Janice A. (Kirkpatrick) Gurgick, 89, of Nazareth, passed away May 12, 2025. She was the loving wife of the late Thomas Steven Gurgick Sr. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Telford and Laurene (Hoffman) Kirkpatrick. Janice was a graduate of Allentown High School and attended Northampton Community College. She retired from AT&T and Lucent Tech. after many years of service. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church, the Red Hat Society and AARP Local # 3915. Janice enjoyed doing ceramics, traveling, playing Bingo, baking and most of all attending her grandchildren’s sporting events. Janice had volunteered for 26 years at Gracedale Nursing Home in Nazareth. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: children- Sherry Makuta of Allentown, Jane Miller and husband Dennis of Bethlehem, Thomas Gurgick Jr. and wife Marie of Nazareth; grandchildren- Laurie, Daniel, Dana, Brad, Tiffany, Gina, Stephanie, Thomas III; 5 great grandsons; sister- Donna Sook of Bethlehem; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter- Barbara Wells, sister- Kathleen Kuntz, brother- Dale Kirkpatrick and companion- Frank Holena.
A viewing will be held Monday, May 19th 9-10:30AM in Kohut Funeral Home, Inc. 950 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 11AM in St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church 924 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. Burial to follow in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem.
Donations can be made in Janice’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the National Parkinson Foundation care of Kohut Funeral Home, Inc.
James DeWalt
James R. DeWalt, 78 years old, of Bethlehem, passed away peacefully on May 10th at home with his family by his side. He was born December 1, 1946 in Allentown, son of the late Anna (Cavallin) DeWalt and the late William DeWalt. Jimmy was married to his loving wife, Elizabeth (Kruk) DeWalt for 47 years. He was a 1964 graduate of Louis E. Dieruff High School. Jimmy was an ironworker for 34 years, a past president, vice president, and executive board member of Ironworkers Local 36. Family was important to Jimmy and he cherished being with them. He enjoyed golfing, reading, and spending the winter months in Florida. Jimmy will be lovingly remembered for his positive outlook on life.
Jimmy will be dearly missed by his wife, Elizabeth; son, Todd; mother-in-law, Justyna Kruk; brothers, Thomas DeWalt and wife Stella, Robert DeWalt and wife Susan, Daniel DeWalt and wife Jane; brother-in-law, Edward Kruk; sister-in-laws, Christine Kruk and partner Dean, Caroline Bobyak and husband Michael, Sharon Kruk; loving nieces and nephews, Rachel, Victoria, Olivia, Lauren, Annie, Elizabeth, William and Jason; seven great nieces and great nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his father-in-law Stanley Kruk and brother-in-law Richard Kruk.
Calling Hours will be held on Friday, May 16th 10AM-12PM with a Christian Mass to follow at 12PM all in St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church 924 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102.
Memorial contributions can be made to the church or to St. Luke’s Hospital- Sacred Heart Cancer Center care of Kohut Funeral Home, Inc.
Margaret Braun
Margaret Rose (Stano) Braun, 85, of Whitehall and formerly of Quakertown, passed away April 24, 2025. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Hilda (Goldschmidt) Stano. Margaret graduated from Allentown Central Catholic High School in 1957 and then from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Reading. She was a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church. When she was younger, she had played the organ for the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church. Margaret was very dedicated to her profession of Nursing and spent her time caring for her family as needed. But above all she treasured her time with her grandchildren. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: son- Kurt and wife Linda Braun, grandchildren- Matthew and Angela, nieces- Carol Poplawski, Nadine Martinez and Donna Weaver, nephew- Mark Glose. She was predeceased by her sisters- Dolores Stano and Dorothy Mae Martinez and nephew- Robert Glose.
A calling time will be held Thursday, May 8th 9-10AM with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10AM all in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church 618 Fullerton Ave Whitehall, PA 18052. Inurnment to follow in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Whitehall. Arrangements are entrusted to Kohut Funeral Home, Inc.
Barbara Fernandes
Barbara Ann (Hessinger) Fernandes, 85, of Allentown, passed away April 1, 2025. She was the loving wife of the late Joseph J. Fernandes Sr. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Patrick Richard and Rita T. (Obereker) Hessinger. Barbara enjoyed antiquing and traveling. She was a wonderful mother and Oma to all. She loved to paint and she loved animals. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: children- Joseph J. Fernandes Jr. and wife Debra, Christian Fernandes and wife Stephanie, Maria Myers and husband John; grandchildren- Joseph Fernandes III, Deolinda Myers, John Myers Jr., Madolyn Fernandes, Christian Fernandes Jr.; great grandchildren- Auriella Jade Holman and Jameson Hubich; niece- Lisa-Jon Lepeta; nephews- Joseph Lepeta II, Chad Cope and Luke Hessinger; brother- Richard Hessinger and wife Susan; beloved Parrot- Bojangles. She was predeceased by her granddaughter- Jaimie-Jo Fernandes and sister- Mary Elizabeth Hessinger Lepeta.
A Calling Time will be held on Saturday, April 5th 10-11AM with a Service at 11AM all at Kohut Funeral Home, Inc 950 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. Burial to follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Allentown.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Barbara’s memory to The Sanctuary at Haafsville PO Box 921 Fogelsville, PA 18051.
Ilona Leanch
Ilona Ann (Lorenz) Leanch, 84, of Allentown, passed away March 30, 2025. She was the loving wife of the late Nicholas E. Leanch Jr. Born in Northampton, she was the daughter of the late John and Anna (Kometic) Lorenz. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church where she and her husband enjoyed volunteering for the church activities. They also enjoyed traveling together and spending time with their family. Our beautiful mother will be deeply missed.
Survivors: children- Kenneth “Kenny” Leanch, Teresa “Terri” Rom and husband John, Christine “Tina” Giacobbe and husband Michael; grandchildren- Amanda, Tyler, Gianna and Abigail; great grandchildren- Carter and Peyton; brother- John Lorenz; sister- Mary Panik. She was predeceased by her sister- Patricia Flynn.
A Calling Time will be held on Thursday, April 3rd 9-10AM in Kohut Funeral Home Inc. 950 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:30AM in St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church 924 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. Burial to follow in Laurel Cemetery, Whitehall.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Ilona’s memory to Lehigh Valley Hospice or to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church care of the funeral home.
John Borrell
John J. Borrell, 84, of Nazareth, passed away March 23, 2025. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Charles Borrell and Dora L. (Simonelli) Borrell Thompson. John served in the U.S. Marine Corp. during the Vietnam War. He received the Parachuter’s Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Gallantry Cross, and 3 Bronze Stars. He retired from Mack Trucks after 30 years of service. He will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his daughter- Tina Masuda and husband Michael of Santa Clara, CA.
Services will be Private for the family care of Kohut Funeral Home, Inc.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the March of Dimes care of the funeral home.
Diane Willenbecher
Diane R. (Smith) Willenbecher, 75, of Whitehall formerly of Allentown, passed away March 21, 2025 in the trauma ICU of Lehigh Valley Hospital. She was the wife of the late Eugene J. Willenbecher. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Ophelia L. (Meitzler) and Lawrence E. Smith Sr.
Diane graduated from Louis E. Dieruff High School in 1968. She was employed as a CNA with Bayada Nurses, worked for Allentown School District in several school cafeterias, and later retired from Computer Designs. She loved listening to her oldies music, going to oldies dances, and bowled at the HariGary before it closed as well as with Parkway Guys and Dolls league. She enjoyed volunteering when her children and granddaughter were younger at Holy Spirit School, from being a lunch lady, helping paint the walls in the kindergarten hallway, and chaperoning her granddaughter’s field trips. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Survivors: daughter- Kimberly (Willenbecher) Schaffer of Allentown, son- Brian Willenbecher of Schnecksville, granddaughter- Nikayla Schaffer of Allentown, sister- Debra (Smith) Appleton (Charlie) of Orefield. She was predeceased by her brothers- Lawrence E. Smith Jr. (Dinah) of Ohio, Robert Smith (Susan) of Allentown, a great niece- Sabrina Acevedo and a great- great nephew Sebastian Acevedo.
A Calling Time will be held Thursday, March 27, 2025, 10-11:30AM with a Service to follow at 11:30AM all in Kohut Funeral Home, Inc. 950 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. Inurnment to follow in St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church Cemetery.
Contributions can be made in Diane’s memory to the church care of Kohut Funeral Home Inc.
RoseMary Mayernik
RoseMary Mayernik, 95, of Whitehall, passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, while residing at Fellowship Manor. She was the loving wife of Frank L. Mayernik for 55 years until his passing in 2010. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Karol and Amalia Prachar. RoseMary was a lifetime member of St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church. In the 1950’s she worked for Queen City Loan Company, even making red print headlines during the time of a string of robberies. Post her career, she became a homemaker. RoseMary will be remembered for her care and dedication to her family, her “loveable sandwiches” and her kind & quiet demeanor. She enjoyed traveling with Frank all around the U.S., family trips to Wildwood, loved the Nittany Lions (watching every game from start to finish no matter what time they were on TV), and playing her favorite game of Scrabble; especially her weekly game and visit from her niece, Susan.
She is survived by her children- Carol Anne, Janice (Jeffrey), Charles (MaryLou); grandchildren- Jessica (Angelo), Abigail (Joseph), Jillian (Sean), Lydia (Andrew), Justin (Sara); great grandchildren- Joseph, Logan, Kennedy Lou and baby boy expected arrival in July; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brother Walter and sister Agnes Roncoroni.
The Mayernik family would like to thank all the staff of Fellowship Manor for their hard work and care of our mom over these last years.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, March 16th 3-5PM in Kohut Funeral Home, Inc. 950 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. A viewing will be held Monday, March 17th 10-11AM in the church with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11AM all in St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church 924 N. Front St. Allentown, PA 18102. Burial to follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Allentown.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the church care of the funeral home.