Nolan Fidale Funeral Home

12/08/2025

12/07/2025

On this day, we pause to reflect on the sacrifices made and the resilience shown by so many men and women on December 7, 1941. We will never forget you!

12/05/2025

Have you ever needed to plan a funeral but didn’t know where to start? This article shares some great resources and ideas for planning a personalized and meaningful funeral.

12/05/2025

Funeral costs rise the beginning of every single year. Preplanning lets you lock in today’s prices for many services, protecting your family from inflation and unexpected expenses.

It’s one of the simplest ways to give the people you love financial peace of mind.

https://www.nolanfidale.com/planning-ahead/plan-ahead

12/04/2025

The holidays can look and feel different after losing someone. If this season feels tough, you’re not alone.

https://www.nolanfidale.com/resources/grief-resources

12/04/2025

Ronald G. "Ron" Rosin, age 84, passed away on December 3, 2025. Born and raised in Missoula, Montana, Ron carried the values of the Northwest throughout his life: independence, respect for nature, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. After graduating high school, he proudly served in the United States Army. Following his military service, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Oregon. Ron later moved to Annapolis, living on a sailboat while commuting to Washington, D.C., where he continued his education and received his master's degree in political science from Georgetown University. His passion for civic duty led to a successful 30-year career with the federal government.

While working in Washington, D.C., Ron met the love of his life, Nadyne, and together they built a life grounded in shared values, travel, and service. After retirement, he and Nadyne settled in Sussex County, Delaware. Ron later spent time in Portland, Oregon, before returning to Upper Chichester, Pennsylvania, in the past year. Ron believed strongly in giving back to his community and lived out that principle in countless ways. To him, public service was not optional, it was a duty. He loved to travel and took great pride in having visited all 48 contiguous states, as well as enjoying memorable trips to Europe and Japan. An avid golfer, Ron often walked to his local course in Portland, playing at least twice a week. He enjoyed fishing, tending to bonsai trees, and spending time outdoors whenever he could.

He was the son of the late Gustav and Ruby Rosin.

Survivors: his wife, Nadyne (née Gerres) Rosin, and his son, Russell Rosin.

Services will be private.

Condolences: www.nolanfidale.com

12/03/2025

If you love a warm, flaky treat, consider trying puff pastry! Check out the article below for four, puff pastry recipes that you can bring to your next holiday gathering.

If you have even the slightest bit of stress over holiday hosting, stock up on puff pastry immediately. With the help of this one ingredient, you can churn out gorgeous, delicious, and impressive appetizers like you went to pastry school.

12/03/2025

Dawn M. Smith (nee Gallagher), age 60, passed away peacefully on November 30, 2025, surrounded by her beloved family after a brave battle with cancer. A lifelong resident of Delaware County, Dawn had called Garnet Valley home for the past 20 years. Dawn graduated from Ridley High School in 1983 and later attended Immaculata College. For two decades, Dawn dedicated herself to helping others as an outpatient lab supervisor at Nemours Children's Hospital in Wilmington, where she was known for her warmth and unwavering compassion.

Dawn's radiant smile had the power to brighten any room, and her love for family was the foundation of her life. She cherished the time spent with her daughter and grandchildren, who brought unmatched joy to her heart, especially during baking sessions and sleepovers filled with laughter. Dawn was also an avid birdwatcher and found happiness in the summers she spent at the beach in North Wildwood with her family and friends.

Christmas held a special place in her heart, celebrated with her annual "Girls Weekend," where she transformed her beach home into a festive wonderland, delighting all with her creativity and festive spirit. Dawn was a wonderful hostess, always striving to ensure that everyone felt welcome and happy in her presence.

Dawn was the cherished daughter of the late Marlene M. Turner and Charles Gallagher. She is predeceased by her brother Gary Gallagher and sister Charleen McKenzie.

She is survived by her loving husband of 16 years, Larry L. Smith; her devoted daughter Erika Dougherty (Isaiah); her stepdaughters Sheri and Staci Smith; her brother Jeff Gallagher (Lisa); and her treasured granddaughters, Nova Dawn and Vienna Rose Dougherty.

The family will receive visitors on Monday, December 8, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:15 AM at the Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home, located at 5980 Chichester Ave, Aston. A memorial service will follow at 11:30 AM at the same location, honoring the beautiful life and legacy of Dawn. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Nemours Children's Hospital, in honor of Dawn's enduring spirit of compassion and her dedication to helping others. Dawn will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

12/02/2025

Rev. Dr. Michael Gregory Merkel died on Friday, November 28, 2025. Michael was born in Bowmanstown, Pennsylvania, and attended Muhlenberg College and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Michael was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate from Muhlenberg in 1994. For over 50 years, he served as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. During his time in ministry, he served multiple churches in the Philadelphia area, as Bishop of Southeast Pennsylvania, and as pastor of Bethesda Lutheran Church in New Haven, Connecticut.

We remember with joy the time he threw out the first pitch at a Philadelphia Phillies game. We share with pride the time he was arrested protesting along with Rev. Jesse Jackson for fair pay and benefits for workers at Yale University. Mostly we remember the man who tried to be a humble servant of God every day. He preached the good news by baptizing children, presiding at weddings, and ministering at funerals. He loved God and his neighbor, serving them in equal measure until he could no longer do so.

His family and all who love him will remember Michael for his quiet compassion, the way he laughed watching the Naked Gun movies, and his dry humor that could catch everyone off guard.

He touched many lives. He will be missed. He has gone home.

Michael is survived by his wife Susan, brother Stephen, children Christine and Gregory, their spouses Teresa and Keli, and three grandchildren, Rachel, Ethan, and Zachary.

A celebration of Michael's life will be held on December 22, 2025, at 1:00 pm at St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 701 S. College Ave Newark DE 19711.The service will be livestreamed on St. Paul's FaceBook page. Visitation hours will be held from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ELCA World Hunger or your local foodbank.

11/29/2025

Lorraine A. (née Wildrick) O'Donnell McGuirk, age 88, passed away peacefully at home on November 27, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born in Hazleton, PA, she moved to Upland at a young age and graduated from Eddystone High School. Lorraine raised her family in Aston before settling in Folsom in 1982, where she made countless memories with those she loved.

She worked as a switchboard operator at Sun Shipbuilding and later as a purchasing agent at Boeing. Lorraine had a deep affection for animals throughout her life, owning several cats and dogs. She enjoyed traveling, especially to places like Aruba and Key West, and cherished time spent cooking for her family. Lorraine loved being with her family most of all, whether gathered around the table, celebrating milestones, or simply sharing everyday moments. She was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Peace Parish in Ridley.

She was the daughter of the late Myron and Jemima (née Sands) Wildrick. Lorraine was the wife of the late Dale "Acey" O'Donnell and James McGuirk, and the sister of the late Bob and Bill Wildrick.

Lorraine is survived by her children, Edward (Debbie) O'Donnell and Sean O'Donnell; her sister, Sandy; her grandchildren, Danielle, Maryssa, and Ryan; her great-grandchildren, Cayla and Anthony; and her beloved cat, Leah. She is also reunited with her treasured pets who predeceased her: her cat Precious and her dogs Troy and Shelby.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the ASPCA in Lorraine's memory at https://www.aspca.org/

Condolences: www.nolanfidale.com

Nolan-Fidale is a trusted Aston, PA funeral home providing compassionate care and personalized services to support families during difficult times.

11/28/2025

The first year of the grief journey is difficult. It’s particularly hard to face the first time a special day passes, like a birthday or holiday. In this article, you will learn some ideas for navigating the “firsts” you will encounter on your path to healing. Click to learn more!

If this is your first year without a loved one, take a few moments to consider ways to navigate the "firsts" you will experience throughout this year.