Obituaries

May Louise Finken, 88 of Palmer Twp., PA died February 6, 2022 at home. Born November 13, 1933 in Bethlehem Twp., PA she was a daughter of the late Ira and Alta (Stackhouse) Piatt. She was a graduate of Wilson High School and had been employed by Lehigh Country Club, Dixie Cup and as a private nanny and caregiver. May also loved to square dance and travel.

She is survived by her children: Kevin Bowyer (Victoria) of Tuscan, AZ, Timothy Bowyer of Nazareth, PA, Stephanie Buenrostro (Francisco) of Columbus, IN; grandchildren: Shane Bowyer, Damon Achey, Jaime Bryant, Ryan Smith, Zachariah Cohen, Timothy Coomer; and 8 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by husbands: Ivan Bowyer and John Finken; daughter: Sharon Achey and grandson: Shanon Achey.

Graveside services will be held 1:30 PM, Thursday, March 24 at Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Road, Easton, PA. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare.

Audrey J. Heater, 83, of Palmer Township, died Thursday, January 27, 2022 in Lehigh Valley Hospital. Born March 25, 1938 in Bangor, he was a daughter of the late Willard and Pearl (Johnson) Pysher. Her husband, John R. Heater died in 2008. Audrey graduated from Easton High School in 1956. She was a jewelry inspector for Piercing Pagoda, she worked at the Mother to Be store in the Palmer Park Mall, and she was a dispatcher for Suburban Rescue Squad. Audrey was a member of the former Memorial United Church of Christ, Easton; American Legion, Lester Pfeffer Post 611, Easton; and VFW Post 1290, Easton.

Surviving are her son, Gary A. Heater of Palmer Township; and two brothers, E. W. “Sonny” Pysher and Neil Pysher. A brother, Glenn Pysher and two sisters, Betty Beers and Beverly Pysher died earlier.

Services will be held at 12:00 pm on Friday, February 4, 2022 at Northampton Memorial Shrine. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

     Richard William Marzuoli passed away at his home on January 27, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was born at home in Easton on May 24, 1938, in the building that now houses the College Hill Tavern. Richard’s father, Antonio (Anthony), was born in Cittá Sant’Angelo in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo, Italy and immigrated to Phillipsburg, NJ at age 7. His mother, Dorothy (Belkey), was from Easton. Richard was born and raised on College Hill, attending March School through grade nine, where he cultivated his personal relationships and sense of humor.

     After graduating from Easton High School in 1955, he attended Churchman’s Business College and went on to earn a B.B.A. in business administration from Temple University. Richard enjoyed a career in sales and marketing, working at a number of companies over the span of four decades. Those companies included Alpha Portland Cement, RCA (Computer Systems Division), Intertec Data Systems, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), and SI Handling Systems (two years of which were spent in Sydney, Australia). He finished out his career at the National Federation of Independent Business (N.F.I.B.) before retiring in 2004. After retirement, he was fortunate enough to spend much of his time traveling with his wife Lora; their travels included going on several European river cruises, crisscrossing the country a number of times visiting National Parks, and ultimately accomplishing the goal of visiting all 50 states. Richard also loved singing, reading history books, discovering new music, and showing off his 1947 MG-TC.

     Richard was civic-minded and participated in a number of local organizations. He was a member of the Easton JayCees and was the chairman of the first Halloween parade in Easton. After the JayCees, he joined the Lion’s Club, a membership which has spanned 35 years. As a Lion, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award in 2021. He was also a member of the Easton Area Joint Sewer Authority for 25 years, serving as chairman for the final eight years of his involvement until his retirement from service in 2020. He was also a board member of the Y.R. Club of Easton for many years.

     Richard had many endearing qualities and was known by various nicknames throughout his life, including “Rocky” and “Chardo.” Everyone who knew Richard could attest to his easy-going and fun-loving nature. He was always ready with a joke and formed many lasting relationships throughout his life.

     Richard passed away at home from complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a disease which has no known cause or cure. Richard is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lora (Hackenburg), whom he met at the Y.R. Club; his three daughters, Elizabeth Scott (Mark), Alison Marzuoli, and Meredith Marzuoli (Patrick Swillinger); his four grandsons Teddy and Luke Scott, and Silas and Asa Swillinger; and his sweet pets, dog Ellie, cat Oscar, and his guard cat Jake, who was his constant companion in the final months. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Eleanor Neff.

     A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Lehigh Valley Hospice (2024 Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA, 18103 or online at tinyurl.com/lvhospicedonation (select “Hospice” designation)) or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (pulmonaryfibrosisfoundation.org).

Bette Rush Herr Wood of Ruckersville VA died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on Thursday, January 21, 2022. She is now in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, her family and the love of her life, husband Dale. She was born July 30, 1940, daughter of the late Semple and Evelyn Rush.  Bette graduated from Phillipsburg High School, Phillipsburg, NJ. After her marriage to Dale Herr and moving to the Barboursville VA area, she worked many years for A&P, Superfresh in the bakery. She also sold Avon for many years and was a substitute teacher. She was a loving mother and grandmother who devoted her life to her family. Her church and church friends were a large part of her life also. She missed them terribly due to health reasons, during her last few years.

She enjoyed travel especially cruising, beach trips with her children, interior design, decorating for holidays, shopping at flea markets and collecting antiques. Cooking great home cooked meals was also her specialty during many holidays around the big, stone fireplace, at her beautiful log home on the mountain in Stanardsville VA. Most of all, she enjoyed the company of family and good friends. Later after retirement, Bette downsized and purchased a “perfect for her” home in Ruckersville, VA.

She is survived by her daughter Audrey Cicero of Niota TN; son Steven Herr of Ruckersville VA, grandson Mackenzie Miller of Niota TN, and grandson, Tashan Taylor of Charlottesville, VA and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends in PA, NJ and VA. She is also survived by her special little dogs Lucy and Smokey.

Mrs. Wood was preceded in death by her husbands: Dale Stanley Herr and Clayton Wood, her parents Semple and Evelyn Rush; four brothers; John E., Raymond C., & Carl L. Rush, and Jack Rush and one sister Ruth A. Kunsman.Our family would like to thank our mother’s home care givers, Whitney Lawson and Melinda Peery for excellent, loving care of our mother during the last years of her life. Our family is forever grateful for your care, kindness and love given to our mother. Thank you to everyone for your friendship, prayers and condolences.

A graveside service will be held 1:00 P.M. Friday, January 28, 2022 at Farmersville Cemetery, William Penn Hwy. Bethlehem, PA. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to the American Stroke Association. Offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com.

Betty Jane Fehr, 86 of Easton, PA died Sunday, January 23, 2022 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus. Born July 12, 1935 in Easton she was the daughter of the late Laura (Genther) and Harry Butler. Her husband, Clair “Sonny” Fehr died last year. She was a life member of Am Vets, Post #17 and Concordia Maennerchor. She was an avid quoit player and loved playing Yahtzee and Garbage with her family. She also loved to dance, to cook and Elvis Presley.

She is survived by 7 children: Shirley Gehman of Wilson, Harold Christian, Jr. of Bethlehem, Laura Trenberth of Wilson, JoAnn DeReamus (David) of Palmer Twp., Brenda Christian with whom she resided, James Christian (Penny) of Pen Argyl and Dawn Handwerk (Ronald) of Palmer; 19 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and her cat Buddy. She was predeceased by her husband: Sonny, a grandson: Jeffrey and brothers: William and Clarence Butler.

A calling period will be held from 5 to 6:30 PM Friday (Jan. 28) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A Celebration of her Life will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Center for Animal Health and Welfare. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William H. Ackerman, Jr., 93, of Centreville, Va., died Saturday, January 22, 2022 in Country Meadows, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Born June 6, 1928 in Easton, he was the son of the late William Harvey Ackerman, Sr. and Helen May Ackerman. His wife, Doris (Sandercock) Ackerman died in 2010. He served in the Army during WWII and in Korea. He was a graduate of the Academy of Aeronautics, East Elmhurst, NY where he also was an instructor. William was an engineer for Grumman, Bethpage, NY for 37 years and during that time, he worked on the F-14 and the NASA Freedom Space Station contract, retiring in 1990. He was a member of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Centreville; a life member of the American Defense Preparedness Association; and a member of the American Legion. He was also an amateur radio operator.

Surviving are a daughter, Burneda May Russell and her husband, Rev. James M. Russell of Gettysburg, Pa; a son, William Harvey Ackerman, III, of Bear, Del.; a sister, Marie Lehr of Jacksonville, Fla.; and two granddaughters, Jennifer C. Brashears and Laura E. McCarley. He was predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Diefenderfer.

Services will be private with interment in Plainfield Cemetery, Plainfield, Twp., Pa. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in memory of his loving wife, Doris. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.