Obituaries

Jose J. Gonzalez, 52, formerly of Easton, died Saturday, February 18, 2012.

Born: February 2, 1960 in Puerto Rico, he was a son of Gloria Colon and the late Jose Gonzalez.

Survivors: mother, Gloria; wife, Kathy (Hoyt) Gonzalez; daughters, Natacha, Amber and Tara Gonzalez and Marisa Parry; one brother, two sisters and three grandchildren.

Services: 10:00 am Thursday in Our Lady of Mercy, St. Bernard’s Oratory, 132 S. Fifth St., Easton. Interment in Hays Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements

Frederick L. Raisner, 95 of Palmer Twp. died Friday, February 17, 2012 at home.

Born: June 1, 1916 in Easton he was a son of the late Stephen and Anna Marsh Raisner.

Personal: He was employed by the Easton Post Office as a rural mail carrier for 25 years before retiring in 1978. Prior to that he was employed by Ingersoll-Rand, Cameron Division for 16 years. He was active in sports most of his life as a player, manager and umpire in baseball and softball.  He played football with the Easton Trojans for 6 years in the 1930’s and had been president of the Easton YMCA Industrial Basketball League in the 1950’s.

Memberships: He was a member of First Moravian Church, Easton where he sang in the choir for over 75 years and served as a Sacristan and on the Board of Trustees. He was a member of the National Assoc. of Retired Federal Employees; AARP; National Rural Letter Carriers Assoc. and was a life member of Safety First Fire Co.; West Easton AA and Fleas Club.

Survivors: Step-Children: Lisa Malachowski with whom he resided; and James Hurley of Palmer Twp.; 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, the former Ruth Craig in 1978; his second wife: Elizabeth Jones Hurley in 1995 and siblings: Floyd and Agnes.

Services: Will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (2/21) in the church, 225 N. 10th Street with a calling period from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is in charge of arrangements. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to First Moravian Church, 225 N. 10th St., Easton, PA 18042.

Elfriede “Marie” Pysher, 87, of Palmer Township, died Friday, February 17, 2012 in her home.

Born: December 21, 1924 in Germany, she was a daughter of the late Max and Minna Losch.

Personal: She was a seamstress for Denise Barry Clothing Co., Nazareth and Washington Knitting Mills, Easton.

Memberships: She had been a member of St. Mark’s United Church of Christ, Easton and the American Legion, Lester Pfeffer Post 611 Auxiliary, Easton.

Survivors: A daughter, Marion Pysher of Texas; a son, Charles Pysher with whom she resided; three grandchildren and a great grandson.

Services: Services will be private.  The Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton is handling the arrangements.

Pearline Lemar, 57, of Allentown, died Wednesday, February 15, 2012 in VNA Hospice of St. Luke’s.

Born: January 21, 1955 in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late Edward and Minnie Pearl Williams.

Survivors: Two daughters, Beatrice and Nicole and three grandchildren.
Services: Services will be private.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

James Michael Gilroy, 73, died Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in Gracedale.

Born: April 1, 1938 in Wilkes Barre, he was a son of the late James M. and Lottie (Nizio) Gilroy.

Survivors: A son, Jeff S. Gilroy and his wife Angel of Roseto and two grandsons.

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

Memorials: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Food Bank, 404 Broadway, Bangor, PA 18013.

Madeline C. “Mim” Larsen, 101, of Easton died Monday, February 13, 2012 in Country Meadows, Bethlehem Twp.

Born: August 3, 1910 in Bar Harbor, Maine she was a daughter of the late Otis and Elsie Holt Collins.

Personal: A graduate of Burdett College, Boston she had been the Secretary at College Hill Presbyterian Church, Easton for 20 years before retiring in 1989.

Memberships: She was a member of the College Hill Presbyterian Church, Easton and former member of the Adrienne Club of Lafayette College and the Women’s Club of Easton.

Survivors: A son: Karl D. Larsen, Jr. and his wife Jane Gascoyne of Derwood, MD; 2 grandchildren: Eric Larsen of Pocatello, ID; and Christine Larsen of Columbia, MD. She was predeceased by sisters: Vanita Courtney; Pauline Gay and brother: Col. Frank Collins.

Services:  Will be 11 AM Saturday, March 17 at the College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St., Easton; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton  is handling the arrangements.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St., Easton, PA 18042.

Dorothy I. Kessler, 99, of Bethlehem Twp. died Monday, February 13, 2012 in St. Luke’s Hospital Anderson Campus.

Born: October 15, 1912 in Easton she was a daughter of the late William and Anna Long Stoneback.
 
Personal: A 1931 graduate of Easton High School she had been the captain of the girls’ basketball team and employed by Shapiro and Sons for 17 years.

Memberships: She was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Farmersville; AARP; Senior Circle and Senior Citizen’s at St. Anthony’s.

Survivors: She was predeceased by her husband Lester E. Kessler in 1968.

Services: will be 12 p.m. (Noon) Thursday (Feb. 16) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment will be in Easton Heights Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions: may be made to St. John’s UCC, 8065 William Penn Hwy., Easton, PA 18045.