Louisa ‘Rhodi’ Reed Kushner, 83, of Bethlehem, PA passed away March 6, 2021, surrounded by her family. Her husband of 45 years, John Kushner, predeceased her August 19, 2020.
Louisa was born in Bethlehem and was the fifth of 9 children of William and Helen (Kiefer) Reed. She was a 1951 graduate of St. Simon and St. Jude. There she got the nickname ‘Rhodi’, when she played the state of Rhode Island in a play about the 13 original colonies!
She was 1955 graduate of Allentown Central Catholic.
Louisa is survived by her only child, Theresa (Terri) DiGiovanni, of Newport, RI.
She has two grandchildren, Mary Kate Gough, of Brooklyn, NY and Garrett Gough, of Newport,
RI. She has four surviving siblings, Elizabeth Zobb of Bethlehem, Charles Reed of Fogelsville, Michael Reed (Stephanie)of Coopersburg and Mary Young (Timothy Schneider) of Philadelphia. She is predeceased by brothers William, James, Thomas and a sister Adelaide Kirschman.
Louisa lived in California, Colorado, Virginia, India, Philippines as an adult but returned to Bethlehem in 1997. Louisa loved to laugh, had a wonderful sense of humor and excelled at the art of telling jokes. She was a great writer and enjoyed writing poetry and still wrote letters despite the technology of email. Louisa enjoyed reading, playing bingo, and organizing family events, which she was great at.
In Lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St Luke’s Hospice House, who provided care
in her final days.
Internment arrangements are coordinated through Downing Funeral Home.
Family and friends are invited for Louisa’s internment on April 23, 2021,
at 1 PM at Cedar Hill Memorial Park, Allentown PA,
Joyce Kirk
Joyce E. (Weidman) Kirk, 82, of Hanover Twp, passed away February 28, 2021. She was the loving wife of over 50 years to the late Edward J. Kirk. Joyce was an avid pet lover. She enjoyed antiquing, attending church and raising her family. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: children- Marian Keenan, Andrew Brown, Leonard Brown, Jean Prewitt, Joan Holecz and Joseph Kirk; 7 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son Michael Kirk and many sisters and brothers.
Services will be Private.
Contributions can be made to help toward her son/caregiver Joseph Kirk’s future life expenses care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.
Janet Kelly
Janet L. (Condor) Kelly, 91, of Bethlehem, passed away peacefully at Holy Family Manor on January 12, 2021. She was the loving wife of the late Andrew R. Kelly. Born in Harrisburg, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Josephine (Acri) Condor. She was of the Catholic faith. Janet was a homemaker and will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother. She loved spending time with her grandchildren as they grew up, and enjoyed going on many fun filled day trips with them. She loved to go shopping and had many special shopping and luncheon trips to Promeroy’s in Harrisburg and Hess’s in Allentown with her daughter. She lived next door to the Westgate Mall where she would walk to almost every day, and got to know many of the store clerks throughout the mall. She also loved to go to Antique Shops and collect Thomas Kinkade, Limoge, miniature tea sets, Beanie Babies, and anything Italian or Irish related, and display these throughout her apartment, She also collected racing memorabilia, Hess trucks, dolls, and nutcrackers for her children and grandchildren. Janet also enjoyed going to the Bell Telephone Pioneer Dinners and Picnics, traveling to Florida, and going on cruises with her late husband Andrew. She was a hugger and a kisser, and will be greatly missed by her family.
Survivors: daughter- Patricia Marakovits and husband Tim of Kutztown; Michael Kelly of Bethlehem, Brian Kelly and wife Nancy of Bethlehem; grandchildren- Justin Kelly, Nick Marakovits, Hannah Marakovits; great grandchildren- Makayla and Sienna Kelly; brother- Gilbert Condor and wife Roseanne.
Services will be Private care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.
Contributions can be made in Janet’s memory to Holy Family Manor.
John Kushner
John J. “Jack” Kushner, 85, of Bethlehem, passed away August 19, 2020. He was the loving husband of 45 years to Louisa E. (Reed) Kushner. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late John and Margaret (Hoffman) Kushner. John was a 1953 graduate of Liberty High School. John served in the U.S. Army. He had worked for the former Lehigh Engineering in Bethlehem and then as a mechanical contractor in California for 19 years. John attended Ss Simon and Jude Catholic Church.
Survivors: wife- Louisa; daughter- Susan M. wife of Ret. Lt Col John Bokor of Las Cruces, NM; step-daughter- Theresa DiGiovanni of Newport, RI; granddaughter- Jessica Bokor-Sapyta of KY; step-grandchildren- Mary Kate Gough of Brooklyn, NY and Garrett S. Gough of Newport, RI.
No Services will be held. Arrangements are entrusted to Downing Funeral Home, Inc.
Kathryn Keller
Kathryn M. (Rafferty) Keller, 91, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully on June 2, 2020 in her family’s home, surrounded by loved ones. Kathryn was born on August 27, 1928 in Manhattan, New York to Nicholas and Evelyn (Becker) Rafferty. She attended Hunter College in New York City and went on to work as a Production Manager for Bulova Watch Company. Kathryn had been an active member of Grace Church in Long Island, New York and then continued on to be a faithful Practitioner of Christian Science.
Kathryn was a dedicated and loving sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Kathryn devoted her early years to her children, David and Alice, as a Cub Scout and Camp Fire Girl leader, and remained fully immersed in the upbringing of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be remembered for her unconditional love, compassion, selflessness, and kind spirit, as well as her passion to share the goodness of God with everyone she met.
Kathryn is survived by her children, son David and wife Jill, her daughter Alice, five grandchildren, Jacey and husband Will, Mathieu and wife Brittany, Elizabeth and husband Jeremiah, Amelia and Evelyn, and five great grandchildren, Kayla, Aidyn, Liam, Addison, and Quinn. She is also survived by her brothers, Gerald and Patrick Rafferty, and sister Evelyn Hnatov. She was predeceased by four brothers.
Services will be held at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, 5900 Old Bethlehem Pike, Center Valley, PA 18034, 610-282-5683, on a date later to be announced.
Theresa Kuhns
Theresa M. Kuhns passed away peacefully on Friday, May 22, 2020 at Cedarbrook Nursing Home. She was predeceased by her husband Charles H. Kuhns. Born in Fountain Hill on October 12, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Stephen and Veronica Sajt. Theresa worked for Wilgor Mills in Bethlehem for many years. Theresa was a past member of the Golden Hillers and the Fountain Hill Beneficial Society where she was very active in the Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed cooking, bowling and being together with all of her family.
Survivors: She will be lovingly remembered by her son Charles, husband of Loree of Bethlehem; grandson Daniel, husband of Amy of Fountain Hill; granddaughter-in-law Marcie, wife of the late grandson Matthew of Allentown; great grandsons Wyatt, Noah, Findley, Max and Mason; great granddaughter Georgia and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brothers Anthony, Geza and Louis; sisters Mary and Veronica.
Services will be Private. A Memorial Mass will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Theresa’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.
Julia Kuruc
Surrounded by music, grace & the love of her family nearby & faraway Julia A. Kuruc, 92 passed away April 15. She was the wife of the late Andrew B. Kuruc. Born in Bethlehem she was the daughter of the late Rodolfo & Julia (Aguilar) Amelio. She graduated from Bethlehem High School & worked in the offices of Bethlehem Steel & Sears. She was a member of Sts. Simon & Jude Church. For the last 10 years Traditions of Hanover was her home where she enjoyed bingo, cards, mah jong & happy hours with her friends & the staff.
Survivors include children: Linda (Louis) Allentown, Drew(Joan) Garden City, NY & MaryBeth(Raymond)Hellertown
grandchildren: Julia (Jeremy), Jennifer(Jason),
Troy, Louis(Lauren), Melissa(Scott), Andrew & John
great grandchildren: Jason, Brody, Brynn,
Jackson, Brett, Jordan, Reece, & Declan
sister Aurora Kundrik, brother Robert Amelio (Phyllis). She was predeceased by siblings Sophie Gutierrez, Sara Alonzo, Rudy Amelio, Vera Mingora, Arthur Amelio, & Angela Stralo.
Services will be private. A celebration of life will take place at a later date.
Her family’s utmost gratitude for outstanding care & compassion is extended to Dr. Rana & his staff, St. Luke ‘s Hospice Team & Father John Gibbons.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saints Simon & Jude Church.
Michael Kokosky
Michael Joseph Kokosky, 89, of Bethlehem, passed away March 27, 2020. He was the loving husband of Irene (Koren) Kokosky for 59 years. Born in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late Stephen and Barbara (Madzik) Kokosky. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in the 213th AAA 28th Division. Michael retired in 1992 from Bethlehem Steel’s Beam Yard, after 42 years of service. He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Michael was lovingly remembered as “Pop” to his grandchildren whom he enjoyed spending his time with.
Survivors: wife- Irene Koksoky; sons- Michael, Gary, Richard Kokosky and Michael Ross; daughter-in-laws- Angelic and Shannon; grandchildren- Samuel, Michael, Gina, Natalia, Alexander, Jaclyn Kokosky and Michael J. Ross. He was predeceased by 7 sisters- Mary Donchez, Dorothy Taglang, Helen Rengel, Agnes Gaal, Frances Puhan, Anne Laposky and Elizabeth Kokosky; 4 brothers- Stephen, Joseph, Edward and John Kokosky.
A Memorial Service will be announced after the COVID-19 quarantine is lifted. Arrangements entrusted to Downing Funeral Home, Inc.