John Blackwood III, 63, of Bethlehem, passed away April 12, 2014. He was the loving husband of 38 years to Anna M. (Schlaner) Blackwood. Born in Fountain Hill, he was the son of John and Jeanette (Laubach) Blackwood Jr. John retired from the U.S. Navy Seabees and then from PPL in 2012 as a Nuclear Designer after 42 years of service. He was a dedicated volunteer with the CCA- Celtic Cultural Alliance in Bethlehem for over 20 years serving as a Chairman of Operations Committee. He previously coached Northwest Little League and the Bethlehem Steelers. John was a devoted father, loving husband and proud Pappy.

Survivors:
Wife- Anna M. Blackwood
Parents- John and Jeanette Blackwood Jr.
Sons- John Blackwood IV and wife Tara Wenner of Bethlehem
Dr. Jeramy D. Blackwood and wife Danielle of Rock Island, IL
Grandson- Jase Blackwood
Granddog- Titan
Siblings- James of NC
Jesse of Fountain Hill
Joel and wife Martha of Kutztown
Jay and wife Zai of NC
Jane of Fountain Hill
Nieces and Nephews

A viewing will be held on Wednesday 10AM-12PM with a service at 12PM all in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Burial to follow in St. Pauls Blue Church Cemetery, Coopersburg.

William E. Barron, 79, of Bethlehem, passed away Dec. 9, 2013. He was husband to Regina Winsko-Barron for 34 years. Born in
Jerome, he was the son of the late John and Kathleen Barron. William retired from Bethlehem Steel as a Mechanical Engineer after over 30 years of service. He was a member of Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church.

Survivors:
Wife- Regina Winsko- Barron
Children- Gary and wife Cheryl Barron
Ann and husband Robert Wenell
Joan Chojnacki
Michael Barron
9 Grandchildren
He was predeceased by his sons- William and Steven Barron and brother- Jack.

A viewing will be held Saturday 10:15-11AM with Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11AM all in Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church 1861 Catasauqua Rd Bethlehem 18017. Burial will be private.
Arrangements care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in William’s memory to Meals on Wheels or to Animals in distress.

Thurlo Bristol, 90 of Allentown, passed away Friday, November 15, 2013 in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Her husband, the late James A. Bristol passed away February 22, 2000. Thurlo was born in Chicago on November 3, 1923, the daughter of the late Hessie and Lutie (Embry) Lee. She worked in assembly for the former Western Electric and was a former member of St. Peters UCC in Allentown. Survivors: James D. Bristol of Barto, PA; sister, Kathleen Shacket of Nashville, TN; granddaughter, Brandy Poore of Greenville, SC. Predeceased by four siblings. Services: A viewing will be held Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a service at 11 a.m. in the Downing Funeral Home, 1002 Broad St., Bethlehem. Interment will follow services in Bethlehem Memorial Park.

Lorraine R. (Harwick) Buck, 87, of Bethlehem, passed away Thursday, March 7, 2013. She was the loving wife of the late William Buck. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Melvin and Mary Edna (Reinhart) Harwick. Lorraine loved to travel with her family and loved her grand cats. She was a spiritual woman whose passion for reading allowed her to expand her knowledge about any subject. Survivors: Daughter, Nancy Becker of Bethlehem Twp.; brother, Frank Schuler and wife Janice, of Allentown; sister, Deborah Bainbridge and husband Ray, of Kempton; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her identical twin sister, Eleanor Steiner. Services: It was Lorraines wishes to donate her body to the Philadelphia Area Medical Schools to assist them in their studies. There will be no services held at this time. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lorraines memory to Forgotten Felines and Fidos, PO Box 62, Germansville, PA 18053. Arrangements care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

Frances R. (Schamenek) Borlodan, 94, of Bethlehem, passed away Sunday, July 15, 2012. She was the wife of the late George F. Borlodan. Born in Bethlehem, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary A. (Dravecz) Schamenek. Frances retired from Just Born after 20 years of service. She was a lifetime member of the former St. John Capistrano Catholic Church and current member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miller Heights.



Survivors:
Children- Georgine Kominsky and husband Robert of Bethlehem
Mary Ann Petrohoy and husband Stephen of Bethlehem Twp.
Rosalie Hershey and husband William of Saucon Valley
George Borlodan and wife Teresa of London, England
8 Grandchildren
19 Great Grandchildren
1 Great Great Granddaughter
Sister- Helen Kirkpatrick of Ocean City, NJ
Sister-In- Law- Marie Kovacs
Brother- In- Law- Michael Borlodan
She was predeceased by grandson- Charles Wisser and siblings- Charles, Sister Albina, Sister Lucy and Anna.



A viewing will be held on Monday 9-11AM with a service at 11AM all in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem 18018. Burial to follow in Holy Saviour Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Frances’s memory to the church or to the Lustgarten Foundation 1111 Stewart Ave Bethpage, NY 11714.

Frances C. (Conahan) Bender, 92, of Bethlehem, passed away Tuesday, June 5, 2012 in Holy Family Manor. She was the loving wife of the late Francis P. Bender. Born in Morea, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Francis J. and Anna (Barager) Conahan. Frances attended Chestnut Hill College. She was a member of St. Ursula Catholic Church. She was also a member of the Golden Hillers and the St. Ursula Women’s Guild. Frances enjoyed art and oil painting.



Survivors:
Children- David Bender of Bethlehem
Mary Louise Guth and husband William J. Jr. of Bethlehem
Thomas Bender and wife Phyllis of Bethlehem
Granddaughters- Laura Basilone of Fountain Hill
Amanda Madl of Viera, FL
Sarah Guth of Bethlehem
Great Grandsons- Ryan Repsher and Logan Basilone
Sister- Sr. Mary Conahan of Philadelphia
She was predeceased by her son- Paul and brothers Joseph and James.



A viewing will be held Friday 9:15AM to 9:45AM with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10AM all in St. Ursula Catholic Church 1300 Broadway Fountain Hill, PA 18015. Burial to follow in Holy Saviour Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the church.

John “Johnny” J. Becker, 67, of Bethlehem Twp. passed away Friday, April 6, 2012. He was the loving husband for 45 years to his high school sweetheart Judith A. (Morris) Becker. He was the son of the late Alexander Becker and Julia (Czeck) Becker. Johnny served in the U.S. Army and served in the Vietnam War. He was retired from Bethlehem Steel where he worked in the Beam Yards for 33 years. He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Johnny was also a member of the VFW and the Stockertown Rod and Gun Club. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping in the Poconos and loved animals especially his dog, Jacob.



Survivors:
Wife- Judith A. Becker
Mother- Julia Becker of Bethlehem
Children- John “Jay” and wife Pam Becker of Moorestown
Christopher and wife Judy Becker of Bethlehem Twp.
Amy and husband Eric Carr of Easton
Grandchildren- Dedrea Becker and Ariana Carr
Sister- Diane Pierce of Hamburg
Brother- Michael Becker of Bethlehem
He was predeceased by his brother- Thomas Becker.



A calling time will be held on Wednesday 6-8PM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem 18018. Another calling time will be held Thursday 9:15-9:45AM with Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10AM all in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church 3219 Santee Rd Bethlehem 18020. Burial will follow in Holy Saviour Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare 1165 Island Park Rd Easton PA 18042.

Edna Herman Briody “Eddie”, born April 8, 1923 passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday February 15. A Mauch Chunk native, she was the daughter of Joseph and Rose (Otto) Herman. She graduated from the Sacred Heart School of Nursing in 1944 and was a member of the Catholic Nurses Guild of the Lehigh Valley. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital and was a volunteer at the former ASH hospital. Edna rejoins her husband of 60 years, Thomas, brother Otto, and son Terence.


She is survived by sons Thomas and wife Sharon, Timothy and wife Pam, Ted and wife Carol, grandchildren Erin, Shaun, Tara, Mollie and Patrick, and great grandson Matthew.


A Memorial Mass will be held 10 AM Monday February 27th at Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Bethlehem. www.DowningFuneralHome.com


In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of one’s choice.