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Donald J. Schaible, 74

Donald J. Schaible, 74, died on Wednesday, Nov. 30. He was the father of The Rev. Donald J. Schaible II, rector of Trinity Carbondale and Christ Church, Forest City.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Donald. Give rest to him with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlsing.

His obituary, as published in The Express-Times, follows:

Donald J. Schaible, 74, of Palmer Township, passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in St. Luke's Hospital.

Born May 12, 1937, in Easton, he was a son of the late Adam Sr. and Anna Flynn Schaible.

He and his wife, the former Joan M. Dicker, would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on December 18.

Donald retired from the former Mack Printing Company, where he worked for over 45 years.

He graduated from Easton High School Class of 1955.

Donald served with the Marines aboard the USS New Jersey, the aircraft carrier, Tarawa, and in Quantico. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, racquetball, skiing and gardening.

Donald was a member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church. He was also a member of the Northampton County Marine Corps League where he was director of the local campaign for Toys for Tots for several years.

Survivors: In addition to his wife, Joan, he is survived by two sons, The Rev. Donald J. II and his wife Sharon P., of Carbondale and Douglas J. and his wife Kathleen S., of Stockertown; a daughter, Diane M. Nowakowski and her husband John, of Bethlehem; three brothers, John, of Phillipsburg, NJ, David, of Stroudsburg and Bernard, of Palmer Township; three sisters, Mary Caffrey, of Bethlehem Township, Anna Smith, of Brookfield, CT and Katherine Lounsbury, of Kempton; four grandchildren, Jason Nowakowski, Zachary Quinn, Jillian and Danielle Schaible and two great-grandchildren. Three brothers, Adam, Robert and Edmond and a sister, Mildred Paregis, died earlier.

Services: A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Jane s Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Avenue, Palmer Township. Call Saturday 10 to 10:30 a.m. in the church. Burial will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Arrangements are by the Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson Borough.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Toys for Tots, In Memory of Donald Schaible, 1621 Lehigh St., Easton, PA 18042.

The Rev. John (Jack) S. Prater

The Reverend John (Jack) S. Prater, 77, of Jesse Road, Plymouth Township, died peacefully at home with his devoted wife, Ingrid, at his side on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. Born January 14, 1934, in Forty Fort, he was a son of the late Willard and Elizabeth Gibbs Prater. The Rev. Prater furthered his studies at the Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va., and was ordained in 1958. He first served Episcopal parishes in both Saint Clair and Minersville. In 1962, he returned to the Wyoming Valley with his family and became the rector of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, Dallas, where he faithfully served the parish for 35 years. Upon retirement in 1997, The Rev. Prater was named Rector Emeritus. Calling hours will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Wallis Room at Grace Episcopal Church, 30 Butler St., Kingston, with a memorial service at 11 a.m. The Rev. John F. Hartman will officiate. The family extends an invitation to a luncheon, at the church, immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 30 Butler St., Kingston, PA 18704, or to Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, 420 Main St., Dallas, PA 18612. Arrangements are entrusted to the Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. You can read the entire obituary here.

Published in Times Leader on November 10, 2011

Mary Ellen Patricia Park, RIP

Mary Ellen Patricia, 95, died peacefully at Grey Bruce Health Services, Southampton (Ontario), on Friday February 25.

She was the widow of The Reverend Canon Charles A. Park. (Known as "Arch," he served in the Diocese of Bethlehem, last in Stroudsburg at least 25 years ago.)

Survivors: Sons, David and his wife Ruth; John and his partner Sharon, both of Southampton. Grandchildren: Liam, Eva, and Ned; Brother Donald Patterson and his wife Doreen of Windsor; Brother in law Stuart Keller and his wife Jane of Port Dover, and many nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by her parents William and Edna Patterson, and by her brothers Frederick and Howard. Throughout her life, Ellen was an active participant in many community and charitable organizations. She was a co- founder of the Southampton Arts Society and an enthusiastic supporter of the Bruce County Museum.

Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held from St. Paul's Anglican Church, Southampton, on Wednesday, March 2.

Expressions of Remembrance may be made to St. Paul's Anglican Church, the Bruce County Museum, or the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation. Condolences may be forwarded to the family through www.eaglesonfuneralhome.com

Van Cavett, 77, a man who was without guile

[Updated Jan. 2, 2011, to include Van Cavett's 1997 Morning Call farewell editorial]

Some of us will remember fondly Caroline and Van Cavett who were members of the Cathedral during the 1990s while Van worked as Comment Pages Editor for The Morning Call. Both were active in parish and diocesan ministries. Van died this past April. He was in his third year of EFM.

Caroline tells me that Van died "after a long bout with heart disease. His last six months were pretty awful - for him to endure and me to watch/endure as well, so while I miss him greatly, particularly when I remember all the good years we had, I could not wish him another minute in the state he was in.  Of course, the flip side of that is that remembering all the good things - and there are legions of those memories - also keeps a smile on my face."

Grateful to Caroline for having sent these a few days ago, I have posted below: 1. Van's obituary, 2.Summer Thoughts after a Spring Death, by Caroline, and 3. A eulogy delivered by Van's EFM mentor.

Obituary
Van A. Cavett, 77, died at his Lookout Mountain [Tennessee] home on Sunday, April 11.  He is survived by his wife, Caroline, daughter, Anne Cavett and her partner Leslie Urban of Davidson NC, and son, Andrew Cavett of Lookout Mountain.

The Rev. Leslie Evans (1946-2010), Funeral and Obituary

On Tuesday, November 2, 2010

in Lower Bucks Hospital, Bristol, Pennsylvania

occurred the death of

The Rev. Leslie Elizabeth Evans

Retired

Canonically Resident, Diocese of Bethlehem

Licensed Priest, Diocese of Pennsylvania

 

The Eucharist and Burial Service will be held at

All Saints’ Church, Torresdale

9601 Frankford Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19114

1:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

The Rt. Rev. Rodney R. Michel will be the Officiant

The Rev. Stephen B. Snider, Priest-in-charge

 

Leslie Elizabeth Evans was born in Bethlehem, Pa. on October 26, 1946 to Cary Grayson and Elizabeth McCall Evans.  She received a B.S.N. from Temple University, College of Allied Health Professions, Dept. of Nursing, 1971; M.Div., The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, 1982.  She was ordained Deacon June 12, 1982 and Priest June 22, 1983 by Bishop Lyman Cunningham Ogilby.  Leslie was married on September 9, 1989 to VanKirk E. Wilson; they have two children.  She is also survived by a sister and brother. 

While canonically resident in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, Leslie served as Lay Assistant at St. David’s Church, Manayunk, Phila., PA. 1974-1980; Deacon Intern 1982-1983 and Associate Rector, St. Christopher’s Church, Gladwyne, PA. 1983-1984.

In the Diocese of Bethlehem, Leslie served as Rector, St. James-St. George, Jermyn, Pa. 1984-88. She was then called to be Rector, St. Luke’s Church, Cedar Falls, Iowa 1988-1991; Chaplain, University of Northern Iowa 1988-1991; and Interim Pastor, Trinity Episcopal Parish, Waterloo, Iowa 1992-93.

She returned to the Diocese of Pennsylvania to serve as Rector, Grace and the Incarnation, Port Richmond, Philadelphia, Pa. 1994-2003.  She also served as Associate Chaplain, St. Dismas at Graterford State Prison during her periods of service in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. 

In 2003 she accepted a call to be Rector, St. Andrew’s Church, Allentown, Pa., from which she retired in April, 2007. 

She recently has served as supply priest in several congregations in this and other dioceses, and as Associate for Pastoral Care at All Saints’ Church, Torresdale, Philadelphia, Pa.  She also spent many years in professional nursing.

Condolences may be sent to the family

c/o VanKirk E. Wilson

3105 Penn Valley Avenue

Bristol, PA 19007-2451

In lieu of flowers Leslie’s family requests memorials in her name be directed to Philabundance, 3616 South Galloway Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148 (tel. 215-339-0900).

Rest eternal grant to Leslie, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her. Amen.

 

Diane Iglesias

Diane M. Iglesias, 59, died at home on Friday, October 9, 2009, from complications of metastatic cancer.  At the time of her death she was receiving hospice care.

Betty Speicher

[Obituary, Pocono Record]

Elizabeth J. "Betty" Speicher, 69, of Cresco, died Sunday evening, Aug. 23, at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg. She was the widow of Russel E. Speicher with whom she shared 44 years of marriage at the time of his death on Sept. 16, 2002.

Joseph E. Major, Sr. - Father of Father John Major

Joseph E. Major Sr., 90, of 1625 Grampian Boulevard, Williamsport, PA, died last evening, July 12, 2009, at home.  He was a member of Saint Ann's Roman Catholic Church of Loyalsock Township, R.C. Diocese of Scranton.   Born January 22, 1919, in Williamsport, PA, he  he was predeceased by his wife Mary M. Major. Surviving are his four daughters and four sons including The Rev. John C. Major, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church of West Pittston, PA, and Prince of Peace Episcopal Church of Dallas, PA, and sixteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  A Mass of Christian Burial  will be scheduled  by the family.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church of West Pittston or Prince of Peace Episcopal Church of Dallas.

Marguerite Kirkpatrick Gressle, wife of late Episcopal Bishop of Bethlehem, dies at 90

[Posted by Bill Lewellis]

Marguerite K. Gressle died July 2 at The Greens in Wilton, CT. She was 90 years old. Mrs. Gressle was the wife of the late Rt. Rev. Lloyd E. Gressle, former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, PA, from 1973 to 1985.

The Rev. Canon Joseph Leo

The Rev. Canon Joseph Leo died peacefully in his sleep Tuesday morning June 9 in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where he was living with his daughter Mary. He was loved b y many who will miss him. A memorial service at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, is being planed for later in June.

For over 55 years, Canon Leo faithfully served Episcopal churches in Pennsylvania and Ohio (he was Rector of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland in the 1970's). He spent the last 25 years serving the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. His life of service included working as a marriage counselor, Justice of the Peace and District Court Judge in Easton, PA.

He is survived by his wife Martha Leo of Easton, PA; a brother The Very Rev. James Leo of Cincinnati; a sister Janice Davidson; daughters Liz Beekman (Pat) of Charlotte, NC, Sue Parry (Rich) of Girdwood, AK, Mary Bourisseau (John) of Bentleyville, Ruth Mount (Collins) of Chugiak, AK; son Joseph N. Leo III of Maineville and 12 grandchildren.

Donations, in his name, may be made to the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 321 Wyandotte St. Bethlehem, PA. 18015.

In Celebration of Ned Caum

A Sermon by The Ven. Richard I. Cluett
Trinity Church, Athens, June 3, 2009

The Reverend Canon Edward L. Caum. Or as he preferred, simply, Ned. Or as he has been so ordained by those who love him, The Pope of the Valley.

This thoroughly lovely man has died to this life and risen to a new life, and we are here today to thank God for him and for his part in our life, and in the life of each one here, and in the life of those who could not be here today, and in the life of the church, and in the life of the community. And we are here to commend him gratefully and prayerfully and joyfully to our God who has prepared a place for him in the heavenly realm.

Edward L. "Ned" Caum

The Rev. Canon Edward Leonard Caum III, known to all as Father Ned, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2009.  He was the son of the late Edward Leonard Caum Jr. and Doris Snelson Caum, who resides in Painted Post. 

A native of Morrisville, he majored in history at Franklin & Marshall College and went on to earn his M.Div. in Theology from Philadelphia Divinity School. He was ordained to the diaconate in the Episcopal Church in 1962 in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and then to the priesthood in December of that year in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he served as Curate of St. Matthew’s Church.  He was appointed priest in charge of St. Philip’s, Wrangell, Alaska, where he served for over 25 years.  Alaska allowed Ned to pursue his love of the outdoors, spending many hours hunting and fishing and sharing his love of nature with his family. During that time he also taught high school and earned a second master’s degree in Reading Education from Southern Oregon State University. 

He moved back to Pennsylvania in 1990 and served as rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Athens until his retirement in 2006.  He continued as Assistant Rector until the time of his death. 

He is survived by his mother, Doris; his sister, Janet Caum Brandt; three children from his first marriage to the late Marilyn Laird, Virginia Caum Lake and her husband Greg, Edward Leonard Caum and his wife Susannah, David Laird Caum and his wife Erica and their families; and his wife of 30 years, Barbara Cameron Caum of Athens, their son, Alan, her daughter, Jessica, and her family as well as countless others who loved  him. 

There will be no viewing hours.  A Eucharist in celebration of his life will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3rd, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 703 South Main Street, Athens, Pennsylvania.  Memorials in his honor may be directed to Trinity, and mailed to the church office at 701 S. Main Street, Athens, PA 18810.

David G. Evans

David G. Evans, 66, spouse of the Rev. Dolores Evans, died Monday, September 29, at his Frackville home. The funeral liturgy will take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 4, at Christ Episcopal Church, 140 W. Frack Street, Frackville. Friends may call from 8:00 a.m. until the time of the Saturday service Saturday. Find the obituary here.

Sermon by Mother Laura Howell at the Funeral of Father Mac

Sermon by The Rev. Laura Howell
at the Funeral of Canon A. Malcolm MacMillan
September 20, 2008
Isaiah 25:6-10; Philippians 2:5-11; John 14:1-19 

If some of you have come today expecting to hear about how perfect and saintly Father Mac was, you may lie back and think…about castles in Scotland for the next few minutes. I have never liked eulogies that describe someone in such glowing terms that they are unrecognizable. Mac was not a character in a romance novel. So you won’t hear that from me.

MAC

Upon his death ...
a poem for Father Mac MacMillan
by Mother Gwendolyn-Jane Romeril

A giant entered
Heaven’s gates
walking without
a limp.  He wore
the Kilt of his Clan,
a Balmoral, and was
preceded by Pipes.

The Rev. Canon Alexander Malcolm MacMillan 1921-2008

The Rev. Canon Alexander Malcolm MacMillan died September 9.

"He was known to and loved by many in this diocese and in the wider Church," Bishop Paul Marshall wrote to the diocesan community early the following day. "An early champion of civil rights in the South and then the structures of the church, Canon MacMillan was a dedicated parish priest, liturgical innovator, and supporter of the spiritual development of many."

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 20, at 11:00 a.m. in the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Third and Wyandotte streets. Bethlehem.

Francisco Pease

Francisco Pease died peacefully on September 2, at 4:00 a.m. He had been on life-support for over a week. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's Montrose on Saturday, September 6, at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive visitors immediately following the service at a luncheon reception, hosted by the Women of St. Paul's, in the parish house.

Francisco was the teenage grandson of The Rev. Henry Pease who died March 13 of this year. Many remember Henry's courageous trip to Ecuador in 2000 to rescue his three grandsons, then ages 3, 5 and 8. He took them into his Saddle Lake home, near Tunkhannock, where he had been living alone, legally adopted them to be his sons, and cared for them until his death eight years later. An April 2002 Diocesan Life story about the rescue may be downloaded here.

Find the obituary here.

Loving God, we stand before you in pain and sadness. Hear the cry of our hearts for the pain of our loss. Be with us as we struggle with the mysteries of life and death. In our pain, bring your comfort. In our sorrow, bring your hope  and your promise of new life. Receive Francisco in the arms of your mercy, to live in your gracious and eternal love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Murder in a church backyard

Murder in a church backyard
‘No matter how close the darkness comes, we will never sell out’
By Bill Lewellis

[A young man was murdered behind Grace Allentown on August 10. It was Allentown's 13th homicide this year. Two Sundays later, parishioners of Grace processed to the spot of the killing to read God’s word and to recommit themselves to holding out a corner of grace in a troubled neighborhood. Read a news release composed by the senior warden, an op by the rector, published in The Morning Call, the sermon preached by the rector, and the Aug. 25 news story in The Morning Call. Below is a story on the service and Grace Church in context.]

Jameel Clark, 20, predicted he would die. Two days before his prediction came true, he fought with Roman, a Latin Kings gang member, in a center city diner in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Roman told his friend, Melvin Velazquez, 18, known as Trigger.

During the early morning hours of Sunday, August 10, Clark went to a house behind Grace Episcopal Church to try to straighten things out peacefully, according to friends who warned him not to go there because friends of Roman might be nearby and might cause trouble. Clark was more concerned that trouble might find him when he was with his one-year-old daughter.

A witness said Clark and Velazquez fought outside the home. Clark ripped a black-and-yellow bead necklace, a Latin King symbol, off Velazquez’s neck. Velazquez pulled a handgun and shot Clark several times on a bleak, macadam parking lot.

Last Sunday, two readers proclaimed a version of this responsively, at the spot where Clark had been gunned down, the lot where Grace Church builds an Easter fire to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The people of Grace Church processed to the spot where the killing took place “in an endeavor to stand in solidarity with the good people of their neighborhood,” according to Grace Church senior warden Libby House, “and to pray for Jameel and others who have died violently in this city, to read God’s word and to recommit themselves to holding out a corner of grace in a troubled neighborhood.”

The killing was the 13th homicide in Allentown this year.

Father Ron Molrine

By Michael Piovane

This is a story about my first encounter with Fr. Ron after becoming an Episcopalian. It was 20 years ago that Rita and I first worshipped at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. We had been married over a year, just built a home in Macungie, and were looking for an Episcopal church closer to us so that we could become active in the parish.

Ronald C. Molrine

Father Ron Molrine, 77, died on June 5. Please keep Ron's wife, Char, and their children in your prayers. Father Molrine was a faithful and effective priest in this diocese, serving with distinction at St. Anne's Trexlertown for 21 years until his retirement in 1996. He was the vicar who diligently and faithfully worked with many dedicated parishioners to make the transition from the Grange Hall to the current edifice a reality. He began as vicar in 1975 when the church worshipped at the Grange Hall in Trexlertown. and became the church's first rector in 1984. A memorial Eucharist will be celebrated at St. Anne's on Wednesday, June 18, at 10:30 a.m.

The obituary and a poem by Mother Gwendolyn-Jane Romeril are posted below.