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Chester County Press

Obituaries for the week of Oct. 31

11/01/2016 09:09AM ● By J. Chambless

ANTHONY L. Di FABIO

Anthony L. Di Fabio, 93, of Toughkenamon, passed away on Oct. 17 at his residence.

He was the husband of Rose Maria Basciani Di Fabio, who passed away in 2010, and with whom he shared 63 1/2 years of marriage. Born in Ardmore, he was the son of the late Louis and Mary Nespoli Di Fabio. Tony was a supervisor at the NVF Company in Kennett Square, retiring in 1986 after over 30 years of service. He was a member of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church in Avondale, and the American Legion and VFW, both in Kennett Square. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in the 11th Airborne, 472nd Field Artillery Para-Glider Battalion “The Angels." Tony enjoyed gardening, working in his yard, watching wrestling, watching QVC, and being with his family and friends.

He is survived by one daughter, Mary Ann Di Angelis and her husband Joe of Toughkenamon; two brothers, Frank Di Fabio of Newtown Square, and Henry Di Fabio of Aston; two granddaughters, Angela, and Jo Anne and her husband Eric; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one sister, Angelina Di Fabio; and two brothers, Louis Di Fabio and Charlie Di Fabio.

A funeral was held Oct. 24. Burial was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square. In memory of Tony, a contribution may be made to St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church, P. O. Box 709, Avondale, PA 19311; or to the American Diabetes Association, 150 Monument Road, Suite 100, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.


WILLIAM C. VERGOS

William Chris Vergos, 71, of Oxford, passed away on Oct. 17 at his home.

Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Chris and Mary Vergos. He served in the U.S. Navy at Moffett Field, Calif., and Okinawa, Japan, with the Naval Reconnaissance Unit. Bill enjoyed programming computers, sports, crossword puzzles, and playing the guitar.

He is survived by a daughter; Adrienne Vergos of Clarksville, Tenn.; a brother, Peter Vergos of Oxford; and a stepdaughter, Natalie Barroso of Ann Arbor, Mich.

Services were private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, 90 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.


REX D. WARD, SR.

Rex Darrel Ward, Sr., 80, of Nottingham, passed away on Oct. 20 at Lancaster General Hospital.

He was the husband of Betty E. Murray Ward, with whom he shared 59 years of marriage. Born in Independence, Va., he was the son of the late Fred J. and Ruby D. Edwards Ward. Rex was a rural letter carrier for the Nottingham Post Office for 29 years. He was a Baptist by faith. He was a member of the Teamsters Union. He enjoyed fishing, riding tractors, raising cows, farming, gardening and growing fruit trees.

He is survived by his wife; sons Rex Darrel Ward, Jr. (Terry) of Quarryville, Steven Ward (Susan) of Rising Sun, Md., and Fred Ward (Carolyn) of Quarryville; two daughters, Suzette James (Chuck) of Trophy Club, Texas, and Roxanne Sgro (Al) of Broomall; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and sister, Mary Edwards of Ohio.

Funeral services were held Oct. 25 at Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church (303 West Christine Rd., Nottingham, PA, 19362). Interment was in the adjoining church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the church. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

MERVIN J. KEEFER

Mervin J. Keefer, 86, of Wilmington, Del., passed away on Oct. 24 at Foulk Manor North Healthcare in Wilmington.

He was the husband of Regina Derham Keefer, with whom he shared 26 years of marriage. His first wife, Margaret “Peggy” Hogg Keefer, passed away in 1988. Born in Chambersburg, Pa., he was the son of the late Walter and Mary Hoch Keefer. He was a bookkeeper at Waste Management in Kelton, Pa., for over 25 years, retiring in 2000. He was a member of the West Grove Presbyterian Church since 1945. He had also served as the church treasurer. He enjoyed playing golf, playing cards, traveling, gardening, and being with his family and friends.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Michael J. Keefer of Pittsburgh, Scott B. Keefer and his husband Alf of Philadelphia, and Troy S. Keefer of West Chester; one daughter, Terri Larzelere and her husband Ron of Kennett Square; two stepsons, Kevin Kelly of Blades, Del., and Chuck Kelly and his wife Peg of Phoenix, Ariz.; two stepdaughters, Betty McCoy and her husband Jimmy of Pennsville, N.J., and Peggy Majors and her husband Kevin of Newark, Del.; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; nine step-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren.

A funeral was held Oct. 31. Burial was in the New London Presbyterian Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a contribution in his memory may be made to the West Grove Presbyterian Church, 139 Evergreen Street, West Grove, PA 19390. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.griecocares.com.


AARON T. MASON

Aaron Taylor Mason, 25, of Lincoln University, died suddenly on Oct. 24.

Born in Hartford, Conn., he was the son of Dennis and Sharyl (Bailey) Mason, and brother to Kathryn Mason of Bear, Del., and Christopher Mason of Newark, Del. He graduated from Avon Grove High School and the Technical College High School in 2010. He was a talented ASE certified auto mechanic who worked for a variety of shops, including Mid-Atlantic Grand Prix and Atlantic Tractor, as well as his own business, Advanced ATV. Aaron was passionate about all things mechanical. He was a professional and nationally ranked ATV racer, and a gifted musician who amazed all who heard him command any guitar he touched. He loved hard and deep, especially when he thought nobody was looking.

In addition to his parents and siblings, survivors include: his maternal grandparents, Donald and Elizabeth Dionne of North Windham, Conn., and James I. Bailey of Greensboro, N.C.; his paternal grandparents, Carroll and Priscilla Mason of Stafford Springs, Conn.; his fiancée, Kelsey McFadden and her children, Mia and Cash of Landenberg; his brother-in-law, Matthew Francis (Kathryn) and niece, Madeline; his sister-in-law, Sadie Lueck (Christopher) and niece, Luna; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Aaron will be missed by all who knew and loved him, but he will live in our hearts and his memory cherished always. A visitation with family and friends will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (250 W. State St., Kennett Square). A service celebrating his life will follow at 6 p.m. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 3803 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.griecocares.com.


VIRGINIA L. SAPP

Virginia (Jennie) L. Sapp, 66, of Oxford, went to be with the Lord on Oct. 27 at Lakeside at Willow Valley, Lancaster.

She was the wife of Kenneth S. Sapp, with whom she shared 48 years of marriage. Born in Gettysburg, she was the daughter of the late James P. and Mildred Price Slauch. Jennie was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in New Providence. She was a graduate of Oxford Area High School class of 1968. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and her grandchildren and family. We were honored to call this amazingly strong, selfless, beautiful, most loving person mom. She endured a battle with MS and cancer with dignity, perseverance and never complained. With a smile on her face…she made this world a better place.

She is survived by her husband; daughter, Aimee J. Smoker (Jarelle) of Willow Street; son, Kevin S. Sapp (Keri) of Lititz; five grandchildren, Erika Smoker, Julia Smoker, Caleb Smoker, Avery Sapp and Anna Sapp; and sister, Melissa J. Hostetter (William) of Oxford.

Funeral services were held Nov. 1. Interment was in Union Cemetery in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Divine Sent Food Cupboard, 198 Barnsley Rd., Oxford, PA 19363. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.


NANCY RUTH SNOW

Nancy Ruth Snow, 74, of Lincoln University, passed away on Oct. 26 at her home.

She was the wife of Leland Snow, with whom she shared 54 years of marriage. Born in Dover, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Jacob and Velma Lecher Abel. Nancy enjoyed breeding bulldogs and loved showing them. She was a member of the American Kennel Club, Bulldog Club of America and Lenape Bulldog Club.

She is survived by her husband; son, Timothy Snow (Iris) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; daughter, Suzanne Rogalsky (Kenneth) of Jackson, N.J.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (86 Pine St., Oxford), where friends and family may visit from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Willow Tree Hospice, 616 E. Cypress St., Kennett Square, PA 19348; or Paoli Cancer Center, 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli, PA 19301. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.


GUIDO J. FECONDO

Guido J. Fecondo, 92, of Landenberg, died on Oct. 29 at the Jennersville Regional Hospital in West Grove.

He was the husband of Mary Jane Segner Fecondo, with whom he shared 65 years of marriage. Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late Joseph F. and the late Maria (DiGorgio) Fecondo. Guido was a graduate of Avon Grove High School.  His career was long and varied.  Early on, Guido owned and operated Fecondo Food Market in Avondale from 1947-1955. He worked for Westinghouse and was a manager at Starr Roses, Penn Eastern and Kelton Supply. In the later part of his career, he was a realtor for Hannum Realty.  He retired as owner of Hockessin Fine Foods.  

Survivors include, in addition to his wife, one son, Joseph V. Fecondo of Middletown, Pa.; one daughter, Patricia Y. Kieras and her husband Arthur of Landenberg; one sister, Mary Fecondo of Lima, Pa.; two grandchildren, Alison and Adam; and one great-grandson, Chase. 

A visitation with family and friends will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4 at Assumption BVM Catholic Church (300 State Rd., West Grove).  His mass of Christian burial will follow at noon.  Interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery in Kennett Square. Contributions in his memory may be made to Mother of Mercy House, 709 E. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19134. To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, visit www.griecocares.com.