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RONALD L. ALBERT

Ronald L. Albert, 64, Montrose, PA, formerly of Bodines/Ralston, PA died Monday, April 18, 2005 at Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center, Johnson City, NY. Born November 14, 1940 in Williamsport, PA, he was the son of Dorothy (Rauscher) Albert and the late Rollin Albert. His wife of 38 years, Judith (Davis) Albert survives him.

He was an avid civil war buff. He was a member and past treasurer of the Susquehanna County Historical Society, North-South Skirmish Association, past member of 137 NY Volunteer Infantry and present member of the 11th PA Volunteer Infantry, present member and past commander of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Ezra S. Griffin Camp #8, past Liberty Township Supervisor and present member of the Liberty Township Planning Commission.

Besides his wife, survivors include his daughters and son-in-law, Shannon Albert, San Jose, CA, Wendy and David Laney, Greenville, NC; two grandchildren, Joshua and Seth Laney; mother, Dorothy Rauscher; and a very special family friend, Jennifer Street.

The family received friends on Thursday, April 21, 2005 at the Bartron-Myer Funeral Home, A Selected Independent Funeral Home, 74 Church Street, Montrose, PA 18801. Interment will be in the Pennsdale Cemetery on Route 14.

The family suggests that, if desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Susquehanna County Historical Society, 2 Monument Square, Montrose, PA 18801.

KATHRYN UPRIGHT

Kathryn Upright, 92, of Thompson, PA passed away on Monday, April 18, 2005, at her home.

She was born in South Canaan, PA, the daughter of the late Charles and Laura (Hoadly) Racht.

Kathryn was predeceased by her husband, Steave Upright, on October 21, 1989; her son, Joel Upright; grandson, Brian Upright; two brothers, Harold and Clifford Racht; one sister, Gladys Vaverchak.

She is survived by one daughter, Norma Houck; nine sons, Carl, Donald, David, Leslie (Stan), Eric, Kirk, Kevin, Maynard and Mark; 33 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Floran Racht.

Kathryn was a member of St. Paul’s Church, Starrucca, PA, Christian Mothers Association and Thompson Fire Company Women’s Auxiliary. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years and a Children’s Religious Instructor. Kathryn loved to make quilts and paint. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

The funeral service was held on Thursday, April 21 at St. Paul’s Church, Starrucca, where a Mass of Christian Burial was offered by the Rev. John O’Bell. Burial, St. James Cemetery, Pleasant Mount, PA. A memorial service will be held on August 13 at the Thompson Fire Hall.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Church, Starrucca, PA 18462.

MARGARET MARY VENTRESCA

Margaret Mary “Marge” Moran Ventresca, 64, Montrose, PA, departed her earthly life and was welcomed into eternal life on Wednesday, April 20, 2005 after a valiant battle against breast cancer.

Marge was born October 5, 1940 in Larksville, PA. She was the daughter of Mary Grigas Moran and the late John Moran.

Besides her father, her first husband, Joseph Kenneth DiPhillips, his parents, Joseph and Lillian DiPhillips and her father-in-law, Angelo S. Ventresca, predeceased her.

After graduating from Larksville High School in 1958 as the class Salutatorian, Marge pursued a nursing degree at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital School of Nursing, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Upon her graduation with honors as a registered nurse in 1961, she relocated to Bryn Mawr, PA, and began her professional nursing career.

In 1964, Marge married Joseph "Ken" DiPhillips and the newly married couple settled in King of Prussia, PA, where Marge became a full-time mom after the birth of Diane in 1965. After the 1970 death of Ken DiPhillips, Marge DiPhillips met Angelo Ventresca, Jr., who had suffered the untimely death of his wife Edith. They married in 1971. Each had a son and daughter who they adopted, establishing a new Ventresca family. The newlyweds and their four children lived in the Mt. Airy area of Philadelphia until 1977, when they settled in Fairdale, PA.

Many patients at the former Montrose General Hospital, where she worked for several years, appreciated Marge’s nursing talents and kindness. In 1981, she used her organizational skills, assisting her husband in the family business of Ventresca Associates from which she recently retired in 2003. She was an active member of Holy Name of Mary Church, Montrose, PA, a dedicated volunteer for the American Red Cross and a member of the Fairdale Grange. Marge loved gardening and made it a fun-filled family affair. She shared the lessons, the fruits and the bounty of gardening with her children, whom she brought to full bloom with the same joy, love, care and meticulous attention to detail that she used to nurture her garden. She was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker.

Marge is survived by her husband of 33 years, Angelo Ventresca, Jr. and her children, whom she deeply loved and continually praised, Angelo Ventresca, II and wife Alessandra, of Oklahoma City, OK, Diane (DiPhillips) and husband John Koloski, Ken DiPhillips and wife Ellen, Donna (Ventresca) and husband Robert Fassler, all of Montrose. Surviving also are her beloved grandchildren, Joey and Samantha Scholz, Jessica Fassler, Julia, David and Madison Koloski, Amelia and Richie DiPhillips, all of Montrose, and Daniela Ventresca, Oklahoma City, OK. Her mother, Mary Moran, South Montrose; mother-in-law, Amelia Ventresca, Drums, PA and sisters, Jean Gavlick, Bryn Mawr, PA, Patricia and husband, William Jervis, Osprey, FL, a sister-in-law, Margarita and husband Victor Rossi, Hazleton, PA, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Her loving family and devoted friends mourned their loss while rejoicing in Marge’s new eternal life at a Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Father James Nash, Holy Name of Mary Church on April 23. A committal service and interment will be held at a future date.

The family suggests that if so desired, memorial contributions may be made in Marge’s memory to Holy Name of Mary Church’s Social Concerns Fund, 60 S. Main St., Montrose PA 18801.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bartron-Myer Funeral Home, 74 Church Street., Montrose, PA.

MAUREEN MORGAN

Maureen Morgan, née Mary Margaret Cotter, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2005 in Austin, Texas from heart failure.

Mrs. Morgan was born March 14, 1926 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania to Terrence Cotter and Mary Ahearn Cotter. She received her RN in 1946 from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Elmira, NY, where she was a member of the US Cadet Nurse Corps. After graduation she returned to Susquehanna to work at Barnes-Kasson Hospital. She married Roger Francis Morgan, son of Joseph “Pat” and Marion Morgan of Lanesboro, PA on October 22, 1949.

Mrs. Morgan worked in private and public health care facilities where she developed a specialty in geriatric and psychiatric nursing care, before retiring as an inspector of long-term care facilities for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She actively kept in touch with friends and family from Susquehanna and classmates from St. Joseph’s, and enjoyed summers at the family’s cottage in Deposit, NY.

Her husband predeceased her in 1988. She was also predeceased by her parents, and siblings, Anthony Cotter, Sr., Margaret Cotter, IHM and Kathleen Adornato.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret Irene Baldwin, Ed.D. and Roger G. Baldwin, Ph.D., Okemos, Michigan, Ann Elizabeth Dimmick, Woodbine, Maryland, Susan Mary Morgan and Frank E. Robinson, M.D., Austin, Texas and Patrice Marion Morgan, Orlando, Florida; grandchildren, Peter and Ellen Dimmick, Eric, Eve and Megan Robinson; sister and brother-in-law, Michele Marie “Mickey” and Andrew Yoder, Dahlongea, Georgia; very special cousins, Edmund J. and Mary Ahearn, Susquehanna; Godchildren, Terrence Anthony Cotter, Kathleen Marie Adornato; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in the summer. A notice with details of the service will be placed in the County Transcript once plans have been finalized.

Memorial donations may be made to the Capital Campaign of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in Scranton, PA.

THOMAS JEREMIAH FLETCHER

Thomas Jeremiah Fletcher, 83, Susquehanna, PA, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2005 at Barnes-Kasson Hospital SNF after an illness. He was born May 27, 1921 in Brandt, PA, the son of the late Thomas H. and Tessie S. (Quick) Fletcher.

He was predeceased by his wife, Lena (Napolitano) Fletcher on November 26, 1999.

Thomas is survived by a sister, Naomi Davidson, Dalton, PA; a brother, Norman Fletcher, Great Bend, PA; a brother-in-law, Anthony Napolitano, Harpursville, NY; two sisters-in-law, Anna Napolitano, Susquehanna, Barbara Mirabito, Binghamton, NY; several nieces, nephews, and close family and friends.

Jerry, as he was known by most, grew up in Thompson, PA. He attended the Thompson Vocational High School, and then went on to Williamsport High School, where he took courses in sheet metal work, building construction, and studied agriculture. He then entered the US Army Air Force in August, 1942. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and served his country as an airplane and engine mechanic until his honorable discharge in 1946. Jerry then worked for the PA State Highway Dept., was an auto mechanic at Wescott Motors in Susquehanna and for Sears in Binghamton until his retirement.

He was a member of St. John’s Church of Susquehanna, American Legion Post 86 and Disabled American Veterans and Air Force Association. Jerry was an avid bowler for many years and always supported many veterans’ organizations and other charitable groups.

While Jerry and his wife, Lena had no children of their own they treated their extended family as if they were their own children. Jerry was a loving husband and was a kind and generous man with a truly good heart. He loved his country, was very patriotic and helped a lot of people in his lifetime. Jerry always looked forward to visiting family and friends. Jerry was fortunate to have good family and friends who always made sure he had a nice place to have holiday dinners. He will be missed by a lot of people, especially one nephew who was, in many ways, the son he never had.

The funeral service was held on Monday, April 25 at Hennessey’s Funeral Home, Susquehanna, and at St. John’s Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial was offered by Rev. Robert Simon. Burial, St. John’s Cemetery, Susquehanna.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, or nonprofit Veterans’ Organization.

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