Edith M.Edith M. (Frye) Hencke, age 90, of ALS, on April 24, 2014. Born Sept. 29, 1923 of German and Scotch-English ancestry of Piney Community, VA. Survived by 4 children: Dr. W. Richard of CA, Thomas R. "Randy" of NH, James E. of MA, and Judith Houston of CO; ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. "Edie" as member of the WWII generation women who worked to support the war effort and surrendered these positions to the returning servicemen, worked at Bakelite in New Brunswick, NJ as a research chemist during the war, and went home to start a family once married to Wm. R. "Bill" Hencke on Aug. 3, 1946. In addition to full-time homemaker, Edie dove into volunteer work with a passion -March of Dimes, PTA, Girl Scouts & Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Lehigh University and active 24 years at Asbury Methodist Church, Allentown, PA. Of all of these, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts was her highest devotion throughout the latter half of her life. Services: A Memorial Service will be held at Asbury Methodist Church, Allentown, PA, on Saturday, May 31, 2014, 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Edie's memory may be made to: World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Inc., PO Box 6457 - Dept. 276 Indianapolis, IN 46206.

Marybeth Hoag, 69, of Cape Vincent, passed away on April 5, 2014.



She was born on September 20, 1944 in Central Square, daughter of Lawrence and Virginia Mallory. She graduated from Paul V. Moore High School. Later in life, she earned an associate’s degree from Onondaga Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University.



Marybeth worked in insurance for many years, but found her true passion in retirement when she opened her own quilting business. Her beautiful quilts can be found in the White House, the American embassy in France, and in homes across the United States. She taught many new quilters, and was an active participant in quilting guilds.



She was a devoted member of the church throughout her life and expressed her faith through music and children’s ministry.



Her family and friends will deeply miss her strength, laughter, and determination. She was always willing to share her faith, her talents, and her love.



She is survived by her husband Gordon; her son Ronald (Penny) Holbrook; her daughters Bonniesue (Frank) Oxford; Angela (Jeff) Griswell; Jennifer (Scott) Korin; Cyndy (Ben) Barlip; her step-sons Dale (Judy) Hoag; Scott Hoag; David Hoag; 18 adored grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Ronald (Diane) Mallory; her sisters Margaret (Kenneth) Hare; Janet Mallory; Lorraine (Craig) O’Neill; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her sister Rose White and brother Thomas Mallory and her parents.



A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at The River Community Church, 38844 Bartlett Point Road, Clayton, NY 13624. Donations to the church in lieu of flowers may be sent to the same address.

Arline (Reichenbach) Hoffman, 101 years, passed away Nov. 16 in Phoebe Nursing Home. Survivors: Daughter, Sylvia Krown & husband, Bruce; daughter-in-law, Mary Hoffman & families. Predeceased by husband, Melvin; son, George Hoffman. Services: Private. Downing Funeral Home handling arrangements.

Gerald S. Hagaman, 90, passed away Saturday, November 16, 2013, in the Phoebe Nursing Home, Allentown. He was born January 16, 1923 in Highland Park, MI, a son to the late Chester A. and Blanche (Hager) Hagaman. He was predeceased by his wife, Edna E. Whitt Hagaman in 1997. He received Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy after serving his country during the Pacific Ocean Theatre of WWII where he was in the bomb and mine disposal unit. Gerald was very proud of his education, earning a Masters Degree from Purdue University in Matallurgic Engineering. He retired from the Bethlehem Steel Corporation as the Chief Matalurgist. He was a Charter member of the Church of the Manger in Bethlehem where he was a Deacon and Elder, sang in the choir and taught adult Sunday school. He also volunteered at the church and in the pharmacy at St. Lukes Hospital, Fountain Hill. He also was fortunate to have worked for Henry Ford in 1941 as a test driver for the Model T. Survivors: Daughter, Jacqueline H. Gow of Mt. Pocono, PA; son, James A. Hagaman and wife Linette of Marietta, GA; grandchildren, Allison Hagaman of Charlotte, NC and Brian and Derek Hagaman of Marietta, GA, Kristi Hahn and husband John of Avon Park, FL and James Gow and wife Sara or Brookville, PA; four great-grandchildren, Grace, Noah, Eliana and Emelia. Predeceased by a sister, Marilyn Cooper; and brothers, William and Richard. Services: Viewing, Wednesday, November 20, 2013, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Church, 1401 Greenview Drive, Bethlehem followed by a service at 11 a.m. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Phoebe Nursing Home, 1925 W. Turner Street, Allentown, PA.

Elizabeth J. (Kern) Hoffman, 93, of Bethlehem, died November 13, 2013 at Holy Family Manor. Born in Slatington, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Beatrice Kern. She was the loving wife of the late Mark B. Hoffman, a Bethlehem Steel worker for 42 years.

She graduated from Slatington High School in 1937, worked for 15 years at Yohe’s Pharmacy in Bethlehem, and was a member of St. Peter’s UCC in Allentown.

She was predeceased by her sister Margaret Hartline and her son, Matthew P. Hoffman, and is survived by her son Mark H. Hoffman and his wife Kathleen of Bethlehem, her granddaughter Reverend Leslie A. Kearney of Norristown, and granddaughter Jennifer L. Hoffman and her husband Joshua Yoder of Hickory, NC.

A viewing will be held Friday 6-8PM with a Funeral Service on Saturday at 10AM all in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery, Slatington.

Michael “Mike the Barber” G. Homick, Sr., 74, of Easton, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013 in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the cherished husband and best friend of Barbara M. (Kelly) Homick for almost 53 years. Born in Nesquehoning, he was the son of the late Stephen and Mary (Hydro) Homick. Mike was a 1957 graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School. He was a self employed barber for over 50 years and owned Mike’s Barber Shop in Bethlehem. He was a member of the former St. John Capistrano Catholic Church and previous member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Mike was a pioneer of the teenage night club circuit owning King Arthur’s Court in Quakertown. He was a personal manager of numerous local rock bands including The King’s Ransom. He then owned the Lil’ Big Horn Bar and Restaurant in 1973 which later became Mickey Kelly’s East in Bethlehem and later opened Mickey Kelly’s West in Orefield until 1987 bringing lots of live entertainment locally to the Lehigh Valley.

Survivors:
Wife- Barbara M. Homick
Children- Sharon wife of Eric Allen of Gilbert, AZ
Deborah wife of Thomas Conroy Jr. of Richmond, VA
Cynthia Cicero of Bethlehem
Michael Homick Jr. of Bethlehem
Kimberly wife of Michael Popoff of Northampton
Foster Son- Whitaker “Sketz” Griffin Jr. husband of Mary Lou of Bethlehem
He was blessed with:
Grandchildren- Carissa, Caitlin, Kaleigh, Andrew, Salvatore, Jamie, Courtney, Carleigh, Rachel and Olivia.
Step- Grandchildren- Nicole and Dylan
Step- Great Grandchild- Wyatt
Brothers- Stephen Homick of Macungie
Vincent Homick of Kentucky
Robert Homick of Coopersburg
Gerard Homick of Allentown
Giles Homick of Chalfont
Sisters- AnneMarie Suchanick of Sellersville
Marian Sharkan of Allentown
Numerous Nieces and Nephews
He was predeceased by brother- Emil Homick.

A viewing will be held on Monday 5-8PM and Tuesday 9-10:30AM with a Service to follow at 10:30AM 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 to St Luke’s VNA Hospice 801 Ostrum St. Bethlehem 18015.

Catherine M. (Murphy) Hayes, 78, of Bethlehem, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013. She was the loving wife of the late Robert T. Hayes, Sr. Born in Ann Arbor, MI she was the daughter of the late Donald and Rose (Buchanan) Murphy. She was a graduate of the University of Michigan. Catherine was retired from Piece Goods, where she worked for 15 years. She was an active member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and Cursillo.

Survivors:
Children- Cathleen Valenty of Saratoga Springs, NY
Anne Warnke of Chesterfield, VA
Robert Jr. of Philadelphia
Michael of Bethlehem
Colleen “Kelly” O’Leary of Washington Twp., PA
Karen Kennedy of Macungie
Donald of South Royalton, VT
18 Grandchildren
1 Great Grandson
Brothers- Donald Murphy of Havertown
Thomas Murphy of Sherwood, OR
Sister- Jane Bosace of Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada

A viewing will be held on Thursday 6-8PM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem 18018. A viewing will be held on Friday 9:45-10:45AM with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11AM all in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church 3219 Santee Rd Bethlehem 18017. Burial to follow in Holy Saviour Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the church or Cursillo.

John J. Husovsky, 86, of Bethlehem, passed away Monday, December 31, 2012. He was the loving husband of the late Theresa M. (Donchetz) Husovsky for 56 years.

John graduated from Liberty High School in 1944 and Bethlehem Business College in 1948. He served in the Navy during WWII aboard the USS Duxbury Bay in the South Pacific and China. He worked in the #3 Fabricating Shop of the Bethlehem Steel as chief shipper, retiring in 1976 at the shop’s closing. He worked at the Northampton County Government Center in the Fiscal Affairs Department as an accountant, retiring in 1990.

John was a member of the Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokols (National Sokols) where he was the financial secretary for over 50 years. He was a director with The First Windish Benefit Society. He was a member of St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church, where he served as an usher.

He will be remembered by his daughters Sandra Jean, wife of Wayne Thomas, and Barbara Ann, wife of Eric Hein. John has four grandchildren Lori, Alison, Eric John, and Kristin; three great-grandchildren John, Abigail, and Timothy. He is survived by a brother Charles Husovsky. He was pre-deceased by a brother George Husovsky.

A viewing will be held on Monday 9:30-10:15AM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11AM in St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church 450 E. Washington Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18017. Burial to follow in Holy Saviour Cemetery.

Donations can be made in John’s memory to the church.