Obituaries

Gloria Joan (Stannard) Kocher passed away on Friday, February 5, 2021, at the age of 86. She was a caring wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, and friend. She will be remembered for many things but especially her contagious smile, sparkling blue eyes, and kindness.

She was the loving wife of John Earl Charles Kocher Jr. They shared many wonderful memories in their 60 years of marriage. They had a mutual love of animals, birds, and butterflies. She had two grand-dog-ters, Abby and Whittle, along with two grandbirds, Abby and Boppers, that will miss her. She had an affinity for cats from her first Persian cat given to her by her husband as a Valentine’s Day gift early in their marriage to her last cat that was a Snowshoe Siamese, Picabo, who passed in 2018.

She was born on November 17, 1934, in Nazareth to the late Arthur Albert and Marion Charlotte (Jones) Stannard. Gloria and her family lived next to her parents in Stockertown until their passing. She enjoyed having them next door and took very good care of both her parents.

She graduated from Nazareth Area High School in 1952. She was a proud member of the Nazareth Blue Eagle Marching Band and Nazareth All-Girl Band playing first chair clarinet. She enjoyed playing many sports at Nazareth including baseball, volleyball, hockey, and basketball. She was also a member of their Glee Club. She was forever a Nazareth Blue Eagle throughout her life. She loved reminiscing about her years in Nazareth. One of her favorite things was seeing her classmates at their reunions. She was an active member of the Class of 1952 Reunion Committee up until her passing. She also was a welcome receptionist for Nazareth Area High School briefly after her retirement.

She also graduated with a Secretarial Degree from Churchman’s Business School. Before retiring, she worked as a clerk in the Tax Revenue Division of the Northampton County Government Center for many years.

Gloria was a member of Chapter 185 William Parsons Order of the Eastern Star; a member and past Royal Matron of the Dorothy Lim Memorial Court #110, Order of Amaranth; and member of the Allentown Shrine #27 Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem.

Surviving with her husband are three daughters and a son-in-law, who she felt was more of a son than an in-law. Her children are Sharon Allison Leh and her husband, Timothy, of Fredericksburg, PA; Karin Joan Kocher and Shawn-Kimberly Kocher, both of Stockertown. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Arthur Albert Stannard Jr. in 1982.

Service will be private at the mausoleum at Northampton Memorial Shrine in Easton. Arrangements are in the care of Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton Street in Easton. There will be no viewing hours.

The family requests that memorial remembrances be made to the Nazareth Area Blue Eagle Class of 1952 in care of Mrs. Bernice Correll, P.O. Box 398, Tatamy, PA 18085.

The Kocher Family thanks the members of the Nazareth Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Bushkill Township Ambulance Corps for their quick response and emergency care. We also thank the St. Luke’s – Anderson Campus Emergency Department staff for their emergency care and compassion.

Rose M. Catalino, 90, formerly of Roseto, died Wednesday, February 3, 2021 in Lower Cape Fear Care Center, Wilmington, NC.

Born February 17, 1930 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Angelo and Margarita (Caponigro) Palmisano. Her husband, Philip “Pip” Catalino died in 2018.

Rose worked for Ingersoll-Rand, Phillipsburg and was a seamstress in the Roseto area.
She was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church and was a volunteer at Pius X High School.

Surviving are her son, Guy Catalino and his wife, Jane of Calabash, NC; two brothers, Anthony Palmisano and Albert Palmisano; three sisters, Geraldine Fahringer, Maurgrite Mueller and Lucia Palmisano; four grandchildren, Tiffany, Sean, Jillian and Daniel and a great grandson, Liam. Three brothers, Angelo Palmisano, Carl Palmisano and Gerald Palmisano and a sister, Angie Palmisano died earlier.

Services will be private with entombment in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Helene F. Kaplan, 84 of Wilson Borough, PA died Saturday, January 30, 2021 at home. Born February 22, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY she was a daughter of the late Abraham and Dorothy (Ehlin) Feuerman. Her husband Sidney Kaplan died in February of 2019. She was a graduate of Brooklyn College and received her master’s degree from Penn State University. Helene had been employed by Easton Hospital and had managed the Speech Pathology Department at Warren Hospital. She was a member of Bnai Abraham Synagogue, now Congregation Bnai Shalom, Wilson where she served on their Board of Directors and was active in the Hadassah and the Sisterhood. She was a past-president of the Jewish Community Center and was a member of URW and the Red Hat Society. She had previously volunteered for Meals on Wheels and was a donor to the Blood Bank.

She is survived by her son: David Kaplan (wife Snookie) of Wilson Borough; her daughter: Randi Kaplan of Forks Twp., PA; and her sister: Elaine Oxenberg of Hickory, NC. 

A Graveside service will be held 1:00 PM  Monday (Feb. 8) at Bnai Abraham Cemetery, Arndt’s Rd., Forks Twp. (COVID guidelines will be observed.) The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.   

Memorial contributions may be made to the Synagogue, 1545 Bushkill St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Delores J. “Dee” Connolly of Bethlehem Township, PA died Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at Fellowship Manor, Whitehall. She was the eldest daughter of the late Donald and Mary Kummer of Easton and widow of Francis H. Connolly. She was a 1948 graduate of Easton High School and member of their reunion and scholarship committees. She attended Churchman’s Business College and the John Robert Powers School of Modeling in New York City where she worked as a professional runway and TV game show model.

Dee retired from the Easton Area School District where she was employed for 34 years as the Administrator of the Easton Area Earned Income Tax office. An honorary life member of the PA Earned Income Tax Officers, Administrators and Collectors Association, she served on their Board of Directors for 22 years and was elected the first woman President. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Mideastern Chapter of the American Heart Association as its First Vice President and was a lifetime member of the Northampton County Chapter of the Association of School Retirees and member of the PA Association of School Retirees.

She was a speaker at local high schools’ career conferences sponsored by the Easton Kiwanis Club and in 1983, was named Woman of the Year by the Forks of the Delaware Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. Dee was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir, served on the Finance, Building and Grounds Committees and was Past President of the Parish Council. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters, Court Easton, the Council of Catholic Women, Past President of the Altar and Rosary Society and former Treasurer of the Women’s Guild.

She is survived by her sisters: Helen McCall of Grants Pass, OR, Donna Smull (Joseph), of Orefield, PA; nephews: Stephen and Matthew Smull, Dr. Gregory Smull (Amy), niece: Melissa Visco (Robert) and their families, as well as many other nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Francis and sister, Carolyn Phillips.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 AM Thursday (Feb. 4) at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 152 South 5th St. Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Our Lady of Mercy Church or the Center for Animal Health and Welfare. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Maurice Ehrlich, MD, 84 of Easton, PA died Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem, PA. Born October 21, 1936 in the Bronx, he was the son of the late Jack and Rae (Kaplan) Ehrlich. He was a graduate of New York University Medical School and was a Captain in the US Air Force. Dr. Ehrlich was an Ophthalmologist in private practice in Phillipsburg, NJ and at several hospitals including Warren Hospital before retiring. He was of the Jewish faith.

He is survived by his niece Roberta Willet of Gallaway, NJ and his caregiver Walter Miller, Jr. His sister Dorothy Best died earlier.

Graveside services will be held 2:30 PM Thursday (Jan. 28) at Cedar Hill Memorial Park, 1700 Airport Rd., Allentown. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Contributions in his memory may be made to any animal rescue organization. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.