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Chester County Press

Obituaries for the week of July 27

07/28/2020 11:56AM ● By Steven Hoffman
Dorothy Herman
Dorothy Herman, a resident of Oxford, passed away peacefully on July 20 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She was 63.
She was the loving and devoted wife of Richard Kevin Herman for more than 40 years.   
Dorothy was the daughter of the late Leo and Agnes Barbacovey.  Dorothy was born on Dec. 16, 1956 in Hamorton, Pa.
She graduated from Unionville High School in 1974.  
She worked for Wawa, Inc. from 1976 to 1986, where she met Rich, the love of her life, before resigning to stay at home with her children.  
Dorothy homeschooled her four children for most of their lives and instilled in them a love of nature, history, and the Lord.  When her children were older, she worked for The Friends Home in Kennett Square for 20 years. 
She had a passion for the Lord and was a member of Andrews Bridge Christian Church.  She loved baking with her children and grandchildren, enjoyed having tea with her sisters, and family trips to the beach.  Having grown up on the Longwood Gardens property, it held a very special place in her heart, which she passed on to her children.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her two daughters, Kristine (Sarah) Herman and Erin (Shaun) Hartley; two sons, Mark (Laura) Herman and Adam (Jaime) Herman; and two beautiful granddaughters. 
She is preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws, and a brother-in-law.
Services and internment will be private. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Lighthouse Youth Center at 245 Commerce St. Oxford PA, 19363.
Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. Oxford.
Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

Constance Sallie Taylor
Constance Sallie (Reichard) Taylor, a resident of Chadds Ford, passed away on July 18. She was 94.
She passed at home with her daughter Cindy at her side, listening to music and stories of wonderful family times, and following a day-long visit by her four children and other family members.
Constance was born in Allentown on New Year’s Eve 1925 to the late Lulu Lillian (Lichtenwalner) and George Washington Reichard. She had one brother, George Edgar, who died last year, and a half-sister, the late Elizabeth Brown.
Connie had two great loves in life: her family and music. She graduated in 1947 from West Chester State Teachers College with a degree in Music Education. Her instrument was the piano. Her first teaching job was a newly created one – to introduce a music curriculum to rural schools in the Allentown countryside. 
Connie married Frederick Taylor of Chadds Ford in June 1949, moved to West Chester and continued teaching for a time. She became involved in church music at Brandywine Baptist Church in Chadds Ford, then was organist and choir director for many years at Bethlehem Methodist Church in Thornton. She was a Soroptimist member and enjoyed bowling.
She and Fred started their family in 1951, when Frederick Harper Taylor, Jr., was born, and grew to a family of four children. She gave up teaching to focus on her children. 
Connie encouraged her husband during his work at Ford Motor Co. in Chester, then in his new business, Taylor’s Service Center in Chadds Ford, which they purchased in 1964 and is still family-owned and operated today. Fred died Dec. 22, 1995.
In her later years, Connie frequently stayed with her daughter, husband and their son in Landenberg and wintered with her daughter in Southern California, where Connie made new and beloved friends. 
Connie is survived by her children Fred Jr. (Beth); Cathy (Robert); Cindy (Larry) and David (Helen). She has eight living grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Connie lost a beloved grandchild earlier this year, David Jr.  
The family is immeasurably grateful to Dr. Jean Stretton and nurse Mary Warrener, R.N., of West Chester, Home Helpers, Holisticare Hospice, Nancy and Jim Bonsall, the Brodoway family, and violinist Andrew Voghts for helping this gentle, musical soul pass peacefully forward. 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests support for Community Hospices of America Foundation c/o Holisticare Hospice, 685 Kromer Ave., Berwyn, PA 19312. Donations may be made online at chafoundation.net/contribute-online. Please indicate Holisticare Hospice so the funds can be applied to those patients.
Services were held on July 24 at Brandywine Baptist Church.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Kuzo Funeral Home, Kennett Square. Constance will be laid to rest next to her husband at Brandywine Baptist Church Cemetery. 

CLIFFORD B. OWENS
Clifford B. Owens passed away peacefully at his home in New London Township on July 14 at the age of 95.  
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford B. Owens and Priscilla Hinchman Owens Dudley of Haddonfield N.J. and his wife, Shirley Nash Owens. 
He is survived by his brother, Sgt. Major, Richard E. Dudley, USMC retired, Jacksonville, NC, daughter Barbara O. Ledezma of Rockwall, TX, grandson Vincent A. Ledezma of Greensboro, NC, nieces Sherry Latoz and Ginger Tuton, both of Jacksonville, NC, Cindy Blankenship of Oregon City, OR, nephew Scott Dudley of Ramstein, Germany and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was born in Camden, NJ and graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School in 1942.  Clifford joined the U.S. Marine Corps in March 1943, serving with honor until his discharge in November 1945.  He was a member of the Mitchell B-25 bomber squadron in the South Pacific on Emirau Island, also known as Emira, in the Bismarck Archipelago. As a turret gunner, he flew 35 missions over Rabaul and Kavieng, and was honorably discharged at the rank of E4 Sergeant. He earned the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In 1947, he and his wife moved to New London Township where he resided and farmed for the rest of this life, first as a dairy farmer, and then raising hogs, sheep and goats.  In the early 1990s, he was appointed to the New London Township planning commission and was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1996. He served in both capacities until 2001.  
Clifford was honored by the Kennett Square American Legion Post 491 in August 2005 for his service with honor and distinction in the Pacific Theatre in World War II.
He was a talented artist and was good at making wood carvings of birds, waterfowl, horses and small animals. Many local residents commissioned specialty carvings and his work has found its way across the country from Maine to California.
Services will be private.

MICHAEL A. KAFFENBERGER
Michael Alan Kaffenberger, age 39, of Wilmington, Del., passed away on July 15 at his residence.  
Born on September 7, 1980 in Wilmington, he is the son of Hartmut A. and Elke D. Kaffenberger of Chadds Ford.
Michael attended Tower Hill School in Wilmington and then Unionville High School, graduating in 1999.  He continued his education at the University of Pittsburgh, earning a bachelor of arts degree in communications.  He entered into a career in finance and banking, working in Philadelphia and Wilmington.  
In his free time, Michael enjoyed hiking in national parks, traveling, skiing, and deep-sea diving.  He could be found riding his terrain motor cycle, or working out at the YMCA.  Lastly, he loved all animals, particularly his family’s golden retrievers.
In addition to his parents, Michael is survived by his brother, Mark Kaffenberger (and his wife Guenevere) of Danbury, CT.
All services will be scheduled at a later date and will be for close family.  
Contributions may be made in Michael’s name to the Kennett Square Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 211 S. Broad Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348, or the Delaware Humane Association, 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.  
Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square. 
Please visit Michael’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.