BRIAN A. SMITH
Brian
A. Smith, 38, of Kennett Square, died on June 14.
Born in Baltimore, Md., he was the son of Ralph and Grace
(Pappalardo) Smith. Brian
was a 1995 graduate of Unionville High School, where he excelled in
both hockey and lacrosse while participating in academically talented
(AT) classes. In both sports, he earned several awards and
excelled in AAA travel hockey, Team Philadelphia, and the Chicago
Showcase a year earlier than most. Brian
was severely injured in a car accident during his senior year of high
school and left paralyzed. In spite of his condition, he
remained charismatic and outgoing. Through his ups and downs,
he handled himself with grace and determination. For five years, Brian enjoyed participating in the Bayada Regatta races in
Philadelphia. Brian
will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. His impact on
others will be known for years to come.
Survivors
include, in addition to his parents, the love of his life, Wendy Wick
and her kids Skylar and Josh; one sister, Kathleen Kolanko and her
husband Frank and their children Mary Paige, Erin, Frankie, Nolan,
Jamie and Crosby of Morrisville, Pa.; as well as aunts, uncles and
cousins.
A visitation with family and friends will be held June 18 from 6 to 9 p.m., and June 19 from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a
service in celebration of his life at 11 a.m. at the Kuzo & Grieco
Funeral Home Inc. (250 W. State St., Kennett Square). Interment will be held privately. Contributions in his memory
are encouraged to Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, 1095 NW
14th Terrace
R-48, Miami, FL 33136 or www.themiamiproject.org.
To view Brian’s online tribute, and to share a memory with his
family, visit www.griecocares.com.
OPAL C. DAVISOpal C. Davis, 91, of Oxford, formerly of Kemblesville, went home to the Lord, peacefully surrounded by her family, on June 13 at Ware Presbyterian Village in Oxford.
She was the beloved wife of S. Bruce Davis, with whom she shared 67 years of marriage, often referring to him as “my boyfriend.” Opal and Bruce shared a very special love for one another. Theirs is truly a beautiful love story.
Born in Grayson, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Winton Cicero and Amanda Baugess Patrick, and was the youngest of 10 children. She retired from the West Grove Knitting Mill as a seamstress. Opal was a longtime member of Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene, and remained active as long as her health permitted. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, cooking, and collecting porcelain dolls. She had a great sense of humor and had the gift of hospitality. Opal was devoted to her family and the Lord.
She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Almeda Massey (Robert) and Gail Dampman (Larry), all of New London; four grandchildren, Keith, Phillip, Scott and Kenneth Massey; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on June 18 at the Avon Grove Church of the Nazarene (240 State Rd., West Grove). Friends and family may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford), and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. Interment will be in Kemblesville United Methodist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Wounded Warriors, 4899 Belfort Rd., Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256. Online condolences may be made at
www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
JEAN VANDENHENGEL
Jean vandenHengel. (nee Bergh), 93, of West Grove, passed away on June 12, attended by her family at Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community.
She was the wife of George John vandenHengel, Sr., who passed away in 2005, and with whom she shared 58 years of marriage. Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Jeannette Johnson and Dr. Charles J. Bergh. She was a kindergarten teacher at Greentree and Sugartown Schools for 40 years, retiring in 1980. Jean grew up in Oakmont in Haverford Township. After graduating from Haverford High School, she went on to the University of Minnesota to study music. With her beautiful soprano voice, Jean sang with Demitri Metropolis and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. She was a 45-year member of the choir of Good Samaritan Church in Paoli.
She is survived by six children, Karen (Chip), Jack (Marilyn), Eric (Joanne), Peter (Debra), Bart (Kim) and Scott (Jodie). She was predeceased by a sister, Margaret; and a brother, Jack.
Her memorial service will be held on June 17 at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Good Samaritan (212 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli). Interment will be in the church memorial garden. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the National Parkinson's Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018. Online condolences may be made by visiting
www.griecocares.com.
MARY BURNETT
Mary “Betty” Burnett, 82, of West Grove, passed away on June 9 at the Chester County Hospital.
She was the wife of Robert B. Burnett, with whom she shared 65 years of marriage. Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late John J. and Edythe Fulton McDonaugh. She was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing, playing bingo and being with her family and friends.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, Robert B. Burnett, Jr. of Exton, James B. Burnett and his wife Susan of West Grove, and Dennis W. Burnett of Milton; three brothers, James R. McDonaugh of Avondale, William McDonaugh of Coatesville, and Robert McDonaugh of Landenberg; and five grandchildren, Dennis Jr., Jenny, Paige, Brooks and Chester. Betty was predeceased by two brothers, Jack McDonaugh and Richard “Freckle” McDonaugh; and one sister, Lucy Couden.
A funeral was held June 13. Burial was in Union Hill Cemetery in Kennett Square. Online condolences may be made by visiting
www.griecocares.com.
JOHNATHON EUGENE WOODS, SR.
Johnathon Eugene Woods, Sr., 27, of North East, Md., passed away on June 6 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
Born in West Chester, he was the son of Larry W. and Illiam Yvette Perez Woods of North East, Md. He was Baptist by faith. He enjoyed playing the guitar, singing and football. He was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan. He loved his children.
He is survived by his parents; three children, Gabriel Ivan Woods, Johnathon Eugene Woods, Jr., and Jozlin Woods; two brothers, Larry W. Woods, Jr. of Exmore, Va., and Kevin Wise II of North East, Md.; two best friends, Jacob Constien and Jeremia Constien, both of North East, Md.; companion, Ashyln Benn of Quarryville; and six sisters, Carolyn Woods, Christina Woods, Marlena Woods, all of North East, Md., Amanda Woods of Peach Bottom, Justine Woods and Lauren Woods, both of North East, Md.
Funeral services were held June 12. Interment was in Bible Fellowship Cemetery. Visit
CLYDE K. WEITZEL
Clyde K. “Tom” Weitzel. 88, of Oxford, passed away on June 12 at Maple Farm Nursing Home in Akron, Pa.
He was the husband of the late Matoka Anne Caldwell Weitzel. Born in Rawlinsville, he was the son of the late Paul W. and Anna E. Eshelman Weitzel. Tom was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II. He was employed with Chrysler Corporation in Newark, Del., retiring in 1994 after 23 years of service. He was a member of the Oxford United Methodist Church and Oxford Lodge No. 353 F&AM. He enjoyed working in the yard, refinishing furniture, and especially spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his son, Rodney Weitzel and his wife Denise of Ephrata; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one brother, William Weitzel of New Freedom; and two sisters, Lois Aukamp of Quarryville and Martha Frey of Willow Street. He was preceded in death by two sons, Chris Chandler Weitzel and Jeffrey Kirk Weitzel; and a grandson, Ryan Weitzel.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. June 17 at the Oxford United Methodist Church (18 Addison St., Oxford), where friends and family may call from 10 to 10:50 a.m. A Masonic service will be held at 10:50 a.m. Interment with full military honors will be in Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Hospice and Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125. Online condolences may be made at
www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
