CHARLES W. SHOOP

Charles W. Shoop, 96, of Three Springs, died on July 15 at AristaCare at Woodland Park in Orbisonia, Pa., following an extended illness.

Born in 1920 in Pleasant Hill, Md., he was the son of the late Warren Ira and Anna (Frame) Shoop. He was united in marriage to M. Jean Johnson in 1938. He is survived by two daughters, Helen M. Redman and husband Willard of Shirleysburg, Pa., and Janet S. Wilson Day and husband Charles of Kennett Square; and two sons, Charles W. Shoop, Jr., and wife Mary of Tucson, Ariz., and Gerald L. Shoop and wife Barbara of Sarasota, Fla.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers, Clyde of Oxford, Benny of Wilmington, Del., and Mike of Lincoln, Pa. He was preceded in death by his wife, M. Jean Shoop; a son, Phillip R. Shoop; two sisters and four brothers.

Charles was a charter member of the Immanuel Bible Church in Three Springs, where he regularly participated in many teaching and service support activities over the years. He attended public schools in Oxford. He became a member of the New London Lodge No. 545 of the Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania in 1961 and eventually served as its Worshipful Master. He had been employed as a carpenter, builder and painter, and owned and operated a lawn mower shop. He served on the Board of Education for the Avon Grove Consolidated School District, and from 1967 to 1984, he was secretary-treasurer of the Borough of West Grove.

HAROLD J. SHORE

Harold J. Shore, 76, of Elkton, Md., passed away on July 17 at the Christiana Hospital.

He was the husband of Donna Smith Staats, with whom he shared 17 years of marriage. Born in Boone, N.C., he was the son of the late James C. and Alice Delphyne Jones Shore. Harold was a security officer at the Chester County Sheriff’s Office for the past 22 ½ years. Prior to that, he worked at the Lukens Steel Company as a draftsman for 10 years. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1961-1964, as an air traffic controller.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, James D. Shore and his wife Suzanne of Houston, Texas; one stepson, Louis Staats IV of Newark, Del.; two stepdaughters, Maegan Staats of West Chester, and Nyssa Reeves of Avondale; one sister, Jimmie Ann Shore Graver of Quarryville; and two step-grandchildren, Corinne and Caleb Reeves. He was predeceased by one daughter, Kelly Shore.

A service was held July 22. Burial was at the New London Presbyterian Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA 19380. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.

LENA D. LOVISA

Lena D. Lovisa, 81, of Kennett Square, was called from this life on July 19.

Lena was the wife of the late Frank Lovisa, with whom she shared 26 years of marriage; and the daughter of the late Augusto and Alfonsina Zunino. She is survived by her daughter, Roseann Jester and her husband Joseph; her sisters Anna Marrone and Teresa Waller; and her brothers Harry and Anthony Zunino. She was predeceased by her brother Joseph Zunino, and her godchild Christina Waller.

A lifelong member of Saint Patrick Parish, Lena graduated from Kennett High and went onto work for the J.J. Newberry Department store for over 10 years. For many years she assisted with the cleaning of the church on a weekly basis. She volunteered at a number of church functions, school events, and Girl Scout activities. She loved to work in her yard. She enjoyed cooking and cleaning for herself and others, was always ready to help anyone out with party preparations, and enjoyed throwing her own Christmas Eve family gatherings for a number of years.

Her mass of Christian burial was held on July 24. Burial was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square. In memory of Lena, a contribution may be made to St. Patrick Church, 205 Lafayette Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.

HELEN I. STIKE

Helen I. Stike, 93, of Rising Sun, Md., passed away at Twin Pines Health Care Center on July 20.

She was the wife of Ray D. Stike, Sr., who passed away in 2015, and with whom she shared 73 years of marriage. Born in Ogden, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Mary Gill Talley. She was a member of the Porter’s Grove Baptist Church. Helen enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cooking, taking care of her house and being with her family.

She is survived by one son, Ray D. Stike, Jr., of Elkton, Md.; one brother, John Talley of Rehoboth, Del.; one grandson, Joe Stike; two great-grandsons, Tyler Stike and Dylan Stike; and many nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by two brothers, Alfred Talley and Arthur Talley, Jr.; and four sisters, Mary Talley, Edith Dodson, Rachel Twaddell and Peg Newcomer.

A visitation with family and friends will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 26 at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (250 W. State St., Kennett Square). Her funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. Burial will be in the Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to the Porter’s Grove Baptist Church, 478 Connelly Road, Rising Sun, MD 21911. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.

MARGARET COOL JEWITT

Margaret Cool Jewitt died of natural causes on July 20 at Kendal-Crosslands in Kennett Square.

She was 94 years old. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, David Willard Pennock Jewitt.

Margaret is survived by her brother, Stuart H. Cool and his wife Anne of Walnut Creek, Calif.; her son, Joel Jewitt and his wife Christine; and grandchildren Will and Catherine of Redwood City, Calif.; as well as her daughter, Andrea Jewitt and partner Brian O’Meara of Key West, Fla.

The funeral service is planned for a later date in Fairfield, Conn. Condolences for the family may be shared at www.griecocares.com.

MARY CATHERINE O'CONNOR

Mary Catherine O’Connor (nee Schneider) of Oxford peacefully returned to the Father on July 23.

She was the beloved wife of Harry J. O’Connor, devoted mother of Molly Elizabeth and Emily Rose, and the loving daughter of Maryanne Havens Schneider and the late Frank Schneider. In addition to her husband and children, Mary is survived by her sisters Ellen, Katie and Madeline Sands (Jim); her brother Fred (Maria); and her “sister from another mother,” Holly Saget; her mother-in law Margaret O’Connor; and she was the sister-in-law of Margaret, Betty, Ann Block (Craig), Clare Block (Jeff), and Paul and Stephen (Diana) O’Connor.

Born in Northeast Philadelphia in 1955, Mary graduated from Bishop Conwell High School for Girls (Class of 1973). Mary was a member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Chestnut Hill for 10 years, and taught first grade in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., and Quakertown.

Mary and Harry celebrated 30 years of marriage on March 13, 2017. Her greatest accomplishment and lasting joy are her daughters, Molly and Emily. With young children to raise at the time of her breast cancer diagnosis, Mary bargained with God and asked to live long enough to see her daughters graduate from high school. When she achieved her goal she said, “If I had known, I would have asked to live to see my great-grandchildren!”

Mary worked for the Garnet Valley and Oxford Area School Districts as a kindergarten teacher aide. She loved teaching children and was said to “give the best hugs ever.” Her personality naturally attracted others and she had an infectious sense of humor. With faith, grace and determination, Mary faced the challenges of breast cancer for 16 years. The O’Connor/Schneider families are grateful to Susan Domchek M.D; Robin Hertzog CRNP, and the dedicated doctors and nurses of the Perlman Center at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital for their many years of devoted care to Mary.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing July 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine Street, Oxford) and 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church (203 Church Rd., Oxford) on July 28 at 11 a.m. The Rite of Committal will immediately follow at the Oxford Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that Masses be offered for Mary. The family suggests that those wishing to make donations in Mary’s memory consider LaSalle Academy, Attention Sr. Jeanne McGowan SSJ, 1434 N. Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122; or to the Oxford Educational Foundation, PO Box 142, Oxford, PA 19363. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.