John W. Check, 73, of Fountain Hill, passed away November 29, 2025. He was the loving husband of the late Marilyn Check. Born in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late John and Anna Check. John graduated from Liberty High School and was the original owner of the Broken Spoke Bicycle Shop in Easton. John enjoyed cycling, doing carpentry, horseback riding and was an animal lover. He will be deeply missed.

Survivors: sons- Chad Check and his late fiancé Sheila Kolesnik, Jesse Check and wife Christine, grandson- Ira Check, partner- Marion Amato, nephews- Frankie and Brian Szabo, Baker family members in Alabama and Fisher family members in Florida and pets Bo, Sherwood and Marley. He was predeceased by his sister- Janice Szabo.
Services will be Private for the family

Contributions can be made in John’s memory to Last Chance Ranch.

Cecelia B. (Homay) Cousins, 69, of Northampton, passed away September 1, 2023. Born in Easton, she was the daughter of the late Edward H. and Theresa M. (Marason) Homay. She worked previously for the Salvation Army, the Easton Express and then for Matus Associates, for both Paul and Scott Matus. She enjoyed cooking and sharing it with friends. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: brothers- Michael and Joseph Homay, granddaughter- Vivian Homay. She was predeceased by her son- Ryan, brother- John and sister- Anna.
Services will be private care of Downing Funeral Home Inc.

Dr. Victor Celani died suddenly on February 7, 2022 at the age of 74. He was born July 2, 1947 in Chester, PA to Anne and Victor Celani. He attended St. Robert’s and St. James’ schools, he went to college at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA and attended Medical School at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia before completing his residency in general surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and his fellowship in vascular surgery at Lehigh Valley Hospital with Dr. Kenneth McDonald. He practiced vascular surgery at Crozer Chester Medical Center. He was married to Emilie née Larson, the love of his life whom he met while practicing there. They then made their home in Bethlehem, PA, where Victor practiced at Lehigh Valley Health Network Vascular Surgeons. Upon his retirement from the group, Victor mentored residents at the Surgical Education Center of Lehigh Valley Hospital. He is survived by his sons Victor Paul Celani and Timothy Larson and Amy Larson and grandson Timothy Larson. Left to cherish his memory are his many aunts, cousins, friends, his Wednesday hamburger club and the many patients he left an indelible mark on. He is predeceased by his wife, mother and father.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 11th at 10:00AM in Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike Bethlehem, PA 18015. Burial to follow at 12:15PM in SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery 1600 S. Sproul Rd Springfield, PA 19064.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Victor’s name to benefit the education and training of surgery residents should be mailed to: LVHN Office of Philanthropy, Surgery Resident Education Fund, PO Box 1883, Allentown PA 18105 . We will all miss his gentle spirit and kind heart.

James D. Carlin, 66, of East Stroudsburg, passed away June 28, 2021. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late James F. and Doris F. (Keller) Carlin. He worked as a roofer for many years. He enjoyed working with model trains, and embraced his passion for nature by spending his time outdoors and feeding the wildlife. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Survivors: sons- Daniel and Timothy Carlin, sister- Kathleen Weiss, grandson- Jordan Carlin, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A small family graveside service will be held on Wednesday, July 7th at 12PM at Holy Saviour Cemetery 2575 Linden St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Arrangements are entrusted to Downing Funeral Home, Inc.
Contributions can be made in James’s memory to the Nature Conservatory 4245 N. Fairfax Dr. Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22203.

Evelyn C. (Focht) Cengeri, 94, of Bethlehem, passed away January 7, 2021. She was the loving wife of the late Stephen A. Cengeri, with whom she would have celebrated her 67th Wedding Anniversary this past December 26th. Born in Bath, she was the daughter of the late John and Catherine (Heinz) Focht. She graduated from Northampton High School in 1944 and attended Allentown Business College and earned a degree in Study and History of Doll Making. She was a member of Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church and their Seniors Club. She was a member of the Catholic War Veterans Auxiliary of Northampton, the SOKOLS and the SS Cyril and Methodius Slovak Seniors.
Survivors: sons- William S. Cengeri of Bethlehem, Thomas J. and wife Jeann Cengeri of Kutztown, Richard J. Cengeri of Colchester, VT; daughter- Kathleen S. Gundy and husband Bruce of Mohnton; 6 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; sisters- Roma Fedor of North Catasauqua, Susan Rutt of Allentown. She was predeceased by her brother- William J. Focht.
Services will be Private for the family and a Memorial Service will be held for the public in the future.
Contributions can be made in Evelyn’s memory to SS Simon and Jude Catholic Church or to Phoebe Home in Allentown 3-East care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

Monica S. Carpency, 80, of Bethlehem entered Eternal Life on August 10, 2020 from her home.

Born in Coaldale, PA, she was the daughter of the late Francis G. and Mary A. (Kruzik) Carpency.

She was a graduate of Bethlehem Catholic High School and employed by the then Keystone Savings Bank, retiring as its corporate secretary with 36 years of dedicated service.

She was a member of Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church. Her greatest joy was being commissioned to preside at Communion Services in the absence of a priest. She served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist for 6 years, Lector for reading the Word of God for 39 years, and as parish Sacristan for 6 years.

She was preceded in death by her sister Dolores and her great nephew Zachary.

Survivors:

Brother Jude and his wife Marianne of Moneta, VA, sister Ann Marie Sedler (widow of Joseph) of Emmaus, PA. Eight nieces and nephews, nine great nieces and nephews, and two great, great nephews.

A mass of Christian burial, with the Rev. Msgr. Baver officiating, will be celebrated at Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 730 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 at 10:30 AM. Visitation, starting at 9:30 AM, will precede the mass and internment at Holy Saviour Cemetery will follow mass.

Due to COVID there will be no separate visitation prior to Wednesday, August 19, 2020. In addition, the family requests that all individuals attending the visitation and/or funeral mass wear masks and observe social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like those planning expressions of sympathy to consider Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church. Arrangements are entrusted to Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

Ronald R. Castagnera

Ron passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, April 1, 2020 at LVH Cedar Crest. He was born on August 17, 1946 to Natale and Rose Castagnera in Coaldale, PA. As a young child, the family moved from Summit Hill to Bethlehem. His family was one of the first parishioners of Notre Dame R.C. Church.

Upon graduating from Liberty HS in 1964, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam.

His career included draftsman, electrician, and Mack employee. After leaving Mack Trucks, he completed his engineering education at Penn State. He worked for various engineering firms in the Lehigh Valley.

He is survived by his daughter, Dr. Danielle Castagnera Westwood and her husband Dean. His son Anthony Castagnera and his wife Jennifer. Ron had five loving granddaughters. Dr. Kahli Castagnera, Gina and Rory Castagnera and Francesca and Emilia Westwood. His former wife and friend Telvia (Gava) Castagnera.

Also surviving is his sister Natalie Agraz and her husband Steve Chance and his nephews Jorge Agraz and David Agraz. His brother-in-law Enrico Gava and wife Barbara and nieces Andrea Hess and Susan Heiserman. Ron also had many close and caring cousins.

In addition to his parents, Ron was pre-deceased by his companion Dorothy (Dee) Egan and his niece Deborah Gava Erie.

Ron was a great golfer and fisherman. He was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in any way that he could be of help. And will be greatly missed by all.

A Memorial Service will be announced after the COVID-19 quarantine is lifted.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Lung Association care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

It is with great sorrow and sadness the family of Edmund Joseph Cucci passed on June 21, 2019 at the age of 89.
Edmund was born on November 6, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York. Edmund was a patriot and served in the Korean War.
Edmund was a devoted family man and devout Christian and served in many callings for his church. His love of classical music, the opera and American History was known to his family and friends.

Edmund will be missed by his loving and devoted wife of 37 ½ years Joyce: children, Patricia Cucci Ventra, Mary Cucci DePetris, Julius Cucci; 3 stepsons; 18 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren and sisters- Joan Fiorenti and Lillian Ristuccia.

Services will be held on Thursday, June 27th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1881 Van Buren Dr. Whitehall, PA 18052. A viewing will be held 9-10:30AM in the Relief Society Room and a Service will follow at 11AM in the Chapel. A Graveside Service at the Mausoleum will be held at 3PM in Somerset Hills Memorial Park 95 Mt. Airy Rd Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Arrangements are entrusted to Downing Funeral Home, Inc. in Bethlehem, PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Edmund's memory to the Wounded Warrior Project PO Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517.