Obituaries for the week of Sept. 17
09/18/2018 01:11PM ● By J. ChamblessMARTIN GREGOR ANDERSEN
Dr. Martin Gregor Andersen, 95, passed away at Woodstown Friends Village on Sept. 9.
Martin graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point, N.Y.) with a B.S. in marine engineering, Wagner College (Staten Island, N.Y.) with a B.S., New York Medical College with an M.D., an internship and two years of general surgery residency at the U.S. Naval Hospital in St. Albans, N.Y.; the neurosurgical residency program at Yale, New Haven, Conn., and was certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He served as Chief of Neurosurgery at U.S. Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., and as Chief of Neurosurgery at U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam; and as Chief of Neurosurgery at U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, Calif.
Retiring from active duty in the U.S. Navy, Martin and his first wife, Lillian, moved to Roseburg, Ore., where he opened a private practice of neurosurgery. Lillian passed away there in 1979. In 1992, Martin married Alice “Betty” and returned to the East Coast to live in Kennett Square.
He is survived by his wife Alice P. “Betty” Andersen; two stepdaughters, including Nancy Cimprich and her husband Robert of Upper Pittsgrove Township, two step-granchildren, Dr. Holly E. Cimprich and her husband David Beauchemin, and Amy Cimprich and her husband Andrew Giovinazzi; and three step-grandchildren, Liliana Cimprich, Sadie Giovinazzi and Laurel Beauchemin.
He was born at the Norwegian Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the late Martin Haakon Andersen and the late Betsy Constance Andersen. His brother Hans and his twin brothers, Roy and John, preceded him in death.
A service was held Sept. 14 at the Deerfield Presbyterian Church in Upper Deerfield Township. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Martin’s memory to the Luke Society, 3409 S. Gateway Blvd., Sioux Falls, SD 57106.
BARRY W. THOMAS
Barry Wilson Thomas, 62, of Oxford, passed away on Sept. 9 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del.
He was the husband of Terry Elias Thomas, with whom he shared 16 years of marriage. Born in Philadelphia, he the son of the late Leiland and Alice Russell Thomas. Barry was employed with Frames Motor Freight in West Chester as a long-haul truck driver, and Olen’s Towing and Recovery in Oxford, retiring in 2010. He was a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club for over 30 years and Eagles Aerie No. 2666, Oxford. Barry enjoyed motorcycles, his 1978 Corvette, and spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Melissa Nichole Thomas of Oxford and Michelle Lynn Sewell-Crossan and her husband Daniel of Wilmington, Del.; five grandchildren; and two sisters, Janet Foltz of Avondale and Judy Dougherty of Nottingham.
A funeral was held Sept. 15. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Rd., Wilmington, DE 19803. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
MARY BETH MORRISON
Mary Beth Morrison, born in 1979 in Nottingham, became an angel on Sept. 8 at the young age of 39.
Mary Beth fought a very brave fight against cancer. Since her diagnosis in December of 2017, she has met this ugly disease head on, without complaint, and tried her best to beat it.
Mary Beth is survived by her loving husband, Michael Paul Morrison, her high school sweetheart and with whom she shared an amazing marriage of 15 years; her daughters, Brittney Smyth, Savannah Morrison, and Madison Morrison, all at home; her father, Charles Snyder, Sr., of Kirkwood; three sisters, Cindy Dawson of Coatesville, Theresa Kurtz of Quarryville, and Christine Perkins of Kirkwood; and one brother, Charlie Snyder, Jr., of Quarryville. She was preceded in death by her mother, Rebecca Snyder. Mary Beth also leaves behind her brothers-in-law, Mark Kurtz and Jim Perkins; as well as her much loved nieces and nephews.
Mary Beth will be best remembered as a giving, generous, compassionate soul. She never hesitated to offer help to those in need and spent her lifetime being a Good Samaritan. She loved the beach, her cats, 80s music and going to concerts, reading and doting on her much-loved family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Nottingham Baptist Church (303 W. Christine Rd., Nottingham) onOct. 6 at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PA Wounded Warriors (www.pawoundedwarriors.org). To send an online condolence, visit www.CremationPA.com.
MARIE C. GREGG
Marie C. Gregg, 93, of West Grove, passed away on Sept. 10 at home.
She was the wife of the late Harold F. “Greggie” Gregg. Born in West Grove, she was the daughter of the late James F. and Jennie Ostensen Conner. Marie was a member of the Avondale Presbyterian Church and the VFW Auxiliary in Kennett Square. She was employed by the late Sir John and Lady Esther Thouron, the Avon Grove Diner and the Pennsupreme Dairy Bar in Avondale, retiring in 2007.
She is survived by one son, Jay Gregg (Chari Towne) of Pomeroy; two daughters, Johanne M. Pierce (Gerald) of West Grove, and Joyce G. Swisher (Tim) of West Grove; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Helene Poore; and one brother, James A. Conner.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 6 at the Avondale Presbyterian Church (420 Pennsylvania Ave., Avondale), where family and friends may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. A private burial will be held in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Port Penn, Del. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Canine Partners for Life, 334 Faggs Manor Rd, Cochranville, PA 19330; or the Avondale Presbyterian Church Building Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.
ALMA LOGENE DISTEFANO
Alma Logene DiStefano, 89, passed away peacefully on Sept. 13.
She was the wife of the late Emedio “Meets” DiStefano, with whom she shared over 50 years of marriage. Together they had three daughters: Toni Marie of Newark, Del., Nancy Anne of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Kathleen Jean DiStefano of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Alma is also survived by her two sisters, Christine Troilo and Shirley Byrd of West Grove; four grandsons; as well as two great-granddaughters. She was predeceased by her twin, Alvin Dean Paisley.
Prior to her residency at Somerford in Newark, Del., she lived in her home in Landenberg for 20 years.
In her younger years, Jean, as she was often called, worked as a homemaker and bookkeeper for her husband’s mushroom business. Jean was a fun, lively soul. She enjoyed watching sports, especially the Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles. She also enjoyed gardening and travel. As a result of two of her daughters moving far away, she got to travel regularly to Arizona, Colorado and the Netherlands.
A memorial service will be held on Sept. 20 at noon at Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (250 W. State St, Kennett Square). Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Directly following the memorial service, Alma’s ashes will be buried at St. Patrick’s cemetery. Donations can be made to the Seasons Hospice Foundation. To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, visit www.griecocares.com.