Skook News Obituaries: May 27th, 2024
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
--------------------------------------------------
Born Sunday November 8,1942 in Camden, New Jersey the daughter of the late Henry and Edna (Reed) Kleppinger.
Surviving are son; Todd Smith and his wife Nancy; daughters Suzie Baddick, wife of Christopher, Janine Cunningham; sister Diane Krapf, wife of Bruce; grandchildren; who affectionately called her Gram, Dalton and his fiancée Ava Lantgen, and Ryan Adams, Ethan and Dillon Smith, Ashley Bynon, Brandon Kemmery; great grandchild who called her "GiGi", Isabella Keim; and companion, Richard Wiesner.
A Tamaqua High School graduate, Nancy worked as a waitress for many years, retiring from the McKeansburg Hotel, and previously worked at Stoney Creek Hotel, Breiner's, and Vitale's. Nancy's greatest role was that of mom, grandmother and GiGi. Nancy worked hard to provide for her family and her days off were spent with them.
Private arrangements entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to St Luke's Hospice.
A 1961 graduate of Tamaqua High School, she ran the sales department at Portion Packaging in Buck County for 30 years. In 1992, Donna and Ed became the owners and managers of Edwards Flowers in Tamaqua which they ran together successfully for 31 years until her retirement in May of 2023. She was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tamaqua.
In addition to her husband, Ed, Donna is survived by a daughter, Brenda Dementri and her husband Mark of Jim Thorpe; a son, Edward J. Smith, III and his wife Missy of Summit Hill; grandsons, Dylan Smith of Hometown who was raised by Donna and Ed, Mark Dementri, Bryan Dementri; granddaughters, Nicole Taylor, Ginele Gill, Haley Young, Kylie Frank, Emma Smith, and Falon Smith; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Donna was preceded in death by a son Mark Smith in 1998, and a granddaughter Jessica Dementri in 2019.
Services will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 East Broad Street, Tamaqua with the Rev. Dillon Epler and Rev. Cindy White officiating. Interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, Summit Hill. Call Thursday from 9:00 - 11AM at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made to Carbon County Friends of Animals, 77 West 13th Street, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, 18229.
Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
