Miriam J. (Deibert) Ellwanger, 83, of Wyomissing Hills, passed away September 14, 2026. Born August 11,1943, at Reading Hospital, to Elizabeth (Andrew) and George L. M. Deibert, she grew up in Elverson, PA. Miriam graduated from Twin Valley High School class of 1961 and then Pottstown Hospital School of Nursing class of 1964. She married her loving husband Thomas S. Ellwanger in 1964. Miriam was employed at St. Luke’s Hospital full time until her oldest daughter was born. Then she worked part-time at various nursing facilities, while raising her 3 daughters, for the next 20 years. Then she was able to return to full-time work with the Visiting Nurses Association of Bethlehem. She and her good friend, the late Marianne Williams, were the first two hospice nurses for the VNA. She always said Hospice Nursing was the most rewarding in her long career of 41 years. Miriam raised her family in Fountain Hill with her husband Tom where she was a member of the choir at St. Ursula’s Catholic Church. She volunteered for her daughters with their Brownies and Scout Troops, helped at St. Ursula’s school, and the Bethlehem Catholic High School Marching Band Parents Association. When she and Tom moved to Wyomissing Hills, she performed more part-time work as an RN. Helping to care for her grandchildren kept her busy, but she also volunteered with Berks Co. Breast Cancer Support Services making hundreds of pink pillows for comfort bags for recently diagnosed women. She was named “Person of the Week” in the Reading Eagle Newspaper in 2012. Miriam was past member of St. Ignatius Bereavement Ministry, Adoration team and the Legion of Mary as an axillary member. But her favorite place to volunteer was at John Paul II Center for Special Learning, helping in the classrooms and library. She grew to love the children and staff, even remembering them with homemade masks during the covid pandemic. Miriam and Tom enjoyed vacations at the Jersey Shore with the girls when they were younger and later in retirement bus trips to Michigan, Massachusetts and Maine. A train trip to Florida to visit Miriam’s Aunt Barbara was especially memorable, as was celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary with a trip to New Orleans and a riverboat cruise up the Mississippi to Baton Rouge with friends Joan and Ron Smith. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: husband- Thomas Ellwanger; daughters- Suzanne and husband Ronald Adam, Dianne Ferretti, Julie Anne and husband Sean Hanley; grandchildren- Jordan, Samantha, Kathryn, Ryan, Bridget and Kieran; brother- Phillip Deibert; sisters- Beth Lewis and Phyllis Crockett. She was predeceased by her former son-in-law- Mark Ferretti.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 23rd 9:30-10:30AM with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:30AM all in St. Ignatius Catholic Church 2810 St. Albans Drive Reading, PA 19608. Interment to follow in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem. Arrangements are entrusted to Downing Funeral Home, Inc.
Contributions can be made in Miriam’s memory to John Paul II Center for Special Learning 1092 Welsh Rd Shillington, PA 19607 or at https://johnpauliicenter.org

Anne Louise (Lesica) Eslieb passed away peacefully on May 15, 2025 after a full and vibrant 87 years. Anne was the wife of her beloved Amos J. Eslieb. She was predeceased by her son John whom she so loved. Anne was born on Staten Island to Anthony and Phyllis Lesica. She was a graduate of Wagner College and Rutgers University. She had an enormous compassion for children and was employed as a guidance counselor in the N.Y.C. public schools and schools in PA.

She cherished her cousins and niece Marian Tanasiuk and treasured friends.

Services will be Private and are entrusted to Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

Donations may be made to Mercy Special Learning School 830 S. Woodward St. Allentown, PA 18103.

Richard W. Erdman, Jr., 79, of Allentown, passed away September 30, 2023. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Richard and Loraine S. (Saeger) Erdman. Richard retired as a Director of Special Education and was a school psychologist. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Allentown. Richard participated in foster care and adoption programs. Spirituality and family meant a lot to Richard and music was his passion. He will be deeply missed.
Survivors: sons- Allan C. Erdman, Eric Raymond, Brian C. Erdman; grandchildren; brother- Harvey S. Erdman; sister- Peggy Anne Lenox; niece- Lielsel.
A viewing will be held on Friday October 6th 10-11AM with a Funeral Service at 11AM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Burial to follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Allentown.

Andrea R. "Punky" (Groves) Edwards, 87, of Moore Twp, passed away November 6, 2021. She was the loving wife of the late Robert Edwards. Born in Washington, NJ she was the daughter of the late Cornelius “Bud” Groves and the late Cula (Freeman) Merritt. Andrea had worked previously for Bell Howell and Woodcraft in NJ. She was a founding member of the Resurrected Life Community Church, UCC. She was a loving mother and grandmother who loved to laugh and enjoyed cooking, talking on the phone, doing crosswords and watching the Hallmark channel. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: son- Robert Edwards Jr.; daughters- Cula “Macky” Furman, Gwendolyn Jones, Jacqueline Cummings; 12 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren; sister- Constance “Connie” Robinson. She was predeceased by her sister- Jacqueline Ayers.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, November 13th 9-11AM with a Service at 11AM at the Resurrected Life Community Church, UCC 144 N 9th St. Allentown, PA 18102. Burial to follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Allentown. Contributions can be made in Andrea’s name to Resurrected Life Community Church, UCC. Arrangements are entrusted to Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

Benita S. (Schmidt) Eckert, 86, of Allentown, passed away October 10, 2019. She was the loving wife of the late Emanuel C. Eckert. Born in Jeffersonville, IN she was the daughter of the late Edward H. and Margaret A. (Chapman) Schmidt. Benita worked for many years as an office manager at Carlon. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA in 1980. She was a member of St. Stephens Lutheran Church, where was church secretary and sang in the choir. Benita was also a member of the Pocono Wood Carvers, the Campbell Folk School and was a talented hobby artist.


Survivors: daughter- Kathleen Hartzell and husband Will Wallen of Wind Gap, son- Wayne Snyder and wife Peggy of Hagerstown, MD, grandchildren- Christine Espinoza of Nazareth and Jessica Snyder of Hagerstown, MD.



Services will be Private at the convenience of the family. Bonnie requested, in lieu of flowers, that a charitable donation be made to Smile Train!

D. Yvonne (Deiter) Earich, 84, of Bethlehem, passed away April 13, 2018. She was the loving wife of late Glenn Earich, who passed away in December. Born in Bethlehem, she was the last of the Deiter family and the daughter of the late Ferdinand and Mary Deiter. Yvonne retired from Bethlehem Steel as a telephone operator. She loved spending time watching sports, especially football.

Survivors: children- Michelle Foldes-Slack wife of Michael, Lisa Sigley, Peter Earich and Todd Earich all of Bethlehem; grandchildren- Stacey, Justin, Bryan, Devon, Bradley and Nicholas; great grandson- Kodey. She was predeceased by her brother Ferdinand Deiter Jr.

A viewing will be held for family on Friday, April 20th 10:30-11AM with a service at 11AM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Interment to follow in Bethlehem Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Yvonne’s memory to the American Lung Assoc. or the Center for Animal Health and Welfare care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc., Bethlehem.

Glenn A. Earich, 85, of Bethlehem, passed away December 21, 2017 in his home. He was the husband of 61 years to D. Yvonne (Deiter) Earich. He served in the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean War. Glenn retired as an EMT for Bethlehem Steel after many years of service.

Survivors: wife- D. Yvonne Earich; children- Michelle Foldes-Slack wife of Michael, Lisa Sigley, Peter Earich and Todd Earich all of Bethlehem; grandchildren- Stacey, Justin, Bryan, Devon, Bradley and Nicholas; great grandson- Kodey.

Services will be Private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Glenn’s memory to the American Cancer Society or the Center for Animal Health and Welfare care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc., Bethlehem.

Joan L. Eisele, 91, of Allentown, died February 5, 2017 at Cedarbrook Nursing Home. She was the wife of James C. Eisele who died in 1986. Joan was a graduate of Cedar Crest College, Class of 1946. She taught school for several years and was a secretary for 19 years for Ecolaire Corp in Easton (formerly Mosser Industries in Allentown), retiring in 1990. She was the daughter of the late John and Anna (Knauss) Fukan. Joan was a member of Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ, Allentown, a member of the Consistory and taught Sunday School.

Survivors: Daughters- Rebecca wife of Craig Kahle, Kathleen wife of the late Richard Snyder, Susan wife of Jordan Goldman; Son- James Eisele husband of Brigid; 8 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren; Sister- In- Law- Jane Eisele LaPour. She was predeceased by her sisters- Marjorie Hebhardt and Marilyn Long.

Services will be held Friday at 11AM in the Masoleum at Grandview Cemetery 2735 Walbert Ave Allentown, PA 18104. Arrangements care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

Contributions can be made in Joan’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.