11/04/08
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Bernice S. Ahern, Ahern’s Cottages owner
Bernice S. Ahern, 90, of Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach passed away Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008. She was a secretary for the Old Age Welfare, the Navy Department (Dravo Corp.), the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Board of Education, all in Wilmington, and retired from the Red Clay School District after over 30 years’ service. Bernie was a member of the American Legion Post 5 and V.F.W. Post 7447, both in Rehoboth. She and her husband, Bud, owned Ahern’s Cottages in Rehoboth Beach for 62 years. Her husband, William R. “Bud” Ahern Sr., died in 1983.
Bernie is survived by her children, Judith C. Evans and Bonnie L. Shaw, both of Wilmington; and William R. “Sonny” Ahern Jr. of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; her brother; John A. Stigile of Lewes; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry A. and Margaret E. Stigile; and sister, Alma S. “Gim” Mulhern.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the McCrery Memorial Chapel, 3710 Kirkwood Highway at Duncan Road, where friends may call after noon. Entombment will be in Silverbrook Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to the Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary of Sussex County, P.O. Box 430, Nassau, DE 19969.
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Dorothy T. Reifsnyder, enjoyed dancing
Dorothy T. Reifsnyder, 89, of Wilmington, passed away peacefully Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, in the Heartland Hospice House.
Dottie was born in Wilmington on June 27, 1919, the daughter of the late Edward and Estella Clark. Dottie enjoyed dancing and collecting dolls.
She was predeceased by her husband, James W. Reifsnyder Jr.; and by her sister, Stella Martin.
Dottie is survived by her children, Judy Ann Reifsnyder of Wilmington, Sharon Lee Ferrara and her husband Raymond of Wilmington, James W. “Duffy” Reifsnyder III of Hockessin, and Patricia Marie DeGirolano and her husband Anthony of Millsboro; her nephew, Albert Martin of Rehoboth; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
The family would like to extend sincere appreciations to Heartland Hospice House for the compassion and care that was given to our mother.
A celebration of Dorothy’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Foulk Manor North, 1212 Foulk Road, Wilmington. Interment in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear will be held privately with the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dottie may be sent to the Heartland Hospice, 261 Chapman Road Suite 100, Newark, DE 19702.
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Alfred J. Anderson, self-employed painter
Alfred John Anderson, 82, of Newark, passed away Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at the Christiana Hospital, Newark. He was the husband of Helen Scott Anderson, with whom he shared 20 years of marriage.
Born in Chester, Pa., he was the son of the late Clifford and Margaret Schofield Anderson. He was a self-employed painter. He was a member of the Moose Lodge in New Castle and the VFW Post in Newark. He enjoyed working with his hands, vacations in Ocean City, Md., and being with his family and friends.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Arthur John Anderson of Newark; two daughters, Pamela Bryant of Lewes and Donna McCauley of Pennsville, N.J.; four stepsons, Michael Fielder, Gregory Fielder and Roger Fielder all of Lexington, N.C., and David Fielder of Colfax, N.C.; a stepdaughter, Gloria Love of Lexington, N.C.; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren.
Friends may visit from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Beeson Funeral Home, 2053 Pulaski Highway, Newark, and again from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Pleasantville Baptist Church, 162 Christiana Road (Rt. 273), New Castle. His funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m. Burial will be in Delaware Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Bear.
In memory of Alfred, a contribution may be made to the Helen S. Graham Cancer Center, 4701 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19713.
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Charles W. Reynolds Jr., retired vice president
Charles W. Reynolds Jr., 76, of Felton, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, in the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford.
He was born in Bombay Hook, son of the late Charles W. and Ida H. Reynolds Sr.
Mr. Reynolds retired from Bennett’s Security as the operational manager and vice president of the Courier Division.
Mr. Reynolds served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in the 2nd Division Infantry. He was a lifetime member of the Cheswold Fire Company and former member of the Felton Fire Department, where he served as ambulance captain.
Mr. Reynolds was in charge of the city of Dover ambulance for 10 years. Mr. Reynolds played semi-pro baseball before his 30th birthday for the Kenton Tigers. He played against pitcher Chris Short before he signed for the Phillies team, getting several runs off of him. In high school he played football for Smyrna High School where there is a plaque showing he was the best catcher for 50 years.
In his spare time Mr. Reynolds loved to go deer hunting and hunt waterfowl as well as upland hunting which was his favorite.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, William Conklin; and a brother, Aaron Reynolds.
Mr. Reynolds is survived by his wife, June Reynolds of Felton; two sons, Wallace (B.J.) Long of Milton, and Dennis Conklin of Bellingham, Wash.; four daughters, Sue Cooper of Harrington, Sherry Chandler of Felton, Sylvia Kemp of Felton, and Trish Lock of Felton; three sisters, Elva Clough of Dover, Margaret Cohee of Cheswold, and Ruth Strickland of Houston, Texas. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7, in the Melvin Funeral Home in Harrington, where a visitation will be one hour prior. Burial will be private.
Family suggests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
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Charlotte Y. Hocker, community volunteer
Charlotte Y. Hocker, 77, of Lewes, died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
Mrs. Hocker was born in Quakertown, Pa., on Nov. 4, 1930, daughter of the late John A. Young and Lucille Ackerman Young. She was a member of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, Lewes. She was a former member of the Lewes Yacht Club for 34 years, former docent for the Lewes Historical Society, and a former volunteer for the Lewes Public Library and the Beebe Medical Center Auxiliary.
In addition to her parents she was also predeceased by a son, Timothy D. Hocker, in 1996.
A loving wife and mother, she is survived by her husband John William Hocker III; a daughter, Diane H. Roth and her husband Andy of Lewes; her sons, John William Hocker IV of Rehoboth Beach and Mark A. Hocker and his wife Patti of Lewes; a brother, Jay Young and his wife Kitty of Lewes; seven grandchildren, Drew Adkins, Lauren Roth, Lindsey Roth, Billy Hocker, Beth Hocker, Keith Hocker and Paige Hocker; and two great-grandchildren, Will Hocker and Alexandra Adkins.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, Route 1 north at Five Points, where friends may call one hour prior to services. Burial will follow at Lewes Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers contributions are suggested to Lewes Historical Society, 110 Shipcarpenter St., Lewes, DE 19958; or to St. Jude The Apostle Church Building Fund, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, DE 19958.
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Carol K. Searles, community volunteer
Carol K. Searles, 75, of Rehoboth Beach, died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, at her residence.
Carol was born to R. Delmore Kinney and Florence C. Kinney on Sept. 4, 1933, in New London, Conn. She was a graduate of New London High School and attended the Modern School of Fashion Design in Boston and Mitchell College.
She married Col. Robert M. Searles on Jan. 28, 1953. They were married for 50 years, until Bob’s passing on May 29, 2003.
She was a partner and bookkeeper in the family-owned business, Aurther Treachers Fish ‘n’ Chips on Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach. She was a longtime member of Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club, where she served on various committees and enjoyed playing golf and bridge.
She was past president and longtime member of Sussex County Gardeners, a board member of Friends of Rehoboth Public Library, a longtime member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Rehoboth, where she was also a member of Saint Boniface Chapter of the Episcopal Church Women and the Altar Guild. She volunteered at Rehoboth Art League and Cape Henlopen Food Basket. Carol firmly believed in giving back to the community.
Carol is survived by her children, Lisa A. Searles, Raymond R. Searles, Lori S. Grasing, Susan S. Gimbutas and Stacey S. Murphy; sister, Judith K. Manning; brother, Delmore Kinney; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Rehoboth Beach with a celebration of her life immediately following at Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Friends of the Rehoboth Public Library, P.O. Box 98, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
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Deborah Collins Mann, Baptist church member
Deborah Elizabeth Collins Mann, 59, of Newark, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008, at the Renaissance Healthcare in Millsboro.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at the Friendship Baptist Church, 500 W. Fourth St., Lewes, where friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m..
Interment will be in the Peoples Memorial Cemetery, Lewes.
Arrangements are being handled by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Millsboro.
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Sylvia Taylor, retired store manager
Sylvia Taylor, 83, of Long Neck, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008, in Lewes. Mrs. Taylor was born and raised on Tylerton, Md,, part of the community known as Smith Island.
She left the island during World War II to work in a defense plant in Baltimore. After the war she returned to Tylerton and later moved to Delaware County, Pa., where she met and married William S. Taylor, her husband of nine years. He died in 1960 and she never remarried. Together they had three sons.
For 20 years she was the store manager for Murray-Overhill Pharmacy in Media, Pa. Many people frequented this mom and pop drug store because of her encouraging words and willingness to lend an ear.
She retired from Murray’s in 1986 and moved to Mariner’s Cove. She was a valued member of East Gate Presbyterian Church during her 20 years there.
She hosted small-group Bible studies in her home and used her gifts of mercy and encouragement to dispense large doses of care and compassion.
Her skills as a listener and her faithfulness in prayers helped many people find faith and hope. She was like a second mom to many.
She is survived by her three sons, Gary and his wife Suzy, Paul and his wife Linda, and Neil and his wife Tammy; five grandchildren, Josh, Jesse, Shane, Will and Ali; two great-grandsons, Wayne and Brendan; and a brother, Charles Marsh and his wife Frances.
Funeral services were held at the East Gate Presbyterian Church, 34806 Church Lane, Long Neck. The Committal Service will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Media Cemetery, Kirk Lane, Media, Pa.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for memorial contributions to the East Gate Presbyterian Church, 34806 Church Lane, Millsboro, DE 19966.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro.
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Phillip G. Brittingham, retired salesman
Phillip G. Brittingham, 78, of Rehoboth Beach, passed Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born Aug. 12, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pa., son of the late Robert and Elsie Groff Brittingham.
Mr. Brittingham became a full-time resident of Rehoboth Beach in 1985 after retiring from the Kenneth G. Lilly Fasteners in Newark, for which he was a salesman. After moving to Sussex County, he sold cars for a number of car dealerships. He was an avid golfer and a member of The Rookery Golf Club. He served with the U.S. Navy and was a member of American Legion Post 5.
He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Julia A. Mathews Brittingham; a daughter, Jill Jefferson and her husband Jay of Rehoboth Beach; a son, Larry Brittingham and his wife Chrissy of Smyrna; three grandchildren, Gavin and Taylor Jefferson, both of Rehoboth Beach, and Emmy Brittingham of Smyrna; a sister, Miriam Fleming of Wilmington; and nephew, Alan Miller and his wife Penny of Wilmington.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Wednesday Nov. 5, at St. Edmond’s Catholic Church, King Charles Avenue and Laurel Street, Rehoboth Beach. Friends may call at the chuch beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
