http://www.DowningFuneralHome.com/

Downing Funeral Home, Inc., 1002 W. Broad Street, Bethlehem, PA (2026)

01/09/2026

Anna M. (Schlaner) Blackwood, 68, of Bethlehem, passed away January 6, 2026. She was the loving wife of the late John Blackwood, III. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Anna (Stoudt) and John Schlaner. Anna graduated from Southern Lehigh High School in 1975. She was a long-time volunteer for the Celtic Cultural Alliance at the Celtic Classic. She was the ultimate sports mom, attending all of her son’s sporting events when they were young. Anna loved music and going to concerts with her husband, especially Meatloaf and Jimmy Buffett. She also enjoyed going on cruises, her favorite being the American Virgin Islands. Anna loved the color purple, butterflies, frogs and dogs, her most recent dog rescue being her best friend, Milo. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: sons- John Blackwood, IV and his wife Tara Blackwood of Annapolis, MD and Jeramy D. Blackwood and his wife Danielle Blackwood of Rock Island, IL; grandchildren- J. Gifford, Jase and Bo Blackwood; brothers- John, Richard and Frank Schlaner.
A viewing will be held on Monday, January 12th 5-7PM and Tuesday, January 13th 9:15-10:00AM with a Service to follow at 10:00AM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Burial to follow in St. Paul’s Blue Church Cemetery, Coopersburg.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Lehigh Valley Humane Society 640 Dixon St. Allentown, PA 18103.

12/31/2025

Walter F. Sullivan, Jr., 84, of Bethlehem, passed away at home on December 29, 2025. He was
the husband of the late Leslie (DeForest) Sullivan. They were married for 52 years. Born in
Staten Island, NY, he was the son of the late Kathryn (O’Brien) and Walter F. Sullivan, Sr. Walt
worked for Durkee Foods in Bethlehem for many years. He enjoyed traveling with family and
attending the sporting events and activities of his 6 grandchildren. He was a lifelong golfer and
an avid reader. He will be deeply missed.
Walt is survived by his children Kevin Sullivan and his wife Catherine, Ryan Sullivan and his
wife Becky, and Stacey Gowen and her husband Bob, and by grandchildren Aidan and Liam
Sullivan, Chloe and Quinn Sullivan and Caley and Sean Gowen. He is also survived by
brothers Brien Sullivan of NY and Quin Sullivan of VA. He was predeceased by sister Carol
Sullivan.
Services will be private for the family.
Contributions can be made in Walter’s memory to the Bethlehem Area Public Library.

12/08/2025

Anne M. (Murphy) Bowser, 78, of Bethlehem, passed away December 4, 2025. She was the loving wife of over 55 years to Ronald S. Bowser. Born in Bethlehem, she was the daughter of the late Richard E. and Virginia M. (Byrem) Murphy. She was a 1965 graduate of Liberty High School and worked as a Dental Assistant for many years.

Anne had a warm and welcoming personality and home - the back door was always open. As matriarch of the neighborhood “kool-aid house”, she opened her home not only to her friends and family, but to her kids’ friends as well. Many have called her their “second mom”. She loved working in her beautiful garden and spending time outside. She could often be found sitting on the patio on a summer evening chatting with someone from the neighborhood that had come to visit. Anne liked music and loved to dance and enjoyed spending time in Beach Haven on LBI, which was her happy place. She also loved playing games both on the computer and with family, as well as doing Wordle, working on puzzles and doing crosswords. But most of all, Anne loved being a wife, a mom and especially a grandmother. Spending time with her four granddaughters was the highlight of her life. She will be deeply missed.

Survivors: husband- Ronald Bowser, daughter- Erica Eynon and husband Jeff, son- Ronnie Bowser and wife Mary, granddaughters- Ruby Anne, McKenna, Kacey and Cecilia, brother- Richard Murphy and wife Ariel, sister- Kathleen Murphy and husband Terry Magliane, several nieces and nephews.

Services will be Private care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Anne’s memory to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.

12/02/2025

John W. Check, 73, of Fountain Hill, passed away November 29, 2025. He was the loving husband of the late Marilyn Check. Born in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late John and Anna Check. John graduated from Liberty High School and was the original owner of the Broken Spoke Bicycle Shop in Easton. John enjoyed cycling, doing carpentry, horseback riding and was an animal lover. He will be deeply missed.

Survivors: sons- Chad Check and his late fiancé Sheila Kolesnik, Jesse Check and wife Christine, grandson- Ira Check, partner- Marion Amato, nephews- Frankie and Brian Szabo, Baker family members in Alabama and Fisher family members in Florida and pets Bo, Sherwood and Marley. He was predeceased by his sister- Janice Szabo.
Services will be Private for the family

Contributions can be made in John’s memory to Last Chance Ranch.

11/13/2025

Robert "Bob" Woroniak, 91, of Allentown went to heaven peacefully at LVHN Hospice on 11/12/25, surrounded by his loving family. He was the cherished husband of Sylvia (Taglioli) Woroniak,
with whom he shared over 68 years of mar-riage. He served in the U.S. Army for 3 years stationed in Alaska during peacetime. He subsequently trained to be an electri-cian, was a member of IBEW #375, and worked for Orlando Diefenderfer for 40 years. Upon retirement, he continued to volunteer his time, skills, and knowledge to anyone who needed assistance. He was a faithful member of St.Thomas More Catholic Church. Bob was an avid fisherman who never passed up an opportunity to be on the water with fishing buddies and his many fishing rods (some handmade). Summers were spent on Long Beach Island, NJ with his family, a tradition that continued for decades and grew to include his grandchildren. He enjoyed gardening and working on his extensive model train display which included hand-made models of each of his children's homes.
He is also survived by his 4 children, 8 grand-children, and 2 great-grandchildren. Daughter Karen (Woroniak) Goldner of Allentown, and her children Ally Schultz, Jason Goldner, Jill (Goldner) Leeb, her husband Ari, and her grandchildren Anna and Nathan Leeb. Daughter Debra (Woroniak) Nalbandian of Bethlehem and her children Martin and Noelle. Daughter Diane (Woroniak) Boyajian and her husband Robert of Upper Saddle River, NJ, and their children Katie and lulia. Son Robert Woroniak, Jr. and his wife Dawn-Marie of Harrisburg, and their daughter Trace (Woroniak) Tavlor and her husband
Justin. Bob was also loved and will be missed by countless extended family members and friends.
Services: Saturday, 11/15/25 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1046 W. Cedar Street, Allentown. Calling hour 9:00am to 10:00am at the church, followed by a Catholic Mass of remembrance at
10:00am.
Contributions: In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lehigh Valley Hospice, 2024
Lehigh Street, Allentown, PA 18103

09/05/2025

Celeste Roney, 77, of Bethlehem, died peacefully on September 3, 2025 surrounded by her children. Born in Detroit, MI she was the daughter of the late Charles and Maureen (Cunningham) Roney. Celeste was a member of Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church and found much solace and grounding in her faith. She spent many years working for the Youthful You Program of the Lehigh Valley Health Network where she answered phones, scheduled massages, made lifelong friends and greeted everyone with warmth and kindness. She also spent her working days in advertising at WJBR in Detroit, as an aerobics instructor for the Jewish Community Center of Allentown and as a friendly, but no-nonsense bus driver for Northwestern Lehigh School District.
Raised in Detroit, Celeste lived for music. She was an avid participant in her drum circle class at Lutheran Manor. She sang and danced her way through life. And, in her later years, did so with a walker if she had to. She loved bird watching, road tripping and was the self-proclaimed #1 fan of Sir Paul McCartney. Her big blue eyes, and wide smile lit up a room and she was always the life of every party.
To say she will be missed would be the understatement of the century.
She is survived by her three children, Cynthia Ruckdeschel, Daniel John Ruckdeschel, Anne Marie Ruckdeschel; bonus daughter, Abby Feinstein; grandsons, Henry Daniel Feinstein and Murphy Charles Feinstein; sisters, Susan Roney Drennan and Marty Roney; niece, Maureen Drennan; and nephew, Paul Gagner. She was predeceased by her siblings, Mary Pellerito, Belle Henzel, Chickie Roney and Sara Roney.
Celeste was very clear that in the event of her death she would like a party. A gathering will be held on Sunday, September 14th from 2-5pm at Bicentennial Park, Pavillion A in East Allen Township. Address 5351 Park West Lane, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Bring your stories and dancing shoes.

08/25/2025

Edward J. Hearn, 77, of Bethlehem, passed away in his home on August 13, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Susan J. (Johnson) Hearn who he met at 17 years old. They would have been married 56 years in October. Born into a large family of cherished aunts, uncles, and cousins in Hazelton, he was the son of the late Elizabeth Ann (Generose) and Edward Lee Hearn. His family eventually settled and grew in Bethlehem where he chose to remain and raise a family of his own. He enjoyed the simple life of his childhood in the Kaywin development along with the summers he spent in Fairmont, West Virginia, the hometown of his father.
Ed graduated from Liberty High School in 1965 and later served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. During this time, he flew second seat as a TO (Technical Observer) in the OV-1B Mohawk, responsible for operating the aircraft's surveillance and reconnaissance equipment. He was grateful that he, unlike so many, was able to return home safely. He shared stories of this time throughout his life.
He began his career at Western Electric where he became a master machinist. He remained there through the many company changes, ultimately retiring from Agere Systems where he proudly served as the Union Vice President of IBEW Local 1522.
Edward was a devoted father to his two daughters, Kelly and Lori, who adored him beyond words. He cared greatly for his five siblings who as kids, referred to him as “Brother.” He enjoyed being a part of his giant extended family, and took a vested interest in the lives of his nieces and nephews. He was so proud of all of them. He made and kept friends wherever he went and often made them feel like family as well. His grandson and granddaughter, whom he referred to as “his heart and soul,” were his obvious favorites. He loved to watch them perform and would be only too happy to share a video or photo to anyone who hung around for more than ten minutes.
He loved to share stories and often sang or whistled a tune as he moved throughout his day. He was a great listener and genuinely enjoyed hearing from others. He loved to golf and try his luck at the casino. He enjoyed travelling, good food, meeting new people, and spending time with friends and family. He was so much fun to be around and a darn good dancer, too.
Mr. Hearn, Edward, Eddie, Ed, Dad, Brother, and Pop-Pop, depending on how you knew him, will surely be remembered for his humor and wit, but mostly for his kindness. He treated everyone with respect and had a kind and generous heart that only became softer with time. He was quick to lend a hand whenever it was needed to friends and strangers alike.
He will be deeply missed but kept alive in our memories and actions until we meet again in Heaven.
Survivors: wife- Susan J. Hearn; daughters- Kelly Hearn and Lori Davidson wife of Nathan; grandchildren- Brady and Riley Davidson; siblings- Mary Moyer, Dolores Dalrymple and Thomas Hearn husband of Vanessa. He was predeceased by his siblings- Elizabeth Pass and Mark Hearn.
His family would like to invite everyone to join them for Military Honors on Sunday, September 14th at 12PM with a Celebration of Life to follow at the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course 400 Illick’s Mill Rd Bethlehem, PA 18017 in the pavilion behind the Club House Grille Restaurant.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Edward’s memory to Second Harvest of Lehigh Valley 6969 Silver Crest Road Nazareth, PA 18064.

07/14/2025

Linda J. Gray, 76, of Bethlehem, passed away on July 12, 2025. She was the loving wife of 54 years to John P. Gray. Born in Champaign-Urbana, IL, Linda was the daughter of the late Edward and Jeanne (Trainor) LaChapelle. A successful business woman for nearly 40 years, Linda traveled to several continents in her final role as purchasing manager before retiring from FLSmidth. Linda was a graduate of Indiana University-Bloomington.

Linda was a member of Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church and of the Church's 55+ Club. She was also a member of the ZTA Sorority for which she volunteered while serving as advisor to her sorority sisters at Moravian University. Linda enjoyed traveling, reading, walking, dancing, aerobics and spending time with her family wherever they were in the world. She was an incredibly kindhearted person who enjoyed taking care of others, and was a fantastic cook.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, including her surviving relatives: husband- John Gray; daughters- Michele Gray and Shannon Flounders and husband Jef; grandchildren- Julien Sanchez, Adriene Sanchez, Haley Flounders, Mason Flounders and Luke Flounders; and, siblings- Ed LaChapelle, Richard LaChapelle, Mary Kozma, John LaChapelle and Leslie Bennett.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, July 17th from 10-11am at Notre Dame of Bethlehem Catholic Church, 1861 Catasauqua Rd., Bethlehem, PA with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11am. Burial to follow at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Linda’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association, care of Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

07/10/2025

Ronald “Ron” P. Nelson, 75, of Center Valley, passed away on Friday, July 4, 2025 at Lehigh Valley Hospital. He grew up in Fountain Hill, son of the late Paul and Caroline (Spirk), and husband to the late Mary Wagner. Ron was ‘a jack of all trades’ working as a salesman to a construction worker. Over the years, he had many dogs, always a German Shepherd, who became his favorite companions. He was an avid gun collector. He enjoyed watching sports, action movies and reading adventurous books. He was an accomplished chess player and would retell the story of playing chess with the inmates of Lewisburg Penitentiary. Did you hear this story? Ron loved to tell stories about events that happened to him and his family and his pets. He was an optimist and never complained about his life situation.
Ron will be lovingly remembered by his sister, Cindi Nelson Christman, sons Brian (Pankey) and Rob Wagner (Karen), daughter, Kim Barrett, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Calling hours will be held Friday, July 18, 2025 from 6-8pm at the Downing Funeral Home, 1002 West Broad St in Bethlehem. Saturday service is private.
Memorial contribution may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

04/09/2025

Melissa M. Sienicki, 48, of Bethlehem, passed away April 8, 2025. She was the loving wife of Kyle P. Dietterich. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of Mary (Gorman) Sienicki and the late Robert Sienicki. Melissa graduated from Albright University with her bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She worked in Arbitration for Farmers Insurance. She was a master cook, logistical wizard, graceful wife, and the kindest friend anyone could ever ask for. We all owe her for teaching us so much what being a wonderful person meant, and the world is poorer for having lost her. We will miss her terribly.
Survivors: husband- Kyle Dietterich, mother- Mary Sienicki, brother- Aaron Sienicki, sister-Rebecca Sienicki, niece- Holly Smalle. She was predeceased by her brother- Daniel Sienicki.
A calling time will be held Tuesday, April 15th 9-10AM with a Service at 10AM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Melissa’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital care of the funeral home.

03/16/2025

It is with sadness we announce the death of Frederick “Fred” J. Gainer on January 30, 2025, at Novant Hospital in Wilmington NC.

Fred was born in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, on April 22, 1950, and was the son of William Gainer and Maize (Hewitt) Gainer. He is survived by his wife Nancy Downing-Gainer, son Max-Erick Downing Gainer (wife Carla) of Wake Forest, NC, and sister Carolyn of Bethlehem, PA. He was predeceased in death by his brother William “Bill” Gainer.

Fred graduated from Penn State University with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. He spent his career in College Administration at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York, The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina. His lifelong volunteer work included Grief Counselor for several organizations in the Hudson Valley. He was Especially Proud of his AIDS/HIV Grief Group Counseling in the 1980s and early 1990s.

He was a Follower of Elizabeth Kubler Ross and assisted with the creation of Hospice Care in the Hudson Valley New York. Served on the Board and as a Trainer. He believed in the “Death With Dignity” concept. He was a certified Grief Counselor and ran groups throughout the Hudson Valley through St. Francis Hospital. He was a Board Member of New York Lighthouse.

He and his family moved to NC in 2000 in preparation for Retirement. He retired in 2010 from Cape Fear Community College and continued to support that institution through his donations.

Fred was a kind and caring and gentle man. He spent his life in service and put others first. His interests here in Wilmington included watching his beloved Red Sox play, Fishing, Bird Watching and the care and feeding of the Blue Bird population. He was a family man, who considered his position as a Father and Husband the most important thing he could do. He is missed by all who knew him.

There will be calling hours held on Saturday, April 26th 11AM-12PM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Burial will be Private in Holy Saviour Cemetery.

03/13/2025

Deborah A. (Bergeris) Reinert, 67, of Bethlehem, passed away March 12, 2025. She was the loving wife of 49 years to Charles L. Reinert. Born in Bethlehem, she was the daughter of the late John and Gladys (Rice) Bergeris. She was a member of the former St. Matthews Lutheran Church and currently The Blessed Trinity at Rosemont. Deborah enjoyed reading and spending time with her family. She will be deeply missed.
Survivors: husband, 3 daughters, 2 son-in-laws, 9 grandchildren, 1 grandson-in-law, 1 great grandchild and 1 sister. She was predeceased by 1 sister.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, March 22nd 9-10:30AM with a Service at 10:30AM in Downing Funeral Home, Inc. 1002 W. Broad St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. Burial to follow in Cedar Hill Memorial Park, Allentown.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Deborah’s memory to the funeral home towards her funeral expenses.

Downing Funeral Home, Inc.

01/09/2026

12/31/2025

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11/13/2025

09/05/2025

08/25/2025

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