Obituaries

Donna R. Burns, 78, of Forks Township, died Wednesday, January 3, 2024 in Alexandria Manor, Bath. Born March 11, 1945 in Easton, she was the daughter of the late George E. and Elizabeth (Pursell) Snyder. Her husband, Robert M. Burns died in 2017. Donna graduated from Wilson High School and Churchman Business School. She worked for Family Counseling Services of Northampton County and was a member of the former First Evangelical Congregational Church, Easton and Order of the Eastern Star, William Parsons Chapter, 185, Easton. Donna enjoyed reading books and watching classic movies. She loved antique dolls, cooking, and baking.

Surviving are two sons, Robert Burns and Kevin Burns; a daughter, Robin Prunest; a sister, Linda Stubblefield; and six grandchildren, Thalia, Alexander, Derek, Gypsy, Amber, and Wade. She was predeceased by a grandson, Matthew.

Services will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 9:00 am until service time on Tuesday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Church Hill Cemetery, Martins Creek. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Barbara J. Rupple, 73, of Easton, died Monday, January 1, 2024 in Easton Skilled Nursing Center. Born February 7, 1950 in Phillipsburg, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Mary Ellen (Lair) Dowling. Her husband, George Rupple died in 2013. She was a member of First Lutheran Church, Stewartsville, NJ.

Surviving are a daughter, Amanda Beth Turille of Omaha, Nebraska; three sisters, Patricia Piggott, Linda Werkeiser, and Jackie Dufault; a brother, William Dowling; and two grandchildren, Liam and Everly. She was predeceased by a sister, Mary Louise VanScoten; and two brothers, Robert Dowling and Walter Dowling.

Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, January 5, 2024 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from Noon until 1:00 pm on Friday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, www.heart.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Mitchell D. Parker, 39, of Forks Township, died Monday, January 1, 2024 in his home. Born July 6, 1984 in Edison, NJ, he was the son of Christopher S. and Rosemary A. (Hildebrand) Parker. He was a corrections officer with the Northampton County Department of Corrections. Prior to that he worked for Shammy Shine, Phillipsburg. He was also a member of the Forks Township Fire Department.

Surviving with his parents are two sons, Evan C. Parker and Grayson J. Parker; a sister, Lani K. Parker; a nephew, Hunter J. Hoever; and his ex-wife, Carolina D. Parker.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, January 8, 2024 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday in the funeral home. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Forks Township Fire Department, www.forksfire.org/donate. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Christine Lee Allen, 65 of Easton, PA died Sunday, December 31, 2023 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Born December 27, 1958 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Rose Marie (Anderson) and Willard “Dutch” Allen, Jr. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, always caring for others.

She is survived by sons: Lonnie Brown of Easton and Scott Brown with whom she resided; brothers: Terry Allen and Mike Grey; 2 grandchildren: Tyler and Christine Brown; and daughters by love, not by blood: Nadia Lewis and Lee Perricone.

A Memorial service will be held 11 AM Saturday, January 6, 2024 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment will be private in South Easton Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, Island Park Rd., Easton, PA. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Anthony F. “Tony” DeVito, 99, of Palmer Township and Seminole, FL, died Thursday, December 28, 2023 in Country Meadows. Born September 26, 1924 in Brooklyn, he was the son of the late John and Lucy (Pasquarella) DeVito. His wife, Catherine T. (Forca) DeVito died in 2010. Tony served in the US Army during WWII and was a parts manager at Doug Cooper Auto. Prior to that he worked at Dana Motors, Staten Island. He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church parish and St. Justin, Martyr Catholic Church parish, Seminole, FL where he was a volunteer at the thrift shop.

Surviving are three children, Doreen T. Trocchio and her husband, Michael, Anthony M. DeVito and his wife, Mary, and Joseph T. DeVito and his companion, Brandy; a brother, Michael DeVito; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth DeVito; eight grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, John J. DeVito; two brothers; and two sisters.

A Mass of Christian Buial will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 4, 2023 in St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 9th and Lehigh Streets, Easton. A visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Memorial contributions may be made to Tunnel to Towers, www.t2t.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Harry W. Martin, Jr. 65 of Bath, PA died Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Born July 16, 1958 in Phillipsburg, NJ he was a son of the late Harry Martin Sr. and Frances (Fogel) Fichtel Martin and grew up in Oxford, New Jersey. He was a construction laborer and past member of local 1174 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America in Allentown.

He is survived by a son: Michael Martin; grandson: Elijah Martin; sisters: Judith Duane (husband Kevin), Elsie Cromonic; brother: Charles Martin (wife Patricia); and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers: Harold and Richard Fichtel.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Moore Twp., PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Assoc. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Henrietta A. “Nanny” Nausbaum, 94, of Palmer Township, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 23, 2023 in St. Luke’s Hospice House. Born August 15, 1929 in Butztown, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Arline (Fritchman) Staats. She was the loving wife of the late Robert L. Nausbaum to whom she was married for 61 years until his passing in 2010. Her family takes great comfort in knowing they are together again. Henrietta grew up in Butztown, then moved to Wilson Borough where she graduated from Wilson High School in 1947. After marrying Bob, they moved to Palmer Township where she lived for the rest of her life. She worked for the Dixie Cup in Wilson Borough and Bon-Ton and Hess’s department stores in the Palmer Mall. She was mostly a homemaker, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to her family. She was a member of Palmer Moravian Church, Eastern Star Chapter 214, the Cedarettes, and the Ambassador Club. She had a great group of friends from Wilson High School, Eastern Star, and Cedarettes with whom she enjoyed many picnics, vacations, conventions, and get togethers.

Surviving are a daughter, Lynn R. Rich and her husband, Jim of Bethlehem Township; two sons, Lee R. Nausbaum of California and Robert H. Nausbaum with whom she resided; four grandchildren, Laura Collins, Patrick Collins and his wife, Michelle, James Rich, Jr., and Christian Rich and his wife, Vianka; and two great grandsons, Cole Patrick Collins and Elias Rich who brought her so much joy these past few months. She was predeceased by her sister, Dorothea Staats.

Services will be private. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Palmer Moravian Church, 2901 John St., Easton, PA 18045 or Muscular Dystrophy Association, www.mda.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Christie Sharita Lightner, 50, of Wilson Borough, died Thursday, December 21, 2023 in her home. Born November 6, 1973 in Plainfield, NJ, she was the daughter of the late William McKinley Lightner and Victoria Elizabeth (Kesely) Lightner. She was a secretary in the Phillipsburg School District, a telephone operator for Bell Atlantic, and a tech aide at Foster Wheeler. Christie was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church parish.

Surviving are a sister, Robin M. Barnes with whom she resided; her life partner, George E. Rupple; and two uncles, Joseph Kesely of North Carolina and Michael Kesely of Phillipsburg.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Memorial contributions may be made to NAMI Lehigh Valley, www.nami-lv.org or The Center for Animal Health and Welfare, www.healthyanimalcenter.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.