Theodore P. Benner of Clearwater FL, formerly of Chalfont, PA, died on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at the age of 25.

Born in Rockville, MD, he was the beloved son of David J. and Kathleen “Cassie” R. McGinley Benner.

Ted was a graduate of Lansdale Catholic High School and attended University in Wisconsin. Ted was an accomplished musician of piano, saxophone, and bass. He was an exceptional artist, fond of black and white pencil sketches. Ted had a gentle heart with patience and a perceptive understanding of others.

He will forever be missed by his loving family. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother Alexander D. Benner, DDS, two sisters Julia C. Benner, Bridget M. Benner, his Paternal Grandmother Jane F. Benner and his Maternal Grandmother Kathryn Shaughnessy McGinley along with many dear aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Saturday, June 18^th at the Church of St. Andrew, 81 Swamp Rd. Newtown, PA 18940 from 11:00AM until his Funeral Mass 12:00Noon.  His interment will be held privately. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Comunita Cenacolo America, 1050 Talleyrand Avenue, Jacksonville FL 32206.

William Charles Kettelberger, a longtime resident of Southampton, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 10, 2016, with his loving family by his side at Abington Hospice at Warminster. He was 83 years old.

William was the beloved husband of Margaret Harbison Kettelberger. The two would have celebrated 57 years of marriage later this month.

Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late August and Ida Trautwein Kettelberger.

A graduate of Northeast Catholic High School, William went on to serve proudly with the United States Army during the Korean War before returning home and earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from LaSalle University.

He led a long career in manufacturing, and retired in the role of Utilization Parts Manager from Eaton Yale & Towne Inc. He and his wife were longtime residents of Southampton Bucks County and faithful parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church where he was a beloved C.C.D. teacher. He also was a past board member for Sears-Eaton Federal Credit Union.  

William coached softball for the Upper Southampton Girls Softball League, and was a sports enthusiast of all types, most especially his beloved Philadelphia teams. There was simply NOTHING that would stand between him and either watching or listening to every Phillies game. He was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a proud member of Camp Westdon in Laporte, PA, for 61 years.

Most of all, William was immeasurably proud of his family and treasured time spent with them, most especially their annual 4^th of July gathering. His legacy is rich, and he will be deeply missed.

In addition to his wife, William is survived by his children, Peggy Sharkus of Philadelphia; Kathleen Hill and her husband, Larry, of Lowell, OH; Barbara Giannini and her husband, Christopher, of Telford; William Kettelberger and his wife, Joyce Pitkin of Hainesport, NJ; Stephen Kettelberger and his wife, Lisa Thibault, of Newtown, and George Kettelberger and his wife, Ann Woods, of Buckingham. He also leaves behind 17 grandchildren, Stephanie, Danielle, Robert, Matthew, Zachary, Alyssa, Anthony, Christopher, Brooke, Melanie, Michael, Harry, Anna, Tessa, Louis, Audrey, and Maggie; and his great-grandchildren, Teagan and Addison.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, the late John Kettelberger.

Relatives and friends are invited to his viewings on Thursday, June 16, 2016 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd. (at Holland Rd.), Richboro, PA 18954, and on Friday, June 17, 2016 from 10:00 AM until his Funeral Mass 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 611 Knowles Ave. (at 2^nd Street Pike), Southampton, PA 18966. His interment will follow in St. Dominic Cemetery, Philadelphia.

In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Columbus, OH, 45250.

John P. “Jack” Finnegan, of Southampton, died on Friday, June 10, 2016, at Abington Hospice with his family by his side. He was 74.

He was the beloved husband of Barbara A. Reinke for 29 years.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Laurence Finnegan Sr. and Anne Breslin Finnegan and brother of the late Nancy Finnegan.

He graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School and preferred to be called Jack.  Jack served in the USAF from 1963 to 1967.   He worked at Warrington Twp. as a building inspector and retired the end of January 2015. 

In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by a daughter Sally Anne Schlotter and her husband Andrew of Doylestown, a son James Henry Blankenbiller and his wife Patricia of Hamilton, NJ, his sister Dorothy Wiley and her husband David of Langhorne, his brother Laurence Finnegan Jr. and his wife Geraldine of Ambler, and his sister Eileen Goldress and her husband William of Warminster.  He is also survived by his 7 grandchildren.

His family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, June 23, 2016 from 10:00 AM until his Memorial Mass 11:00 AM at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church, 1410 Almshouse Road, Jamison, PA 18929.  His interment will be held in Washington Crossing National Cemetery, at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002. www.alsphiladelphia.org

Austin James Loving, a loving son, brother and friend, passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 9, 2016, after a car accident. The longtime Doylestown resident was 21 years old.

Austin, who was born in Coopersburg, Pa. and attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Doyle Elementary, Lenape Middle School and graduated from Central Bucks West High School in 2014, attended Gwynedd Mercy University where he was completing general studies for his undergraduate degree.

He worked as a carpenter for his father’s business, Loving Home Improvements. A talented mechanic who enjoyed fixing trucks, particularly Powerstroke 7.3 diesel trucks, he loved riding motorcycles, four-wheelers and snowmobiles. Described as fun-loving, daring, and genuinely kind, Austin also enjoyed spending time at Lake Galena, the rope swing on the Delaware River and hanging out with family and friends.

He is survived by his parents, Brad and Karen Loving, his brother David, and his sister Kathryn, of Doylestown; his maternal grandparents, Mary Carol and Joseph Guckavan of Buckingham; his paternal grandparents, Patricia Gray and her husband, Robert, of North Ridgeville, OH and Laurie Barnett of Bluffton, SC. He also survived by several aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends who will deeply miss him. He was the paternal grandson of the late James Barnett.

Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family on Monday, June 13, 2016, from 9:30 AM until his Funeral Mass 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 235 E. State Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. His interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, 230 2^nd Avenue, Suite 200 Waltham, MA 02451 or https://concussionfoundation.org/give-online

Kathleen B. Baniewicz of Warrington, PA passed away on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at Doylestown Hospital. She was 73.

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she was the daughter of the late Joseph A. and Ethna Anne Smythe Maginn and sister of the late Kevin Maginn and Anthony Maginn.

Kathleen was a resident of Warrington for 47 years. Prior to her retirement in 2014, she had worked for over 25 years with the Central Bucks School District as a reading specialist and also as the Director of after School Programs. Kathleen was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority and in her leisure she enjoyed reading and traveling. She was extremely proud of her Irish heritage and often traveled to Ireland. Kathleen was one of the first families to immigrate to the United States traveling by air and had entered the country through John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. She will be truly missed by her family and by all who came to know her.

Kathleen is survived by her three children, Paul Baniewicz and Kathy of Richboro, PA, Maria E. Yavornitzki and her husband, Brian, of Pittstown, NJ, Brian M. Baniewicz and his wife, Amy, of Chalfont, her two brothers, James Maginn of Tinicum Township, PA, Joseph Maginn of Milford, NJ, and her three sisters, Pauline McCloskey of Rio Grande, NJ, Ann Maginn of Sellersville and Abby Maginn of Chantilly, VA. She is also survived by her 7 loving grandchildren, Maura, Natalie, Patrick, Henry, Teddy, Eleanor and Todd and her 4 great grandchildren Jeremey, Evan, Noah and Kayleigh.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Monday evening, June 13, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 241 East Butler Avenue (at Sandy Ridge Road), New Britain, PA 18901 and to her Funeral Mass on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 10:00 AM at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Euclid Avenue and Carriage Way, Warrington, PA 18976. Interment will take place at St. Andrew Cemetery, Newtown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Hemochromatosis Society, Suite 285- 7000 Minoru Blvd., Richmond, BC Canada V6Y 325.

Donald J. Weidman of Holland died peacefully on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at his home with his family by his side. He was 85.

Born in Philadelphia, was the beloved husband of 58 years to Barbara A. Plummer Weidman, he was the son of the late George and Rosella Miller Weidman and brother of the late Mae Elwell and Frederick Weidman.

Don was a resident of Holland for the past 33 years. He was a graduate of Northeast Catholic High School and was a proud veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Korean Conflict. Don spent his career as a service technician for office equipment. In 1982 Don became the co-owner of Independence Business Machines, located in Philadelphia and retired in 1994.

Don enjoyed spending time with his family at the beach, tending his tomato plants and yard, and taking his beloved Westies for walks.

In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Karen Weidman Gregory and her husband Paul, his sister Loretta Connelly as well as numerous well-loved nieces, nephews and their children.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Friday, June 10, 2016 from 11:00am until his Funeral Mass 12 noon at St. Bede the Venerable Church 1071 Holland Rd. Holland, PA 18966. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, Feasterville.

In lieu of flowers contributions in his memory may be made to the St. Bede the Venerable Church Capital Campaign Fund at the above address.

Ruth J. Palmer, beloved mother of six and loving wife of the late Theodore B. Palmer, 3^rd, died peacefully at her home at Pennswood Village, Newtown, PA on June 7, 2016. She was 89. Ruth was born in Philadelphia, PA, the daughter of Evan L. and Esther Ringland James. Ruth is survived by her six children, Carol P. Newburger, Huntingdon Valley, PA, Linda P. Danese and her husband Richard, New Hope, PA, James F. Palmer and his wife Georgene, Seaford DE, Jeffrey H. Palmer and his wife Trudy, Los Altos, CA, Steven L. Palmer and his wife Renee, Richmond, VA, and Thomas A. Palmer, Philadelphia PA. She is also survived by nine grandchildren- Benjamin A. Krick and his wife Alison, Emily K. Sales and her husband Pedro, Dory L. Newburger, Dana L. Huber and her husband Nick, Robert J. Palmer, Melissa R. Palmer, Donald L. Palmer and his wife Autumn, Ted P. Palmer, and Carolyn R. Palmer- and five great grandchildren, Cade and Trevor Krick, Owen and Gavin Sales, and Lucas Huber. She is also survived by her devoted companion of the last 8 years, Paul D. (Pete) Loser, Newtown, PA.

Ruth was a graduate of Lower Merion High School, in Ardmore, PA before attending the University of Pennsylvania. When she married her husband, Ted, she began a full life doing what she loved the most- raising her six children as a homemaker, traveling, and spending forty-eight summers at the family home she cherished so much in Beach Haven, NJ. She was the consummate hostess and accomplished at intricate knitting, sewing, and needlepoint. Additionally, she was a talented watercolorist with a delicate hand, painting many canvasses which were always signed “Ruthie”! She also fulfilled her goal of publishing her own cook book for family and friends in which all of the original art work was designed and painted by her. She called her keepsake cook book “My Promise”.

In her early years she was a member of the Junior Women’s Club of Springfield, Delaware County, where she enjoyed performing in the “Springfield Follies”. Then later, living for many years in Fort Washington, PA, she was an active member of the Ambler Presbyterian Church and served two terms as an Elder there before relocating to Bucks County almost 30 years ago. More recently she attended Thompson Memorial Church on a regular basis. She was a member of the Fan-Back Questers, the Countryside Gardeners, and she played in tennis groups both at home and at the shore. For years, she and her husband were members of the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club in Beach Haven, NJ. While serving as entertainment chairman at Little Egg, Ruth lent her hand to innovative table decorations with her keen eye for design. She was also a member of Doylestown Country Club. Upon Ted’s passing Ruth assumed his position on the Princeton University Advisory Board for the Class of 1947.

Ruth was “Mom” and “Grammy” to her family and was always involved and interested in everything they were doing. Her love for her family was unconditional and until the day she died she remained her children’s, grandchildren’s, and great grandchildren’s center of gravity. Her style and grace will never be forgotten.

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service and life celebration in Ruth’s honor on Friday June 17, 2016 at 12:00 noon at Doylestown Presbyterian Church, 127 E. Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ruth’s memory to the James A. Michener Art Museum, 138 Pine Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 or to the Long Beach Island Museum, P.O. Box 1222, Beach Haven, NJ 08008.

Norma E. Ezzo of Southampton, PA died peacefully on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at Neshaminy Manor, Doylestown, PA. She was 90.

She was the beloved wife of the late Salvatore J. Ezzo who predeceased her in 1995.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, she was the daughter of the late Justin and Emily Patterson Fitch.

Mrs. Ezzo is survived by her five children, David Lamond of Quakertown, PA, Anthony D. Ezzo of Southampton, PA, Marilyn D’Agostino and her husband, Stephen, of Huntingdon Valley, PA, Dominec Ezzo and his wife, Gertrude, of Hatboro, PA and Steven Ezzo of Hatboro, PA. She was the loving grandmother of Lisa & Scott Lamond and Matthew and Rachel D’Agostino. She is also survived by her 4 great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Memorial Mass on Friday, July 8, 2016, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Second Street Pike & Knowles Avenue, Southampton, PA 18966. Words of Remembrance will precede the Mass at 9:45 AM.

Interment was held privately at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA.

David H. Kemper of Chalfont (formerly of Richboro), passed away on June 6, 2016 at the Abramson Center for Jewish Life in Horsham. He was 87.

David was the beloved husband of the late Marian Jane Kemper and father of the late Susan H. Kemper –Tolins.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late David E. and Helen R. Shields Kemper.

David served proudly with the United States Coast Guard during World War II, and upon returning home, he finished his education. He led a long and successful career with Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) which later became BP Global. He began his career with the company, starting in the mail room, and finished it there when he retired as a corporate executive in 1986. He had the opportunity to travel the US extensively during his career and was so very proud of his successful journey with the company. Having a fondness for the game of baseball he assisted as a coach for the Warminster Boys Baseball Association (WBBA) during the mid-1960s. 

Upon retirement David’s focus shifted to being a full time caregiver for both his mother and his wife. To him this duty was of the utmost importance, and he spent much of his time caring for them.

When time allowed, David, a true history buff, enjoyed quenching his thirst for knowledge with reading, especially about the Civil War. He also was a talented water color painter and an avid Philadelphia sports fan. His interest in world affairs and the national political climate would always prompt a lively, well-informed conversation, even up until the end of his life.

David is survived by his children, David R. Kemper and his wife, Madeline, Robert W. Kemper and his wife, Robin, and Cheryl A. Starner and her husband, Michael. He also leaves behind his grandsons, Anthony M. and Christopher E. Starner; and his son-in-law, Andrew Tolins.

In addition to his wife and daughter, he was preceded in death by his former wife, Charlotte Mae (Eastburn) Palumbo.

Services and interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David’s memory to The National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 518, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or to the American Diabetes Association, One Plymouth Meeting, Suite 250, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.

Rita Grillone of Holland passed away on Monday, June 6, 2016 at her residence in Twining Village. She was 94 years old.

Rita was the beloved wife of the late Salvatore Grillone.

Born in Camden, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Angelo and Loretta Calise Monforte.

Rita Grillone was born (midwife assisted) on Tuesday, November 13^th, 1921, at 227 Stevens Street, in Camden, NJ. The proud parents were Loretta and Angelo Monforte, immigrants to the United States from Italy who arrived around 1900. Rita is the last child of 10 children (8 girls and 2 boys) – Victoria (Vee), Louisa, Joseph, Liberty (Lib), Anna, Louis, Mary, Carmella (Connie) and Helen.

Mom and her large family lived through the Great Depression of the 1930’s. She remembered sweet potato lunches with soup and stale bread dinners. Times were tough and she often went without shoes! Things got better when her older sisters began working. Rita loved to sing, and her sister Mary paid for voice lessons. At 10 years old, Mom sang June in January on the radio station WDAS. She later recorded that song and South of the Border in a public recording studio at 13^th and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia. A friend who accompanied her on the piano paid for the recordings. Rita also sang in shows where she had small parts and loved doing it. Her father was involved in the Democratic Party, and Mom sang on the campaign trucks that traveled through the streets singing “We are all for Roosevelt…” At 14 (lying about her age and needing to help her family), Mom started working at Campbell Soup Company during the summers. Usually working 12 and sometimes 16-hour days, her best pay week was when she took home $29! Rita went to Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, taking the commercial curriculum. She completed 10^th grade, but then had to quit school to care for her ailing mother. Her sister Anna opened up a “beauty shop” and salon at 8^th and Manning (near Spruce) Streets in Center City Philadelphia, and Mom worked there off and on during her teen years. She attended the Marie DeMedicus Beauty School at 10^th and Market Streets and passed the beautician test to become licensed at age 16. Rita began to work at other salons to gain experience and develop her skills. At 17, her mother went to live with her sister Louisa in Brooklyn, NYC. With only Mom, her father and her sister Connie living there, their now large home in Camden was sold. The three moved into an apartment in South Philadelphia on Ellsworth Street. A few years later her father bought a house nearby on Latona Street near Wharton, where she lived until she was married.

At 24 years old, in June 1945, Rita met her future husband, Salvatore (Sal), at the Earl Movie Theater in Center City at 11^th and Market Streets. One night she went to see the movie The Miracle Worker. While searching for a seat in the dark theater, someone said, “Sit here.” Rita sat next to a gentleman who was accompanied by three male friends. The man talked so much that Salvatore volunteered to sit in Rita’s seat, and she sat in his seat away from the “chatty” friend. The men left after the movie ended, but Rita coming late had only seen part of the movie and wanted to stay for another showing. Salvatore asked if he could wait for her. Rita said, “Yes.” After the movie, Rita and Sal went to nearby Linton’s Restaurant for coffee. While going home, they waited for the trolley together. It did not come, and Sal offered to walk her home. Outside her door, he asked to see her again, and Rita gave Sal her phone number. Sixteen months later they were married on October 13^th, 1946, one of the happiest moments in her life. The other “happiest moment” were the births of their children: son Gregory was born February 17^th, 1948 (wife Debbie Bruner, PhD.); followed by John on December 23^rd, 1950; Carol on April 28^th, 1952 (husband Jack Moffo and children Tara, Carolyn and Matthew) and Richard (Ricky) on January 21^st, 1958 (wife Michelle Niczyporowicz and children Melanie and Richard Jr). Mom and her family settled in a row home in South Philadelphia at 1706 S. 28^th Street. The family was Roman Catholic and joined St. Gabriel’s Parrish at 29^th and Dickinson Streets. The children attended Anthony Wayne Public Elementary School, across the street from their home. (It was convenient and the expense of Catholic School was out of the question for this family of 6.) As a mother to four and a part-time hairdresser in the basement of her home (to earn money to help the family), Mom settled in as a full-time housewife and homemaker.

Even with a busy family life, Rita found time to volunteer. Mom started volunteering at the free City Health Center at Broad and Morris Streets. Also, at her sister Anna’s beauty salon there was a young adult customer, Minerva Kuntz, who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). After the salon closed, she traveled weekly to Mrs. Kuntz’s home at 8^th and Spruce Streets to do her hair. Subsequently, Rita became involved with the MS cause too. For many years, she did volunteer work with MS that included feeding the severely afflicted MS patients at the University Of Pennsylvania Hospital (HUP) at 34^th and Spruce Streets.

In 1965, Rita and her family moved to a new 3-bedroom row home in Far Northeast Philadelphia, on Fairdale Road. Not yet having sold their home in South Philadelphia and subsequently needing to pay two mortgages, once again, times were tough. Mom continued to do hair on the side and also got a full-time job at a local clothing factory called Queen Casuals, where she did piecework as a trimmer. She worked long, grueling hours and took care of her family. During this time, Rita also experienced another “happiest moment” in her life. Mom never finished High School. Yet, she felt that just taking the GED was not good enough and wanted to finish her final 2 years of high school in a real setting. From age 47 to 51, she found the strength and determination to finish high school and get her diploma. She graduated from Northeast Evening High School in June 1972. The graduation ceremony was at Benjamin Franklin High School, at Broad and Spring Garden Streets, and Sal (Dad) wished Mom well with dozen red roses that day.

The following year, tough times struck again. On the 4^th of July after a picnic in the backyards of all of her neighbors, Rita, only 52, lost her Salvatore (62 years). He died of a massive heart attack at Nazareth Hospital. She was angry with God and the doctors, yet still knew that she needed to accept what life had dealt her and that she must now get a job with better pay and benefits. It was then that she decided to take a job with the City of Philadelphia and became a records clerk at the Riverview Nursing Home in Northeast Philly. Working with the elderly and the sick at Riverview helped Mom overcome the anger of her loss and “move on” with her life. During this time she also worked with Voter Registration in the neighborhood.

While working at the nursing home, the beautician at Riverview was off on an extended leave due to a tragedy in her family, leaving the sick and elderly without one of the few pleasures that they still had in life. Rita decided that after she finished her clerical work in the morning that she would put her beautician skills to good use in Riverview’s Beauty Salon in the afternoon. Her bosses offered to compensate her with out-of-class pay. However, in her spirit of caring for others and her instinctively selfless motivation, Rita performed both jobs and turned down the offer. During the Christmas holiday season, the elderly residents were scheduled to travel to a dinner show. A bit overwhelmed by the 30 or so “heads” to do for that special event, Rita asked her daughter Carol (also a licensed beautician) to help out. They were able to complete the job, and all the residents were “decked out” for the holidays. Rita later received a beautiful commendation from Riverview.

During this time, Rita also decided to join the Feasterville, PA, Chapter of To Live Again (TLA), an organization that provides support for widowed men and women. Rita served as vice-president once and president 2 times and remained a member. With TLA she traveled to many places: Italy, Spain, France, Alaska, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Branson (Missouri), Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Florida and all five of the Great Lakes. Rita retired from the City’s employ at the age of 66, and continuing to keep active, joined the Franklin Mills Milers where she walked daily for six years from 1989 to 1995.

After realizing that her days of climbing three stories of her home on Fairdale Road were numbered and finding herself living alone in a big house, in 2000, Rita moved to Ivy Greene, a “plus 55 community,” and into a beautiful townhouse on Grandview Drive, Ivyland, PA. Once again, Mom felt the need to volunteer her time. With her neighbors, she made pillows and stuffed animals for children with cancer. She also found the time to volunteer at the nearby Warminster Hospital by assisting with the medical record keeping in the Physical Rehabilitation Unit. When that extensive job was completed, Rita then volunteered to work at the Gift Shop on Friday afternoons. Eventually Warminster Hospital was acquired by Abington Hospital. She wanted to continue to volunteer. However Abington administrators required that all volunteers pay $18 for a smock. After considering that she would give her time and also purchase gasoline to travel there, the usually feisty and now righteously indignant Rita refused to pay to volunteer with Abington Hospital!

Mom also loved to read and watch old movies. She played cards with her dear friends a couple times a week, did water exercises 2-3 times a week and occasionally met up with friends at Ivy Greene for games of Scrabble and bowling (Wii). During the last 40 years of “off and on memberships”, Rita loved Weight Watchers’ Meetings on Saturdays at a nearby shopping center. After family dinners and get-togethers, she also loved to play friendly games of poker with her 4 children, 5 grandchildren, other family members and friends. With her intrinsic friendliness and kindness that she offered to all she meets, Mom throughout the years made many loving and long-lasting friendships!

With her health failing and no longer able to drive and care for herself independently, Mom moved from Ivy Greene to Twining Village Manor (assisted living) in Holland (PA) a few years ago. There she made many friends with residents, nurses, aides and recreation and dining room staff. Mom loved to play and teach card games to other “residents”. She also loved bingo and attending other events at Twining. Mom bowled for many years, but at this delicate late age, she was relegated to play Wii Bowling. She usually played twice a week on Monday nights and Wednesday afternoons. She bowled over 200 many times and made unbelievable splits. (I was there and saw it!) Even when her right hand was recuperating from surgery from a middle finger infection (due to unsterilized utensils at a nail salon), Mom bowled with her left hand and had high scores!

In the last few months, Mom’s health began to fail. She was on oxygen 24 hours a day from a heart condition and weakened by other ailments. My siblings saw Mom having good days and bad days. All of this was unpredictable. Yet Mom continued to “weather the storm” until the storm overwhelmed her. She passed on Monday, June 6^th, 2016 at 5:15PM with her family nearby. People say, “She’s in a better place now”. However, Mom always made the world a better place and touched everyone she met: loving, caring, and yes, feisty till the end.

This past Mother’s Day, Mom received a heartfelt and beautiful card. It reads:

“Mom, you’re never one

to ask for much.

You give and give,

and then when it comes time

to spoil you a little,

you tell everyone you

already have all you need.

But even if that’s true,

you still need to hear

what a wonderful woman you are –

a woman who’s been

an endless source of

love and inspiration

through the years…

And even though it could

never equal all you’ve done,

you have every bit

of love and gratitude

I have to give.

You always will.”

Surviving are her children, Gregory Grillone and his wife, Debra Bruner of Norwood, PA, John Grillone of Philadelphia, PA, Carol Moffo and her husband, John, of Philadelphia, PA, and Richard Grillone and his wife, Michelle, of Southampton, PA. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Tara Shuck and her husband, Brian, Carolyn Millard and her husband, Kenneth, Matthew Moffo, Melanie Grillone, and Richard M. Grillone. Rita also was eagerly anticipating her first great-grandchild due in October.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by nine siblings.

Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family on Sunday, June 12, 2016, from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd., Richboro, PA 18954 and on Monday, June 13, 2016, from 9:00 AM until her Funeral Mass 10:00 AM at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Rd., Holland, PA 18966. Her interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Aid For Friends, 12271 Townsend Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19154.