CATHERINE HELEN DIFILIPPO MCCREARY

Catherine Helen DiFilippo McCreary, 87, of Avondale, passed away on June 20 at the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown, Pa.

Catherine was born in West Grove. She was the daughter of the late Joseph DiFilippo and Mary Touquilio DiFilippo of West Grove. She was the loving wife of the late Leon Samuel McCreary, Sr., who passed away in 1969. He was the one true love of her life. Catherine retired at age 65 from Kendal-Crosslands Life Care Communities, and continued working as a companion to the elderly, and as a teacher’s assistant at Longwood Learning Center.

Catherine’s greatest love was her family. She is survived by three children, Marie Malchione (Peter) of Avondale, Leon S. McCreary Jr. (Terri) of Abington, Md., and Kathleen Bard (Tony) of Oxford; six grandchildren, Adrienne Malchione (Brad) of Oxford, Nathan McCreary (Tracy) of Fallston, Md., Nicole Allen (Rudy) of Cochranville, Katherine Maxwell (Brian) of Avondale, Brandy Batista of Abington, Md., and Cassandra Gray (Jason) of West Chester; ten great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Joseph DiFilippo of Avondale, and Dominick (Norma) DiFilippo of West Grove. Catherine was preceded in death by one brother, Anthony J. DiFilippo.

A funeral was held June 24. Burial was in Saint Patrick Cemetery in Kennett Square. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Masonic Village Employee Fund, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.

JEREMY T. LAFFERTY

Jeremy Thomas Lafferty, 22, of Upper Darby, passed away on June 18 at Jennersville Regional Hospital in West Grove.

Born in Drexel Hill, he was the son of Daniel Lafferty of Upper Darby, Wendy Wright and stepfather Gene Hassell of Upper Darby. Jeremy was employed with the Sawmill Grill in Oxford as a chef.

He is survived by his parents; daughter, Mackenzie Lafferty of Oxford; two stepdaughters, Lilly Salas and Daisy Salas; two sisters, Crystal Lafferty and Trinity Hassell; three brothers, Daniel Lafferty, Jr., Joshua Lafferty and Sebastian Hassell, all of Delaware County; stepfather Gene Hassell of Upper Darby; and Jeremy’s loving companion, Crystal Salas of Oxford.

Funeral services were held on June 24. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

ROBERT A. PIERCE

Robert A. Pierce, 73, of Newark, Del., passed away at home, surrounded by his family, on June 21.

Born in 1942 in West Grove, he was son of the late John S. and Edna Mae (Steward) Pierce. Robert attended the Auburn Regular Baptist Church. He loved bowling with the Oxford League as well as playing softball for Hoffman’s Haven.

Robert is survived by his wife of 41 years, Shirley A. Pierce; stepson, Josh Peirson; six siblings, Elmer, Kennedy, James, Boyd, Jane, and Joe; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, John Pierce, Jr.

A funeral was held June 27. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to “NICU Helping Hands” and sent care of Tammy Milburn, 192 Booth Road, Elkton, MD 21921. To send condolences, visit www.rtfoard.com.

CLARABELL J. SHOOP

Clarabell J. Shoop, 78, of Lincoln University, passed away on June 22 at her home.

She was the wife of Aaron M. Shoop. Born in Tuckerdale, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Edgar and Lillie Powers Thompson. Clarabell was a member of Ocklokonee Council No. 212 Degree of Pocahontas in Oxford, and was the Past Great Pocahontas of Pennsylvania, and member of the Union Fire Co. No. 1 Auxiliary. She enjoyed crocheting and loved the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.

She is survived by her husband; one daughter, Judy L. Shoop of Downingtown; three grandchildren, Angela Sheets of Lincoln University, Missy Hodgden of Nottingham, and Sean M. Duffy of Downingtown; one great-granddaughter, Morgan Whitesell. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Patty A. Sheets.

A funeral was held June 27. Interment was in Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Russellville. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Betty Earhart Memorial Fund, c/o Kathy Clark, 18 Mason Dixon Dr., Rising Sun, MD 21911; or The Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

DORIS MARIE KING

Doris Marie King, 65, of Rising Sun, Md., formerly of Oxford, passed away on June 24 at Calvert Manor Healthcare Center in Rising Sun.

Born in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Robert S. and Donna L. Anderson King. Doris enjoyed music and attending church.

She is survived by one brother, Terrence King of Greenville, Va.; and three sisters, Joan Perry of Rising Sun, Md., Rebecca Vines and Yvonne Walters, both of Oxford. She was preceded in death by her sister, Angie Wylie.

A funeral was held June 28 at Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church. Interment was in the adjoining church cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

LORRAINE C. SPRINGEL

Lorraine C. (Hoag) Springel, 81, of Rising Sun, Md., formerly of Cochranville, died on June 26 at Calvert Manor Healthcare Center in Rising Sun, where she resided since 2008.

Born in Tinicum Township, she was the daughter of the late William A. and Eleanor J. (Colson) Hoag, and wife of the late Anthony M. Springel. After graduating from Ridley Park High School in 1952, Lorraine held various bookkeeping and clerical positions in Lancaster and Chester counties until retiring in 1995. She was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Parish in Oxford, and was honored to serve as organist in the mid-1970s. She enjoyed playing piano, painting, camping, sewing, quilting, ceramics, arts and crafts, and listening to religious and polka music. She was known for hosting annual Thanksgiving dinners for extended family and friends, which included hayrides, collecting pine cones and show-and-tell for the children. For many years, she enjoyed vacationing in Ontario, Canada, with her family, as well as her brother and sister and their families.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Anthony M. Springel; son, Anthony J. Springel; sisters, Rose Neff and Eleanor Del Grosso; and brothers, William (Billy) Hoag and Lawrence E. Hoag Sr. She is survived by her daughter, Bernadette Huss and her husband Ron Hurd of Newark, Del.; granddaughter, Lauren V. Springel and her fiancé Jeff Willis of Newark, Del.; grandson, Ethan M. Springel and daughter-in-law Theresa C. Springel, both of Rising Sun, Md.; and brother, Robert Hoag of Jacksonville, Fla.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. June 30 at Sacred Heart Church in Oxford, where friends may visit with the family beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be in Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Springfield. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Sacred Heart Church, 203 Church Road, Oxford PA 19363. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

FRANCES D. JACKSON

Frances D. Jackson, 84, of Oxford, passed away on June 25 at her home.

Born in New London Township in 1931, daughter to Vincent and Lydia Janney, and sister to Shirley Queen, she was raised in Lewisville, Pa. She was an avid photographer of historical places in Oxford and neighboring townships, and of neighborhood scenes and people. From 1958 to 1961, she served as a Brownie Scout Leader, and neighborhood chairman of the Oxford Girl Scouts. In 1988, she and her sister compiled a book on the Janney Family, as well as other families in relation. In November of 2002, they also compiled a history of the St. John’s UMC of Lewisville, and a pictorial directory in 2003. Throughout her years she worked for Chrysler in Newark, Del., as well as a bookkeeper at Walton's Chevrolet and Oldsmobile. A graduate of Oxford High School class of 1949, of which she was the vice-president, she served in that capacity for 50 years following graduation. She was an active member of the St. John’s United Methodist Church in Lewisville in early years, later joining the Oxford Presbyterian Church in 1958. She was a former deacon in the Oxford Presbyterian Church, a former member of the Oxford Research Club, the Oxford Senior Center, and the board of the Oxford Area Historical Association.

Survivors include her two sons, Randall Davis of Bayview, Md., and Steve Jackson of Oxford; grandchildren Joshua Davis, Jeremiah Davis and Travis Davis (sons of Mitchell Davis, deceased), Lauren Davis, and Rebecca Davis (daughters of Randall Davis); and nephews, Mark Pennington and Vincent Pennington of Delaware. She was predeceased by her first husband, Howard Davis; oldest son, Mitchell Davis; second husband, J. Robert Jackson; and sister, Shirley Queen.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. June 29 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford), where friends may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday. Interment will be in Oxford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Hospice of Lancaster County, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.