Skook News Obituaries: May 8, 2023
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Pastor Emeritus, Sacred Heart Parish, New Philadelphia died at Geisinger Saint Luke’s Hospital, Orwigsburg on Tuesday, 2 May 2023. He was 88 years of age.
Born in Camden, New Jersey, Father Lofton is the son of the late Peter Lofton and Nellie (Mesevich) Lofton.
Father Lofton attended H. L. Bonsall Elementary School, Camden, New Jersey. He graduated from Saint Joseph High School, Camden, New Jersey. He entered Saint Francis Seminary, Loreto, Pennsylvania where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. Father Lofton also attended Villanova University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Union College, Schenectady, New York where he earned his Master of Science Degree in Chemistry.
He was ordained to the Priesthood on 27 May 1961 by the Most Reverend J. Carroll McCormick, Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona, for the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis.
Father Lofton’s first assignment was Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart Parish, Brooklyn, New York; followed by Professor, Bishop Egan High School, Fairless Hills.
Father Lofton was incardinated into the Diocese of Allentown on 23 June 1972.
Father Lofton’s first assignment in the Diocese of Allentown was Parochial Vicar Pro Tempore, Saint Anne Parish, Bethlehem and Parochial Vicar, Saint George Parish, Shenandoah.
Father Lofton’s first pastoral assignment was Pastor, Our Lady of Siluva, Maizeville; Pastor, Saint Vincent de Paul, Girardville, Sacred Heart, New Philadelphia and Holy Family, New Philadelphia.
During the course of his priestly ministry, Father Lofton served as Professor, Bethlehem Catholic High School, Associate Professor, Cardinal Brennan High School, Fountain Springs and Chaplain, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Santa Maria #26.
On 15 June 1999, Father Lofton was granted the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus, Holy Family Parish, New Philadelphia and Pastor Emeritus, Sacred Heart Parish, New Philadelphia
FUNERAL MASS
A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Lofton will be celebrated at Saint Ambrose Church, 201 Randel Street, Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania on 15 May 2023 at 11:00am by His Excellency, The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Allentown. The Homilist will be Reverend Monsignor Edward S. Zemanik, Pastor, Saint Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven.
Main Concelebrants will be Reverend Monsignor David L. James, Vicar General and Pastor, Saint Peter Parish, Coplay, Very Reverend Adam C. Sedar, Vicar for Clergy and Pastor, Saint Nicholas Parish, Walnutport, and Reverend Monsignor Edward S. Zemanik.
BURIAL
Interment will be held privately at Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
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Born on April 6, 1936 in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, PA, Nancy was the oldest child of the late Roy E. and Nora M. Kreichbaum Behney.
She was a 1954 graduate of Pine Grove High School, attended Central Penn Business College, Harrisburg and earned her BA degree from Cedar Crest College, Allentown.
Nancy was a faithful member of Grace Church Bethlehem and formerly of First Presbyterian Church , Bethlehem and was a member of the Bethlehem chapter of PEO.
Nancy worked part-time at various jobs over the years but then found time, after her children were grown, to earn her college degree. She accomplished this forty years after her high school graduation. But Nancy was first and foremost a full-time homemaker. She loved to cook PA Dutch meals for her family and was very proud of her PA Dutch heritage. Of greatest importance in Nancy's life was her family and their accomplishments.
She had a great love of music, especially classical, choral, and musicals. She attended many concerts and especially enjoyed her grandchildren's school musical programs. She sang in her church choir for many years and also gave piano lessons to friends and neighborhood children. In 1985, she and her husband had the good fortune to attend the Mozart Musik Festival in Salzburg, Austria.
Nancy was a volunteer at the Phoebe Devitt Home for many years and also volunteered at Musikfest. For several years, Nancy and her husband opened their home to family and foreign students, mentoring them and giving them the opportunity to experience the American culture.
Nancy's greatest joy was traveling and she and her husband made many trips to Europe during his career with a German company. They especially enjoyed hiking in the Alps in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. In 2004, they traveled the Louis and Clark Trail from Missouri to Oregon and then cruised to Alaska to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They were also "snowbirds" and enjoyed the warmth of the Florida sunshine for several months.
Preceding her in death, in addition to her husband and parents, were a sister Janet Blankenhorn, a brother Donald Behney, a daughter-in-law Janice Clauser, and her beloved companion, John (Jack) Rentschler.
Surviving are her three children, Craig Clauser and Karen Clauser, both of Bethlehem, Neal and wife Kim Clauser of Easton; three grandchildren, Ryan and wife Brittany Clauser, Christopher Clauser and girlfriend Lauryn Teti, Danielle Goff-Clauser; a great granddaughter, Lilia Clauser; a sister-in-law Carol Behney of Pine Grove; cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
A very special thank you to Dr. Nair and his staff at LVHN for their wonderful care and compassion and also to Lehigh Valley Hospice for their support and comfort.
Graveside services and interment will be held at the convenience of the family in the Suedberg Church of God, Pine Grove with Rev. Manuela Kawer, ECO officiating. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date at a time and place to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to either the Music Ministry of Grace Church Bethlehem, 4301 Hecktown Rd., Bethlehem, Pa. 18020 or American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 30, Tamaqua, Pa. 18252-0030 in her memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove has been entrusted with the arrangements
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Linda was born in Marietta, GA on December 12, 1956, a daughter of Paul Techentine and the late Jean (Yiengst) Techentine.
Linda graduated from Mahanoy Area High School class of 1974 and went on to help manage and work within the family business, Amato's Pizza, for the last 45 years.
Linda was a member of the Mahanoy City ELKS Lodge 695. She enjoyed reading, fishing, going to the beach, and watching her grandson's sporting events.
She was the wife of Joe Amato.
Linda is also survived by a daughter, Marci, wife of Jim Pehanick, of Hazleton; a sister, Paula Wonsock, of Mahanoy City, a brother, Todd, husband of Leeann Techentine, of Barnesville;
She is also survived by 5 Grandchildren; Andrew, Kyle, Oliva, Chloe, and Isabelle; also nieces and nephews.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers contributions, in Linda's name, to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc. Mahanoy City is in charge of arrangements. Visit www.truskowskyfuneralhome.com to sign the guest book and send sympathy cards.
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