Whitehall-Coplay Press

Leona I. Garrity, 86, of Whitehall, died Nov. 14, 2018, in her home. She was the wife of William J. Garrity for 67 years.

Born in Glasco, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Louis and Josephine Ferraro.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Richard and his wife Mary of Boynton Beach, Fla.; three daughters, Catherine of Whitehall, Leona of Macungie and Susan and her husband Ed DeSmet of Bethlehem; eight grandchildren, Catherine Garrity, Kevin and his wife Jenna Garrity, Kristen Garrity, Leah Duffy, Julie Duffy, Billy DeSmet, Sean DeSmet and Sophia DeSmet.

Dorothy “Dot” J. Brensinger, 76, of Walnutport, died Nov. 14, 2018. She was the wife of Donald B. Brensinger for 53 years.

Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late George and Lillian (Ward) Lindenmuth.

She was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Indianland.

She was a receptionist and assembler at Gebhardt Bowling Supply, Allentown, for more than 20 years.

Margaret M. Yellen, 85, of Coplay, died Nov. 16, 2018, at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hospice-Cedar Crest. She was the wife of the late James D. Yellen Sr.

Born in Coplay, she was a daughter of the late Stephen and Mary (Steltzer) Gasper.

She was a clerk at the former Laneco, Coplay, for 29 years before she retired in 1993. She then worked at Growing Tree Nursery, Whitehall, for 18 years.

She was a member of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, Coplay, and of the church’s Altar and Rosary Society.

Stella A. Kristofits, 100, formerly of Stiles, died Nov. 16, 2018, at Lehigh Valley Hospice, Allentown. She was the wife of the late John A. Kristofits.

Born in Stiles, she was a daughter of the late Stephen and Theresa (Magdits) Csencsits.

She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Stiles.

She is survived by two sons, John S. and his wife Anna and William; a daughter, Joanne; two grandchildren, John and Christine; five great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Christopher S. Pirog, 60, formerly of Allentown, died Nov. 10, 2018.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Stanley and Dora (Schirmacher) Pirog.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapshooting.

He is survived by two uncles, William and his wife Margaret Schirmacher of Whitehall and Gerald and his wife Doris Schirmacher of Whitehall; three aunts, Marie Markowitz of Whitehall, Nancy and her husband Andrew Krasulak of Allentown and Elizabeth Schirmacher of Whitehall; and three cousins, Gerald Jr., William Jr. and Veronica.

Services will be private.

Susanna “Sue” Fandl, 96, of Northampton, died Nov. 8, 2018. She was the wife of the late John Fandl for 67 years.

Born in Northampton, she was a daughter of the late John and Katie (Schwab) Seier.

He was a lifelong member of Queenship of Mary Catholic Church, Northampton.

She was a member of the Catholic War Veterans Post 454, Northampton.

She is survived by family members, Bryan Beale, Tara Wentz, Hilda Beale and Trevor and Austin Wentz, all of Northampton; a niece, Christine Orowitz of Kentucky; a sister, Helen Klucharich of Coplay; nieces; and nephews.

Joanne M. (Koch) Fisher, 86, and John O. “Jack” Fisher, 91, of Salisbury Township, died from a motor vehicle accident in Lehigh Township. Joanne died Nov. 8 on the scene, and Jack died Nov. 9 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. They shared 55 years of marriage.

Joanne was born in Fountain Hill and was the daughter of the late G. Joseph and Edna (Benfer) Koch. She was a graduate of Allentown High School. She worked as a secretary for Attorney Carl Hessinger for 52 years and was also a secretary for St. Mark’s United Church of Christ for many years.

Steven P. Bankich, 58, of Northampton, died Nov. 4, 2018, at his home. He was the husband of the late Denise Jones-Bankich.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was a son of Connie M. and the late James Haggerty of Bath.

He worked in shipping and food distribution for Borhor Corporation, New Jersey.

He attended both Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Bath, and St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Berlinsville.

Goldie B. Seifert, 86, of Northampton, died Nov. 10, 2018, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Allentown. She was the wife of the late Harry S. Seifert.

Born in Northampton, she was a daughter of the late John Barczy and the late Helen (Teplan) Barczy.

She was a graduate of Northampton Area Senior High School.

She was a layout operator for 21 years at the former Lucent Technologies, Allentown, before retiring in 1988.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Northampton.

Eleanore A. Scherr, 83, of Northampton, died Nov. 4, 2018, at Sacred Heart Senior Living, Northampton. She was the wife of the late William Scherr.

Born in Northampton, she was a daughter of the late John and Gisela (Bauer) Pail.

She was a 1952 graduate of Northampton High School.

She worked at the Federal Savings and Loan for several years. She assisted her husband at the family park and shop. She retired from Day Timers after 13 years of working in customer service.

She was a member of Queenship of Mary Church, Northampton.