05/19/09

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Katherine W. Harker, Lewes Avon Lady
Katherine W. Harker, age 79, of Lewes, DE, passed away on Monday, May 18, 2009 (just shy of her 80th birthday), at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, DE. She was born June 27, 1929 in Long Branch, NJ, daughter of the late Roland Rush and Sarah (Brennanman) Willoughby.

While Katherine was born in New Jersey, she spent her childhood summers visiting with family and friends at Lewes Beach. In her early years of employment, Katherine again found herself in Sussex County. She married her second husband Joe Harker in the late 1950's. Katherine was the "Avon Lady" for approximately 40 years through which she made many long time loyal friends and neighbors both locally and abroad. She was the best when it came to selling Avon products. She truly loved cats and dogs.

In addition to her parents, Katherine was preceded in death by her husband Joe Harker. She is survived by her son Rush Ellis and grandson Morgan Ellis; son Joseph Harker and his wife Elaine and grandsons Paul and Jim Harker; son Anthony Zigman; and her beloved Maltease "Harley" and cat "Tibbitt."

A Memorial Service with Pastor Harry Hughes officiating will be held Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 2:00 p.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 PM. Interment will be at St. Peter's Cemetery-Pilottown Road, Lewes. www.parsellfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Meals on Wheels, 32409 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Lewes, DE 19958.

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Cristina M. Almodovar, loving mother
Cristina M. Almodovar, 30, of Milton, died Friday, May 15, 2009, in Christiana Hospital in Newark from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 20, at Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave., Milford. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 21, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 506 Seabury Ave., Milford. Burial will be held privately. Contributions are suggested to the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, 1901 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.

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Constance B. Haddock, enjoyed the beach
Constance B. Beltz Haddock, 70, of Lewes, passed away Thursday, May 14, 2009, at Christiana Hospital in Newark. She was born Dec. 17, 1938, in Brooklyn, N.Y., daughter of the late Alfred F. and Lillian (Mackensie) Beltz.
Mrs. Haddock relocated to the beach 14 years ago from Westfield, N. J. where she had been a member of the Echo Lake Country Club. Mrs. Haddock had also been a member of the Westfield Community Players and she enjoyed playing golf and bowling. Once at the beach, she enjoyed her family, playing cards and the beach life.
She is survived by two daughters, Anita Amoroso and her husband Ed of Somerville, N.J., and Carolyn Gould and her husband Robert of Pittsburgh, Pa.; two granddaughters, Allison Gould and Lindsay Gould, both of Pittsburgh; a sister, Faith Mackay and her husband Don of Germantown, Md.; a brother, Donald Beltz of Lewes; and nieces and nephews and their families.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 21, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 10 a.m.
Interment will be private.

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Clifford L. Russell, equipment operator
Clifford L. Russell, 79, of New Castle, died Thursday, May 14, 2009, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Wilmington Sept. 5, 1929, Mr. Russell was employed as a heavy equipment operator with the former Weaver Pole Construction in New Castle before his retirement. He was known by all as a very hard worker and an excellent provider for his family. An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Russell enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, and gardening around his home. He was also a great fan of boxing and Eagles football. He enjoyed eating all types of seafood throughout his life.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Sara R. Reed Russell; children, Mike Mansfield of Worcester, Mass.; Clifford J. Russell and wife, Linda, of Smyrna; Charles R. Russell and wife, Andrea, of New Castle; John H. Russell and wife, Cheryl, of Millsboro; and Thomas A. Russell of Choctaw, Okla.; sister, Lillian Carver of Landenberg, Pa.; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sons Ralph J. Russell Sr. and Timothy J. Russell; grandson, Ralph J. Russell Jr.; and brothers and sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Pkwy., New Castle, where visitation will begin at noon.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Our Lady of Fatima R.C. Church, 801 N. DuPont Pkwy., New Castle, DE 19720.

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Iris H. Piercy, enjoyed the beach
Iris H. Piercy peacefully passed away Friday, May 15, 2009, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. A resident of Millsboro for over 22 years, Iris was born in Springwood, Va., and has been married to her husband Roy “Don” Piercy for 59 years. Iris and Don both worked at the NSA before she left the government sector to raise her three children. Having spent endless summers in Rehoboth Beach with her family, Iris came to love and know the Eastern Shore where she and Don made their home after his retirement from the NSA in 1983. Iris coveted the time she was able to spend with her loving husband, children and grandchildren. She enjoyed the beach, gardening, reading, cooking and was an avid fan of the Washington Redskins.
Iris is survived by her husband Don; three children, Donna Atsidis of Lewes, Linda Mansker of Millsboro, and Gary Piercy of Falls Church, Va. She has three grandchildren, Chrystina Mansker and Zoe and Lexy Atsidis. Iris is also survived by her two brothers, Robert and William Howard; and three sisters, Joyce Black, Margaret O’Meara and Jan Warlitner.
In her time on this earth Iris touched a good many lives with her warmth, her love of God, love of humanity and innate kindness. She was an extremely loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be deeply missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Delaware Hospice and/or Alzheimer’s Association. Services were held Monday, May 18, at the Sussex County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro. Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services of Long Neck.

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Charlie C. Sammons, Nanticoke member
Charlie Chaplin “Little Charlie” Sammons, 66, of Millsboro, passed away Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford.
Charles was a member of the Nanticoke Indian Association in Millsboro and attended Indian Mission United Methodist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Virginia Street Sammons.
His caregiver, Kathleen Bradley of Millsboro; a stepson, Elwood Hitchens of Millsboro; and a brother, Lawrence Sammons of Millsboro, survive him.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 20, at the Indian Mission United Methodist Church, Millsboro, where friends may call at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

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Suzanne N. Cleaver, Lewes homemaker
Suzanne Nowell Cleaver, 81, of Lewes, passed away Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Maples of Towson, Towson, Md.
She was born Aug. 11, 1927, in Wilmington, daughter of the late Andrew and Adeline Signs Nowell.
She married her high school sweetheart, the late George Cleaver, in 1949. They had lived together in Baltimore, Md., before relocating to Lewes in 1983.
Suzanne is survived by two children, Mark and Amy Cleaver, of Baltimore County, Md. She was also loved and is survived by three grandchildren, Eric, Tyler and Phoebe, and daughter-in-law, Debbie.
A memorial service will be held at noon, Saturday, May 23, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Second Street, Lewes. Graveside services were held Monday, May 18, at Gracelawn Memorial Park, New Castle.

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Barbara A. Ervin, Millsboro homemaker
Barbara Ann Ervin, 67, of Millsboro, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call at 1 p.m.