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Chester County Press

Obituaries for the week of July 5

07/05/2021 08:34PM ● By Steven Hoffman

Karen STEWART Perrone

Karen Stewart Perrone passed away peacefully in her beautiful home in Crystal Beach Manor in Earleville, Md. on June 19. She was surrounded by her loving family. Despite her struggle with cancer, she lived her life to the fullest with her husband Albert, and her friends and family.

Her determined spirit and strong will took her on many adventures while enduring treatment, including skiing on the slopes of Okemo, Vermont, zip lining in the canopy of Cancun, Mexico, and hiking the natural wonders of the southwest.

Karen was born on March 6,1961 in Princeton, NJ. The eldest daughter of Robert and Carol Stewart, she grew up in Hopewell NJ. 

She graduated from Hopewell Valley Central High School in 1979 and in 1983 graduated from Ohio Wesleyan with a bachelor of fine arts degree. Soon after graduation, she started a family and was a devoted and loving mother to her three sons and doting grandmother to her two grandchildren. Her children were her proudest accomplishment.

As a young girl, Karen learned to sew and quilt from her grandmother and as a teen made her own clothes and prom dresses. She continued to develop her sewing talent and artistic creativity which launched a career designing and crafting custom bridal gowns and evening wear. She also started Stewart Custom Design, a line of custom fleece outer wear and accessories. One of her clients included the US Olympic Bobsled team. She worked at various bridal boutiques, custom fitting and altering dresses for many happy brides in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Karen loved hiking in the White Mountains and enjoyed summers with her sons on Kezar Lake in Lovell, ME. 

She was an avid runner, skier, and played on the team, Chicks with Sticks, an all-women’s ice hockey league from Kennett Square. She was a member of the Four Seasons Motorcycle Club with her husband Albert and Newark area friends. Karen’s happy place was cruising the rivers of the North East Chesapeake with all who visited. You could often find her on sunny afternoons seated on the bow of her boat, the wind lifting her blond curls, and a big smile on her beautiful face.

Karen is survived by husband Albert Perrone; a son, Benjamin Schluter, and his children Birchal and Bethani; a son, Robert Schluter and his wife Caitlyn; a son, Samuel Schluter, and his stepson Jeffery, stepdaughter Lauren Lyon and her husband Patrick and their children Harrison and Grayson; sweet mother Carol Stewart, sister Celia Shafer and husband Mark, sister Alison Batman and husband William, sister Emily Stewart and husband Drew, and her best friend in the whole world, Mary Dougherty Johnson. 

Karen leaves behind an extended family and many, many friends who will all miss her dearly.

Services were held on June 25 at the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.

Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Kennett Square.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to  Kezar Lake Watershed Association, P.O. Box 88, Lovell, ME 04051 or online at https://kezarwatershed.org/donate.

To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.


Greta Jewett

Greta Jewett was born on Thursday, Jan. 2, 1936 and died on June 18, 2021. Greta lived all of her life in Kennett Square with her family of grandparents, her mom, aunts, uncles and cousins.

She attended Kennett Square High School where she graduated in 1954. Greta always was proud of that accomplishment.

After graduating, she got a job at NVF in Kennett and worked alongside her aunt Hazel and cousin Charles until her retirement in 1991 after 35 years.

While at NVF, she had a devastating accident that was reported about in the local papers on Jan. 9, 1956. A two-foot steel rod broke off her machine and pierced her head 8 1/2 inches into her skull downward into her neck. She never lost consciousness, never complained and walked to an employee’s car with her aunt and they drove to Chester County Hospital as quickly as possible over icy roads. In West Chester, the car broke down and they called the police and she had to walk to their car to complete the trip. The surgeons operated and said less than a quarter inch either way and she would have died. Miraculously, she survived with no permanent injuries, no blindness or disfigurement. Greta had just turned 20 at the time of the incident.

Even after the accident, Greta always considered herself lucky (by surviving) and in 1983 she hit the Pennsylvania Instant Lottery for $1,000 a month for life and has been receiving payments for 38 years. 

After moving closer to the Kennett Square Senior Center with her cousin Charles in 2000, she attended Friday night bingo and continued her winning ways. She loved the Senior Center and attended almost every day it was open morning, noon and evening, along with many sponsored day trips. Every chance she got, she went to Atlantic City or Delaware Park and always won frequently at slots.

She finally had to enter Pocopson on April 17, 20015 and she tried to adapt by going on day trips to Longwood Garden and nearby Chester County as well as her frequent bingo playing times. She discovered she had a talent for poker and though she might have been the only woman playing, she enjoyed beating the men and receiving her award certificates she proudly displayed. She did enjoy going to Lenape Park and nearby Nixon Park where she won many medals for various sports activities and had dozens hanging in her room. She even got to attend two Kennett class reunions, the last on July 14, 2018 at Jenner’s Pond. She went to several Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties at Mendenhall and The Farm to see her old Senior Center friends. She never completely accepted her final place, where her mother had spent many years before she died, but she did the best she could under the circumstances she found herself in her later years. Greta was always single and unique in her own way.

Greta is truly the last of the Malin family. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Arthur and Annie Malin; her mother, Ethel Malin Jewett; her aunts, Ruth, Hazel and Blanche, all Malins; and her cousins, Janet Malin and Charles Malin, with whom she lived almost her entire life together in Kennett Square.

She is survived by only two (non-Kennett) cousins, Roy (Sam) Thompson and Doug Thompson. A cousin Ronnie chose to retire to Hawaii many years ago and she always asked about him, but never heard anything.

The funeral was held on June 26 at Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.  

Burial will be at New Garden Friends Cemetery in New Garden Township, where she will be united with all of her Malin family.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.


Adam Wayne Pierce

Adam “Nate” Wayne Pierce, of Avondale, passed away on June 22. He was 43.

Born in Lancaster, he was the son of Robert Pierce, Jr of Oxford and Wilma Guy Gentry of Avondale.

Nate enjoyed fishing and spending time with his boys.

He is survived by his father; mother; stepfather, Jimmy Roark; companion, Jackie Adkins; three children, Dustin Pierce, Austin Pierce and Tyler Fountain; one brother, Robert Pierce; one sister, Sandy Pierce; and one half-brother, Kevin Pierce.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Alvin Buchanan and Mary Guy South; and paternal grandparents, R.H. Pierce and Rosie Pierce. 

Funeral services were held on June 29 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home in Oxford.

Interment will be private. 

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.


Ronal Fenstermacher

On July 1, Chevis Regal’s stock price fell sharply on the news of Ronal Fenstermacher’s passing. Senior executives at Chevis called an emergency meeting to brace for the impact of the anticipated drop in sales.

He was born in West Chester to Hilda Lane Gordy on Jan. 3, 1946. Ron was a graduate of West Chester High School in 1963 and the Philadelphia College of Art in 1968.  In 1968, Ron was drafted by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.  He was sent to Japan for a bullet to the knee and a case of malaria.  He was honorably discharged in 1970.

Poppy, age 75, bought the farm, is no more, has ceased to be, left this world, is bereft of life, gave up the ghost, kicked the bucket, murió, c'est fini. In a few short weeks, esophageal cancer took his life. He was always the life of the party, but when it was time to go, he slipped quietly and peacefully out the back door.

Ronal is survived by his wife Edythe Joines Fenstermacher and his two children, Heidi Fenstermacher and her wife Sarah McDonald and Curtis Fenstermacher and his husband Jay Hummel. His first wife Nancy Fenstermacher is the mother of the wonder twins.  Ron will also be missed by Nancy’s wife Barbara Churchville.  He is also the best Poppy to his amazing grandson, Bodie Fenstermacher. He will also be missed by his cousin Kirk Grim and his family as well as his two sisters Brenda Montague and Holly Davis. He was predeceased by his favorite fur person, Pooh Bear.

Mr. Ron would like to let you know that his work here is done. He received a call, a sort of an offer you can’t refuse, for an appointment from which he will not be returning. This assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus, a reunion with family and friends he has not seen in a long time. Job security is exactly 110 percent. His new mission takes him to a wonderful place where he will be socializing, dancing, gardening and reading to his heart’s content. Music, laughter and love are guaranteed. Food is delicious and you never gain an ounce. He left detailed instructions for his wife and children to celebrate his mission here, which has now been completed. Low adherence to this instruction will not be tolerated.

He lived 1,000 years in his 75 years on Earth, because he attacked life. He grabbed it by the lapels, kissed it and swung it back onto the dance floor. Ronal was world-renowned for his lack of patience, not holding back his opinion, and a knack for telling it like it is.  He was highly proficient at cursing. He did the New York Times crossword puzzle every Sunday, in ink. 

He had a career in interior design and created amazing spaces for clients who became friends.  He was published in design magazines for his wonderfully creative and unique projects from coast to coast. He had the most amazing gardens that overflowed with wonder and excitement.  He had a zest for life’s adventures – travel, food, libations and fun.

Ron was a Rotarian for many years and was proud of the work that Rotary did in the community and around the world.  He will be honored posthumously as the Most Social Rotarian of the Year in 2021. 

Ronal is remembered as a man who left a trail of laughter, generosity, compassion, wisdom and of course his fabulous hat collection.

Please don your most festive hat and join us for a “Life of the Party” celebration in memory of Ronal Fenstermacher. We plan to honor a life well lived on Sunday, July 18 from noon to 3 p.m. at Sovana Bistro in Kennett Square, which was not only Ron’s favorite “kitchen,” but also his last creative gift to the world.  

Contributions in his memory may be made to Longwood Rotary Club, PO Box 781, Kennett Square, PA . 19348 or donations can be made online.

Betty Jane Griffith

Betty Jane Griffith, a resident of Elkton, Md., passed away on July 2 at the Elkton Care and Rehabilitation Center. She was 92.

She was the wife of the late Sanford Elmer Griffith. Born on July 4, 1928, in Centerville, Del., she was the daughter of the late Nelson and Mary (Clough) Carey.

Betty was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. She grew up in the Landenberg United Methodist Church and attended later in life at the St. John’s United Methodist Church in Lewisville.  She loved to garden and was an amazing baker.  She was known for her coconut custard and angel food cake. Most of all, she loved her family.

She is survived by her son, Donald S. Griffith of Fair Hill, Md. and her grandchildren, Matt Griffith (Katy), Christina Trimble (Mike), Amanda Fesel (Rod), Christopher Hocking (Crystal), and Jeremy Griffith. She is also survived by her six great-grandchildren and her brother, Nelson Carey, Sr.  

In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by her daughter-in-law Julie Griffith.

All services will be private.  

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Frances Lynch for her attentive care and friendship.  

Arrangements are being handled by the Foulk Funeral Home of West Grove. 

Please visit Betty Jane Griffith’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Anna Crossan Paxson

Anna Crossan Paxson, a resident of Kirkwood, Pa., passed away on July 2 at Lancaster General Hospital. She was 100 years of age.

She was the wife of the late James H. Paxson.

Born in Landenberg on Feb. 19, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Herbert E. and Helen Spencer Crossan.

Anna and Jim resided in Landenberg and Jennersville until moving to Apopka, FL. She resided in Kirkwood, Pa. for the last few years. 

Anna was employed with the Allied Kid Company, in Wilmington Del. before retiring from the University of Delaware, where she worked as a secretary. 

She was a member of Landenberg Methodist Church and Landenberg Willing Workers. She also belonged to the Octoraro Chapter #463 Order of Eastern Star (Oxford) for 60 years. 

She was an avid golfer and, when she was in her 60s, she shot two holes in one. One of her greatest joys was also spending time with her family.

She is survived by two sons, James C. Paxson (Doris) and Timothy H. Paxson (Dyann), all who reside in Kirkwood, Pa.; four grandchildren; nine-great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to River Hill Fox Hounds, 626 Pumping Station Rd., Kirkwood, PA 17536.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.