelong learner and very caring and giving member of the community, beloved by many.

He is survived by his son, Preston Gumberich and his wife, Marcia Cooper as well as cousins in the USA, Israel and France.

Services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, February 23, 2024 in Congregation Bnai Shalom, 1545 Bushkill St., Easton with interment in B’nai Abraham Cemetery, Forks Township. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Bnai Shalom or Meals on Wheel of the Greater Lehigh Valley, www. mowglv.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Betty Jane Hendershot, 71 of Easton, PA died Friday, February 16, 2024 at home. Born September 11, 1952 in Dover, NJ she was a daughter of the late Guy Davis and Marie (Waldron) Castmore. She had been employed as a nurse’s aide for several years.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Gilbert Hendershot, Jr., her daughter: Marie Dezzi (husband Robert) of Bangor, PA; sons: Gilbert “Pete” Hendershot, III of Phillipsburg, NJ, Chad Hendershot of Easton; brothers and sisters; 5 grandchildren: Rodney “Buddy”, Brayden, Eva, Liam, Iris; and a great-granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held 3 PM Friday (Feb. 23) in First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton with a calling period from 2:30 to 3 PM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Mina Melissa Cigus, 83 of Easton, PA died Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at Northampton Post Acute. Born December 16, 1940 in Easton she was a daughter of the late Mina (Adam) and J. Edward Coldren. She was a 1958 graduate of Easton High School and employed by Mack Printing for 34 years, then Walmart for 24 years. Mina was a member of First Moravian Church, Easton and was an avid seamstress. She belonged to a sewing club and enjoyed making clothes for both herself and her husband. She loved their house at the Delaware shore and she loved her animals, especially “Punkie” and “Teddie”.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Frank W. Cigus; her in-laws: Walter and Carrie Cigus; 2 nieces and 2 grand- nephews.

Services are 11 AM Friday (Feb. 16) in First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton with visitation 10 to 11 AM. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton, Pa 18042 or Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 2252 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksville, MD 21029. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Mae Coreen Weaver, 85 of Palmer Twp., PA died Saturday, February 10, 2024 at home. Born February 10, 1939 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late R. Oliver Beishline and Edna Mae (Crouthamel) Beishline Morrow. She was a 1957 graduate of Wilson High School and employed by Schafer Bologna, Service Master and as a home health aide for many years before retiring. Coreen was an active member of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church in Palmer Twp. where she taught Sunday School, helped with the nursery and sang in the choir. She also enjoyed time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, William A. Weaver; her daughter: Bonnie Sue Hanni of Wilson Borough, PA; a nephew whom she raised: Richard Beishline of Bushkill Twp., PA; sisters: Dorothy Weiss, Mary Renshaw, Ruth Borovicka; 3 grandsons: David Hanni, Jr., Nathaniel Hanni, Clayton Hanni; 5 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by siblings: Richard Beishline and Carol Chegwidden.

Services are Noon on Monday (Feb. 19) at Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, 715 Chestnut Lane, Easton with visitation 11 AM to noon in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army of Easton, 1110 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.