Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

04/30/2026

Joan C. Engelbrecht, 92, of Bethlehem, passed away Friday, April 24, 2026, in Moravian Village. Her husband of 64 years, The Rev. Robert F. Engelbrecht, died in 2020.

Born January 20, 1934, in Northampton, she was the daughter of the late Eschor and Sadie (Fleischman) Clewell. Joan graduated from Nazareth High school in 1950 and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in 1954. A caring, dedicated nurse, she was involved in many areas of healthcare including obstetrics, recovery room, camp nurse, and also as a volunteer. Joan lived a life defined by care for others and took deep pride in her role as a nurse, offering love, compassion, and support to those in need.

She married Robert F. Engelbrecht, on June 3, 1956, after he graduated from Moravian Seminary earlier that day. Their 64 years of married life took them to Altura, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Emmaus, and Bethlehem where they served Moravian churches and the communities that surrounded them.

Joan and Bob were a multi-talented team and were well-respected in the community for their stained glass creations. Their artistic spirit blossomed over the years as they crafted glass Moravian couples and three dimensional stars which were copyrighted. Joan also enjoyed sewing, antiquing and weaving. Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

Joan C. Engelbrecht, 92, of Bethlehem, passed away Friday, April 24, 2026, in Moravian Village. Her husband of 64 years, The Rev. Robert F. Engelbrecht, died in 2020. Born January 20, 1934, in Northampton, she was the daughter of the late Eschor and Sadie Fleischman Clewell. Joan graduated from Naza...

04/30/2026

Dorothy J. Kleckner, 99, of Bethlehem, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Sacred Heart Senior Living by the Creek, Northampton. Her husband of 50 years, Robert R. Kleckner, died October 23, 1997.

Born in Northampton, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Rachel (Rabert) Fritzinger.

A graduate of Allentown General Hospital School of Nursing, she worked as a registered nurse primarily in private duty nursing, and later providing hospice nursing care for family members.

Dorothy was a faithful member of St. Thomas United Church of Christ, Bethlehem. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, fishing, baking, and sewing. She also liked to spend time at Myrtle Beach.
Surviving are her granddaughter Sandra Hayes; great-grandchildren Kylie (Hunter) Hayes and Gage Landis; a sister Shirley Merritts, and nieces Diane Miller and Donna Merritts. She was predeceased by her son Larry.

Services will be held Friday, May 1, at 1:30 PM in the Pearson Funeral Home, 1901 Linden Street, Bethlehem, with a calling hour from 12:30 until service time. Services will conclude with burial at Grandview Cemetery, Allentown.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent to St. Luke’s Nurse Honor Guard, c/o Development Office, 800 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015. Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

Dorothy J. Kleckner, 99, of Bethlehem, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026, in Sacred Heart Senior Living by the Creek, Northampton. Her husband of 50 years, Robert R. Kleckner, died October 23, 1997. Born in Northampton, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Rachel Rabert Fritzinger. A

04/29/2026

Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

04/24/2026

This warmer weather means we can get outside more, maybe take a leisurely walk. Our local, historic cemeteries offer a glimpse of our history while providing a safe place to meander. God’s Acre, on West Market Street, with a walking path, benches for resting, and lots of shade trees is a good place to start. And, it's now part of our World Heritage Site designation. Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

04/23/2026

Today is World Book Day, a day to celebrate books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the opportunities that books open up to us- a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures. We are so fortunate in our town to have the Bethlehem Area Public Library. In existence since February 1, 1901, the library is open to all and has so much to offer! Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

Request items online by logging into your account and browsing the catalog. Be sure to select the bookmobile as the pickup location before submitting the request.

04/22/2026

Today is Earth Day 2026 a day to appreciate and respect our natural world. There are a few easy ways to recognize the day:

1. Support Our Pollinators!
2.Clean Up Plastic in Your Neighborhood or Local Park.
3.Swap Out Your Kitchen and Household Products!
4.Plant a Tree! We love our trees!

Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

04/20/2026

This week is National Library Week with the theme "Find Your Joy" to highlight the essential role libraries play in transforming lives and communities. Here are a few ways you can spread Library love.

*Visit your local library to discover new books, attend events, or use makerspaces.

*Share your "library joy" on social media.

*Appreciate library staff for their work on National Library
Bethlehem Area Public Library Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

04/17/2026

Vincent Henry Pace, 82, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at his home on April 13, 2026.

Born and raised in Bethlehem, Vincent was a proud graduate of Liberty High School. He dedicated his professional life to the field of information technology, spending his entire career as a Systems Analyst. He most recently worked in the computer department at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Vincent also honorably served his country as a member of the United States Army Reserve.

In his younger years, Vincent was an avid baseball player and remained a lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Phillies. He found great joy in gardening and took immense pride in maintaining his lawn and vegetable garden. He loved to cook, barbecue, and host family and friends for memorable clam bakes in his backyard. Vincent will be remembered as a devoted family man who was hardworking, funny, and always willing to lend a hand.

He was a proud member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Forest #61, where he served as Grand Tall Cedar in 1984. He was also a member of Bethlehem Blue Lodge #283.

Vincent is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sandra (Hunt) and his loving children, Douglas Pace and his wife, Dyan, and Kimberly Denardo and her husband, Dennis. He was a cherished grandfather to Justin Rivera, Rachel Rivera, Olivia Rivera-Willow, Aidan Pace, and step-grandson Aaron Denardo. He was also blessed with great-grandchildren, Remi and Hudson Rivera, and great step-grandchild, Sienna Denardo.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew and loved him.

Services for Vincent will be private. Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

Vincent Henry Pace, 82, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at his home on April 13, 2026. Born and raised in Bethlehem, Vincent was a proud graduate of Liberty High School. He dedicated his professional life to the field of information technology, spending his entire career as a Syst...

04/16/2026

We love the welcoming symbol of the pineapple and you'll see them a lot when you visit us. We often think of Hawaii when we think of pineapples but it is thought to have originated in South America. Fun Fact: The tasty fruit was carried on sailing ships around the world because it was found, like oranges, to help prevent scurvy, a devastating disease that often afflicted sailors on long voyages. It was at the end of one of these long voyages that the pineapple came to Hawaii to stay. Pearson Funeral Home

04/14/2026

Today is National Gardening Day .... a day that encourages gardeners and would-be gardeners to pick up a shovel, plant some seeds, and kick off a beautiful year of homegrown goodness. Flowers in bloom always lift the spirits and the pollinators love it, too! Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

04/12/2026

We're back with our annual reminder! Don’t kill the dandelions in your yard…. They are feeding our VIP's (very important pollinators)! Did you know that honey bees pollinate about 80% of the world's crops! Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

04/06/2026

Carmen Cabrera, 55, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on March 30, 2026.

Born in Manhattan, New York, she was a daughter of Carmen (Cruz Rojas) Cabrera and the late Jose Cabrera.

Carmen was a graduate of Freedom High School; she was employed as a Notary Public.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by four children, Jose Martinez, Hector Gonzalez, and Kayleann Gonzalez; and nine grandchildren.

Services were held on April 3, 2026, in Bethlehem Memorial Park Cemetery. Pearson Funeral Home, Inc.

Carmen Cabrera, 55, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away on March 30, 2026. Born in Manhattan, New York, she was a daughter of Carmen Cruz Rojas Cabrera and the late Jose Cabrera. Carmen was a graduate of Freedom High School she was employed as a Notary Public. In addition to her