Obituaries

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.

Ronald E. Siegfried, Sr. 84 of Easton, PA died Monday, January 25, 2021 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Born August 28, 1936 in Easton, he was a son of the late Earl and Mae (Miller) Siegfried. He was a graduate of Wilson High School and served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He was employed by McGraw-Edison for many years and A & H Sportswear.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Evelyn (Ferency) Siegfried; his son: Ronald Siegfried, Jr. of Phillipsburg, NJ; granddaughter: Kalyssa and great-grandson: Siere.

Services will be held at a later date due to COVID concerns. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o the funeral home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Gregory R. Reed, Attorney at Law, 74, of Nazareth, PA died and went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, January 25, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem, PA. Born November 19, 1946 in Allentown, PA he was the son of the late Vernon and Emma (Horning) Reed. He was a graduate of Catasauqua High School, Lehigh University and Temple Law School. Greg served as a Sergeant in the Army and practiced law from his Nazareth law office since 1994. He was a member of Fellowship Church, Phillipsburg, NJ and the Northampton County Bar Association.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Kathryn (Shute) Reed; 4 children: Douglas and Christopher Reed of Bethlehem, Jason Reed (wife Erin) of Gainesville, VA, Jessica Reed (husband Caleb) of Denver, CO; a sister Kathy Ann Yacone (husband James) of Felton, DE; and granddaughters: Emma and Hannah.

A Memorial Service will be held 11 AM, Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Fellowship Church, 300 Cromwell St., Phillipsburg, NJ.  A luncheon will follow at 12 PM in the church. CDC guidelines will be followed (if vaccinated, no mask is required). Dress is summer business casual.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Fellowship Church, 300 Cromwell St., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Kenneth T. Cunningham, 94, of Wilson Borough, PA died Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Alexandria Manor, Nazareth, PA. Born January 28, 1926 in Alpha, NJ he was a son of the late Russell and Mabel (Halpin) Cunningham. He was a graduate of Easton High School and Churchman’s Business College. He was employed by Easton Bank and Trust, then Washington Trust Co., who merged with Midlantic Bank and is now PNC. Ken retired as Vice President of PNC Bank in 1992 after more than 30 years in banking. He was a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Tatamy; the Washington Rotary Club; Easton Lodge, F. & A.M. and received a Certificate of Recognition as a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Ken also loved gardening and playing cards with family.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Jessie (Cann) Cunningham; son: Timothy Cunningham; stepchildren: Frank Schippers (Frani), Debbie Patterson (John), Amy McWilliams (John), Jackie Warner (Steve), Jill Kerbaugh (Donald), Becky Sands (Mark), Cathy Creveling (Robert); brother: William Cunningham (Joann); sister: Pauline Minger; 17 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter: Rebekah Cunningham; 5 brothers: Harry, Clayton, Richard James, Joseph and Robert Cunningham; and 4 sisters: Martha Schermerhorn, Betty Benner, Doris Ostrander and Francis Slack.

A graveside service will be held 1:30 PM Thursday (Jan. 28) at Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Rd., Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s UCC, 401 Broad St., P.O. Box 188, Tatamy, PA 18085. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert W. Lesher, 86, of Plainfield Township, died Thursday, January 21, 2021 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Born July 13, 1934 in Easton, he was a son of the late Edward and Elizabeth (Graver) Lesher. He and his wife, Marion E. (Igo) Lesher, were married 58 years.

He worked at the Hunterdon Developmental Center for 15 years and retired in 2002. Prior to that he worked at Taylor-Wharton for 28 years. He graduated from Wilson High School where he was on the football, baseball, and track and field teams and later he served in the Army National Guard with the 503rd Combat Engineers Division. He also played football on The Citadel football team that beat the Marine Corps team for the first time in 1955 on Parris Island and was on the cover of Life Magazine. He was a member of the Open Arms Senior Connection at Arndt’s Lutheran Church and sang in the Brothers in Harmony barbershop quartet and in the New Jersey Gents chorus.

Surviving with his wife, Marion, are two sons, Edward Lesher and his wife, Joanne, of Bath, Kurt Fretz and his wife, Sandra, of Saylorsburg; two daughters, Sharon Schmauder and her husband, Gene, of Pen Argyl, and Brenda Corkins of Phillipsburg; a brother, John Lesher; a sister, Dolores Wilson; nine grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. A son, Fred Lesher; three brothers, Fred Lesher, Raymond Lesher, and Tony Lesher; three sisters, Marion Rider, Margaret Kelly, and Elizabeth Stokes; and a granddaughter, Kelly, predeceased him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 5607 Sherwood Dr., Easton, PA 18040.  Please RSVP by June 19th to Sharon Schmauder or Jessica Pensyl. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Hospice House, www.slhn.org/vna/donate or Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.