Cassandra Jean “Sandi” Lafferty Brucker, of Philadelphia, died on Sunday, February 25, 2018. She was 41.

Born in Philadelphia, she was a loving daughter to Roger and Helen Kenny Lafferty of North Wales.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her three children; Robyn E. Brucker, Brandon Brucker, and Sydni Smith, her 2 brothers Michael Lafferty of Naples, FL and Lt. Col. John Hanson of Ft. Bragg, NC, and a sister Loriann Meister and her husband Sean of Pocono Lake, PA.  

Her family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 from 10:00 AM until her Funeral Service 10:30 AM at Chalfont United Methodist Church, 11 Meadowbrook Lane, Chalfont, PA 18914.  Her interment will be held privately.

Conrad was a recorded Gospel artist, as well as an accomplished singer, composer, arranger and devoted member of the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church music ministry.

Born in Little Rock, AR, Conrad was the son of the late Clarence Conrad Miller Sr. and Dr. Bernice Beatrice Jaudon Miller and father of the late Lauren Elizabeth Denise Miller.

As a young child, Conrad’s parents moved to Grambling, LA in order to work as English professors at Grambling College, now known as Grambling University.

Very early on, Conrad discovered his love for music, taking piano lessons at the age of five. He shared his singing gift by participating in the children’s choir at Lewis Temple CME Church.

He attended Grambling Elementary Laboratory School where Conrad made many lifelong friends. As a teenager, Conrad left the close-knit Grambling community to attend high school at St. Joseph’s Military Academy in Kansas. There, Conrad thrived in sports, playing both varsity football, basketball and singing in the choir.

In high school, Conrad along with his brother Doug, experienced local fame as members of their high school band, Soulful Seven. The band was a two-time winner of the All-American College Show and later was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. They also had a brief contract with MGM records. Although Conrad was heavily involved in extra-curricular activities, Conrad took his studies very seriously.

All of his hard work paid off as Conrad graduated valedictorian, the first African-American at his school to achieve that accomplishment.

Conrad attended Louisiana Tech College in Ruston, LA transferring after his freshman year to Fort Hays Kansas State University studying Voice.

Conrad perfected his singing gift at the University of Michigan graduate school majoring in Music Performance, Voice and Opera where he received his Master’s Degree. He travelled the world, singing at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and in Europe.

As an avid Michigan sports fan, Conrad rarely missed watching a game. It didn’t matter if it was basketball, football or softball, Conrad loved cheering for his alma mater’s team, all while wearing maize and blue clothing, complete with a signature “M”.

As an R&B songwriter, one of his songs, “Carla, My Love”, a ‘70s Baltimore area hit, was recorded by the nationally-known group, The SofTones.  

Conrad began his professional career as a sales representative for Ortho Pharmaceutical, a Johnson & Johnson Company. After a successful stint in that job, he was promoted to Division manager for the Chicago Division. While Conrad enjoyed success and experience in sales and sales management, his passion was in marketing. He was promoted to a marketing position as a product manager in Ortho’s gynecological therapeutics group. He was again promoted to Product Director where he successfully launched three new products and helped Ortho maintain a leadership position in the category. He was later promoted to Senior Product Director for gynecological therapeutics where he worked until he was offered another opportunity outside of Johnson & Johnson.

While Conrad thrived at work, he always made sure to serve the Lord. Conrad devoted his life by using his God-given talents to serve the gospel Music Ministry at Church.  At Second Baptist Church of Doylestown, Conrad sang with the Back Bench Boys. He later formed the gospel group ReBorn who sang “So Good” on his third album.

In 2009, Conrad released his debut project, My Journey.  His music inspired countless fans nationwide with singles from the album including “Amazing,” “Breathe On Me,” and the favorite “Momma Prayed For Me.” Conrad’s tunes were heard on hundreds of Gospel radio stations nationally.  In 2013, his second inspirational CD, Keep Pressing, was produced by Grammy, Steller and Dove Award Winner Steven Ford. The lead single, “I Need You” broke the Top 100 on both the BDS and Mediabase charts, two of the most popular charts in the gospel music industry. 

Conrad released his third album Thankful in January 2016. Thankful was produced by Luther Wardlaw (of the Wardlaw Brothers), Garland “Miche” Waller (John P. Kee, Enon Tabernacle), and Stellar Award-winning songwriter/singer Earl Bynum. Conrad established himself as the Distinguished Voice of Traditional Gospel Music. His Thankful album has generated a steady stream of radio hits including the high spirited single “Caught Up” and churchy single “So, Let Us Praise The Lord”. Conrad’s “So Good” single, a quartet infused track, was produced by and also features Garland “Miche” Waller. In 2017 Conrad had a Music Award Winning Streak garnering both a 2017 Voices of Gospel Music Award and a 2017 Prayze Factor Music Award Wins.

Conrad Miller Wins 2017 Voices of Gospel Music Award For “Male Artist of the Year and 2017 Prayze Factor Award For Traditional Solo Artist of the Year.

He was the beloved husband of Carla Stinnette-Miller.

In addition to his loving wife, Conrad is survived by his adored son Andrew Clarence Miller of Jamison, PA, his three step-daughters Adrienne, Alicia & Anita Sheares of Chalfont, PA, his two brothers Edward Douglass Miller, Doug (Cynthia) of Virginia Beach, VA, Timothy Everett Miller, Tim of Delaware, his sister Jocelyn Denise Webb (Keith) of Delaware. He is also survived his niece Alexa Webb and nephew Drew Webb.

Friends are invited to attend his viewing on Monday, March 12, 2018 from 9:00 AM until his Funeral Service 10:00 AM at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 230 West Coulter Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Conrad’s memory may be made to: Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, HBCU-Scholarship Fund, 2800 West Cheltenham Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19150 Attn: Scholarship Committee in the memo section-Conrad Miller Memorial Scholarship.

Michael S. Ballasy, of Holland, died peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2018 at home, surrounded by his family. He was 90 years old.

He was the loving husband of Rosina E. Hutzel Ballasy, for 62 years.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late Mathias and Appolonia Rohrbacher Ballasy. Michael had a love for music, enjoyed playing drums, and was a passionate fan of the Flyers and the Eagles. He was a lifelong member of the United German Hungarian Club in Philadelphia and in Oakford, and a longtime disc jockey for WRDV-FM in Hatboro.

 In addition to his wife Rose, Michael is survived by his sons and their wives, Michael W. Ballasy, Frank Ballasy (Karen) and Stephen P. Ballasy (Joyce); his granddaughters, Marissa Bayers (Michael) and Sara Ballasy; his grandsons Anthony and Danny Milillo; his nephews, Paul and Joseph Ballasy; and his nieces Irene Shetzline and Evie Nixon.

 Relatives and friends are invited to greet Michael’s family from 10:00am, until the start of his Funeral Mass, 11:00am on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Rd., Holland, PA 18966. His interment will be held privately, at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fox Chase Cancer Center; Office of Institutional Advancement, 333 Cottman Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19111.

Carol M. Larson of Churchville passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at her home with her loving husband by her side following a brief illness.  She was 68.

Carol was the beloved wife of 18 years to Ronald K. Larson.

Born in Philadelphia, Carol was the daughter of the late Albert Smedburg and Ida Smedburg. She was raised and spent most of her life in Churchville, Bucks County.  In addition to her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her brother Alan Smedburg.

A graduate of Council Rock High School, Carol went on to lead a long career ultimately specializing in Computer Software Training.  She held various roles over the years including having worked for Lenox Corp. and training local underprivileged Bucks County residents on how to use computers.  She then became an independent consultant, travelling all over the United States and internationally on behalf of various corporate clients to train their employees on using new and customized software.  Her consulting subsequently led to her most recent position as Director of Special IT Projects with a company and people she loved at Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman, & Goggin Law Firm in Philadelphia.

Additionally Carol enjoyed travelling, golfing, horseback riding, and going to the movies.

In the fall of 2012 Carol endured what many would consider a major setback, suffering a major cerebral stroke.  Although medical professionals didn’t think she would ever fully recover, Carol’s perseverance and courage proved them wrong and she was able to get back to doing many of the things she had done before. 

Her memory will be forever treasured by all those who loved her.

In addition to her husband Carol also leaves behind his children, Kevin Larson and his wife, Dawn, of South Orange, NJ and Michelle Larson and her wife, Jessica, of Houston, TX; Kevin and Dawn’s children, Max and Flynn Larson; her nephews, Alan and Daniel Smedburg and their families and her niece Lynn Chase and her family.

Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family on Monday, February 26, 2018 from 10:00 AM until her Memorial Service 11:00 AM at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd. (at Holland Rd.), Richboro, PA 18954.  Her interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, 1626 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Eleanor Stommel Waldron of Doylestown passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at Doylestown Hospital.  She was 89.

Eleanor was active within the Wesley Enhanced Living community and will be remembered there for her quick wit and social nature.

Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends will carry on with fond memories of long walks and good talks.

She was fond of the birds, and joins her late husband and son overlooked by the white swan.

Services and interment will be private.  

Frank Pellicone passed away tragically on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, in Delray Beach, Florida. He was 69.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the husband to Ina Brookstein Pellicone, and son to the late Frank and Grace Tomeo Pellicone.

Frank was a man’s man. His passions were “Tuesday Nights with Frank”, his Tuesday evening tennis league at Northampton Tennis and Fitness Center in Richboro, Pa for 35 years, in which he was the captain until last year when an injury shut down his playing.   He woke up every morning to his fresh squeezed orange juice, the crossword puzzle and a Sudoka puzzle.  His over-the-top love and passion was the era of the beginning days through the Doo Wop music era.  Everyday, for at least 25 years, he sent 2 songs out a day out to his own doo wop site, consisting of hundred listeners and during the Christmas Holiday he did religiously his 12 day countdown to Christmas with hard to find doo wop groups.  His passion arose from owning a chain of record stores called “Sound Odyssey” back in the 70-80’s with Don Weiss, himself and 2 other partners.  Those were Frank’s days of pure love and passion.  He was in his true element. MUSIC. 

In the commercial real estate development side of his next career, he developed over 400 retail stores for large, well known retailers. He was VP of Blockbuster’s real estate development. Also for Rita’s Water Ice, Dollar General and he excelled for Dunkin Donuts putting up more stores EVER in one year, than anyone else ever did preceding him.  He was a true gentleman to do business with in his commercial real estate career of 25 years.  He loved every moment.
He adored his family, friends, doo wop music and tennis, and he loved to cook and loved to eat. A true Italian man.  He watched cooking shows non stop and he followed the life and death of our president John F Kennedy with strong interest.  As well as politics and aliens. 

You were taken too early Frank and had too many health conditions from the Vietnam War, and Agent Orange. He rose fast to a Staff Sergeant in the Army and he was decorated with 3 bronze stars.  

In addition to his wife, Frank is survived by his daughter: Nicole Andre and her husband David, his 3 grandchildren; Vienna, Bohdan, and Milena Andre; his step daughter Brooke and her husband Yisrael, their 4 children, Orli, Sophia, Eli and Rosy, as well as his brothers Edward Pellicone and Robert Pellicone, and many nieces and nephews.

Frank’s graveside service with Military Honors will take place on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 2:00PM at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, PA 18940. (A car procession will form outside the Washington Crossing National Cemetery’s Administrative Building at 1:45PM.)

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Frank’s name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Peace Frank.   Rest in Peace 

Audrey J. Tucker of Washington Crossing, PA died peacefully on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at St. Mary Medical Center. She was 73.

Audrey was the beloved wife of Thomas N. Tucker for 47 years.

Born in Sycamore, IL and raised in Easton, PA, she was the daughter of the late Morton and Betty Kotzen Sobel.  She received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Louisville and a master’s degree in social work from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Audrey’s career was dedicated to the service of the community.  Audrey was affiliated with Family Service of Bucks County for over 40 years, serving as its CEO since 1987.  In that role, she managed the growth and development of the agency, which now serves nearly 26,000 Bucks County residents annually from multiple locations throughout the county. 

Audrey was a visionary in identifying needs in the County and developing programs to meet those needs.  Among her signature accomplishments include Family Service becoming licensed as a drug and alcohol treatment facility in 1987 and as a mental health outpatient treatment facility in 1997. Its success in these areas was highlighted by the agency’s selection by the State of Pennsylvania as an Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence (COE) in 2016.  Audrey also co-chaired the COE Community Advisory Board. 

Audrey had a relentless passion for her work.  Through her efforts and leadership, she helped launch many initiatives, including Project HOPE and Caring Families, innovative child abuse prevention programs.  She established the Bucks County Family Center in 1995 to serve Bristol Borough residents and expanded it to serve the entire County twelve years ago.  Through her participation on the Bucks County Health Improvement Project, Audrey was instrumental in developing a Teen Center in 1997 to provide services to adolescents in Bucks County.  In addition, Audrey led two recent mergers which led to the Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter and the Contact Helpline/Suicide Prevention Lifeline becoming Family Service programs.  Under her leadership, in 2006, Family Service moved into a new headquarters allowing the agency to increase its support to families in the community.

Valued for her expertise in the area of HIV/AIDS, Audrey was elected to serve on the National Task Force on AIDS by Family Service America.  She was appointed to the Philadelphia AIDS Consortium by the Bucks County Commissioners and served as its Co-President.  She established Bucks Villa to serve those affected by AIDS.  A 1996 decision by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania in Eichlin v. Zoning Board of New Hope Borough, relied heavily on Audrey’s “credible testimony and expert opinions” in affirming the grant of a zoning permit to Bucks Villa.

Audrey was a leader in other organizations serving on various Boards of Directors:  Contact of Greater Philadelphia, Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership, and previously the Board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center.  She was Co-Chair of the Bucks County Family Center’s Board of Directors.    

Audrey enjoyed listening to classical music; reading; discussing politics; spending time at her family’s Ocean City, Maryland condominium; and cooking, especially with her daughter and oldest grandson.  

In addition to her husband Tom, Audrey is survived by her loving children: Darren Tucker and his wife Anne of Bethesda, MD and Megan Tucker of Los Angeles, CA.  She is also survived by her two dear grandsons Andrew and Ethan, her brothers Lawrence Sobel (Marylee) and Jesse Lambert (Gloria), her sister Amy Weis (Mark), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewings on Thursday, February 22 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM and on Friday, February 23 from 9:30AM until her Funeral Service 10:30AM in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home 800 Newtown–Richboro Rd. (at Holland Rd.) Richboro, PA 18954.   Interment will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Family Service Association of Bucks County at www.fsabc.org/donate/.

Loretta M. Dudek of Holland died on Monday, February 19, 2018 surrounded by her loving family at Chandler Hall Hospice in Newtown. She was 76.

Loretta  was the beloved wife of the late Richard J. Dudek Sr. for 53 years.

Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Emil and Loretta Ann Lynch Stefanik. Shortly after being born Loretta moved to Oakford, Pa and enjoyed a happy childhood.

Mrs. Dudek was a resident of Holland for the past 40 years.  She graduated from St. Hubert’s in 1959.  Her first job was at Blaisdell Pencil Company located on Byberry Road. She had a rewarding career as an International Sales Manager with Cabot Medical in Langhorne. Her favorite

hobbies were gardening and caring for her pets.

  Being family oriented she always enjoyed the special times spent on her back porch with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She will be sadly missed as a devoted  mother, grandmother and great grandmother. 

Loretta is survived by her three children, Loretta-Jo Menzen and her husband, David, of Germantown, MD, Colleen Forman and her husband, Jeffrey, of Richboro  and Richard J. Dudek Jr. and Kim Valentin of Holland. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren, Danielle Kelly, Stephanie McBurnett, Ciara Forbes, Emily Menzen, Anthony Forman, David Menzen Jr., Nicholas J. Dudek, Cailyn T. Dudek, and her great grandchildren, Keira, Conor, Harper, Brendan, Eden, Charlotte. Eleanor, Annabelle and Vivian and her brothers and sisters, Francis Stefanik of Perkiomenville, James Stefanik of Maple Shade, NJ, Marilyn Capobianco of Hulmeville, and Patricia Cousino of Houston, TX.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing from 10:30am until her Funeral Mass 12:00pm on Friday, February 23^rd at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Road, Holland, PA 18966.  Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5^th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851.          

Elsie Pollino, of Chalfont, died peacefully Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 in Willows Hospice Care at Pine Run Health Center, surrounded by her family. She was 79 years old.

After a 6-year battle, she has now found peace and been reunited with her late husband, John Pollino.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, Elsie was the daughter of the late Frederick Joseph Hack and Elsie Bullock Hack. Elsie worked for GMAC in Philadelphia for over 37 years. After retiring, she worked for several retail stores. As each went out of business, she became know as “Elsie the Ax”. She laughed about being unemployed; but with each defunct business came new friends. She later volunteered in the gift shop at Doylestown Hospital, which gave her immense pleasure. Elsie was truly a force of nature with her quick wit and even quicker tongue. However, she had a heart of gold and would move heaven and earth for those she loved. She left an indelible mark on those who know her.

She will be sadly missed by her daughter, Barbara Pollino (Arran MacKinnon), her brother, Frederick Hack (Eleanor), her nieces, Tracey Hack and Christine Hack, great granddaughter, Hannah Elizabeth, cousin, John Donaghy (Edna) and many other special extended family members. Elsie was privileged to have the love and support of many friends who were always there for her and made her final months a bit easier.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 9:00AM until the time of her Time of Remembrance, 10:00AM, at the Joseph A. Fluehr, III Funeral Home, 241 E. Butler Ave. (at Sandy Ridge Rd.) New Britain, PA 18901. Elsie’s interment will follow at George Washington Memorial Park in Plymouth Meeting, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Doylestown Hospital; Doylestown Health Foundation, 595 W. State St. Doylestown, PA 18901.

Edgar B. Rodgers, Jr. of Holland, PA died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, February 18^th at Abington Memorial Hospital.  He was 73.

Ed was the beloved husband of 49 years to Lydia McGovern Rodgers. 

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Edgar B. and Anne Campbell Rodgers.

In addition to his wife, Lydia, Ed is survived by his loving children: Julie Palmer and her husband Michael of Boynton Beach, FL, Edward Rodgers and his wife Nancy of Centennial, CO, and Sarah Caramanno and her fiancé Walter Layer his brother John Rodgers and his wife Glenda of North Wildwood, NJ, and two sisters.  He is also survived by his 4 grandchildren Jake and Thomas Caramanno and Henry and Maggie Rodgers, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewings on Friday, February 23, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 800 Newtown-Richboro Rd. (at Holland Rd.), Richboro, 18954 and on Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 9:30 AM until his Funeral Mass 11:00AM all in St. Bede the Venerable Church, 1071 Holland Rd., Holland, PA 18966.  His interment will follow in Whitemarsh Memorial Park in Ambler, PA.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Travis Manion Foundation, 164 East State St. Doylestown, PA 18901.