Helen E. Maley

Helen E. Maley, 90, of Oxford, passed away at home on May 12, 2022.

Born in Colora, Md., she was the daughter of the late Granville I. and Mildred K. Harris.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Granville K. Harris, his wife Naomi Harris, and her sister-in-law M. Jane Maley.

Helen retired from Tax Claim as a bookkeeper with the County of Chester.  She attended Sacred Heart Church in Oxford and was a member of the Oxford Senior Center.

Helen enjoyed attending activities at the Senior Center, especially bingo. She also enjoyed taking care of her flower beds and shopping with her daughter Debbie.  She loved her many cats, Teddy, Timmy, Herbie, Fluff, Bella, TJ and Punkin.  She always had one of her furry friends in her lap while relaxing in the recliner or snuggled up against her while in bed.  

She is survived by two daughters, Deborah L. Maley and Sandy M. Sweed, one grandson, James S. Sweed, all of Oxford.  She is also survived by her nephews Keith Harris (Mary), Ronald Harris (Maxine), Kevin Harris (Roxsanne) and her niece Beth Dorsey (Robert), and Jane’s companion Wayne McCorkle.

Services are private.

Arrangements are by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford.

Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.

Catherine Claire Montgomery

Catherine "Kitty" Claire Montgomery went peacefully to eternal joy and rest during her sleep at 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at Ware Presbyterian Village Senior Living, where she resided for the past year. Her family misses her very much. 

On Nov. 29, 1940, Catherine was born to Reverend James Gaither Harris and Mary Council Harris in Ashe County, NC, and welcomed into a family of seven sisters and seven brothers. After residing in Ashe County for a short time, the family moved to Nottingham.

Kitty graduated from Oxford Area High School in Oxford. She was blessed with an excellent mind and excelled in high school, where her favorite subjects were English and mathematics. Her lifelong favorite activities were reading and crossword puzzles.

Kitty completed nursing school in West Chester and was certified as a licensed practical nurse. She began working as a nurse at Jennersville Hospital while caring for her first son, John Allen Thomas.

Catherine received Jesus Christ as her savior, being baptized at an early age. She attended Allen A.M.E. Church in Oxford. Later, she joined the Lincoln University A.M.E. Zion Church and continued her worship, service, and support there during her life.

In 1964, Kitty met her husband, James Henry "Monty" Montgomery, Jr. They moved to Baltimore while completing his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Maryland School of Law. Their son, James Henry Montgomery III, "Jamie," was born in Baltimore. 

While Kitty worked in Maryland, the prestigious Johns Hopkins University Hospital and the Maryland General Hospital recognized and awarded her service as an outstanding nurse. She returned to Pennsylvania and worked as a nurse at Jennersville Hospital until she retired. She also worked as a nurse at the Ware Presbyterian Senior Living Village until she left to spend time caring for her mother with other family members.

Kitty was lively and pleasant to be around. Her mental alertness, laughter, happiness, energy, and love of fun were exciting throughout her life. She was very active in her family reunion organization, the Roots of Love. She attended, supported, and actively recruited family members to participate in every reunion. Kitty never complained about her life. Kitty was loving, thankful, kind, caring, and mentally cogent to the end of her earthly sojourn. 

She leaves her son, James Henry Montgomery III (Natosha), and husband, James Henry Montgomery, Jr.; sisters, Mary Faye Harris of Nottingham, Sandy Harris of North Carolina, Linda Wallace of Port Deposit, Md.; brothers, George Harris (Barbara) of Nottingham, William Harris of Nottingham, John Harris (Audrey) of Nottingham; a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends. 

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, James Gaither Harris and Mary Council Harris; son, John Allen “J.T.” Thomas; four sisters, Sara Lomax, Colleen Harris, Chloe Miles, and Lillian Williams; four brothers, Major Price Harris (US Army Retired), Raymond Harris, Reed Harris, and James Gaither Harris Jr.

A Homegoing Service was held at 11 a.m. on May 20 at Oxford Presbyterian Church in Oxford.

Interment will be in Oxford Cemetery.

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

Lorraine Medon

Lorraine “Boojie” Medon, age 82 of Landenberg, died unexpectedly on May 14, 2022 in Chester County Hospital, while surrounded by her immediate family. She was the wife of Donald G. Medon, with whom she shared nearly 37 years of marriage.

Born in 1939 in West Grove, she was the daughter of the late Carl J. Pannell, Jr. and the late Marie E. Pannell.

She was a parishioner of St. Gabriel Church in Avondale. Boojie loved her cats, Beans, Ra-Ra and Fluff.

She was an active member at the Hockessin Athletic Club in water aerobics classes.

Boojie is survived by her husband, Don, her daughter, Jacqueline C. Dougherty of West Grove, and her son, Donald W. Dougherty of Lake Worth Beach, FL and brother Robert T. Pannell of Kennett Square.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister Carol “Jeeps” Schwartz.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be mailed in Lorraine’s memory to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, 9 Coffman Ave., Malvern, PA 19355.  

Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square.

Please visit Boojie’s online memorial by going to www.kuzoandfoulkfh.com.

Dorothy Ann Ely

Dorothy Ann Ely, 84, of Oxford, passed away on May 15, 2022 at Calvert Manor Healthcare Center in Rising Sun, Md.

Born in Oxford, she was the daughter of the late Melvin M. and Iva M. Springer Ely.

She enjoyed taking care of her family and grandchildren.

She is survived by one son, Steven Ely (Jill) of Huntington Beach, Calif.; four daughters, Kathy Ely of Media, Carmen Harris (Robert G., Jr.) of Oxford, Lelonda Smith of North East, Md. and Lisa Ely of Del.; 17 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, Chrissy Taylor, one grandchild, Melissa Ely, and one sister, Helen Oyola.

A graveside service was held on May 23, 2022 at Oxford Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2117.

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

ANTOINETTE PESCE

Antoinette “Toni” Pesce, age 82, of Kennett Square, passed away on May 16, 2022 at the Christiana Hospital. She was the wife of E. Victor Pesce, who passed away in 2014, and with whom she shared 54 years of marriage.

Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Louis Marson, Sr. and the late Mildred Giroso Marson.

Toni was part-owner of AT-MAR Glass in Kennett Square, retiring in 2006.

She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kennett Square.

Toni enjoyed cooking, making wine, reading, the beach and being with her family and friends.

She is survived by two sons, Victor J. Pesce and his wife Karen of Lincoln University, Pa. and Steven L. Pesce and his wife Kathleen of Kennett Square; one brother,  Louis Marson, Jr. of Kennett Square; two sisters, Mary Lou Madron  of Kennett Square and Joanne Marson of Newark, Del.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services were held on May 24 at the Kuzo Funeral Home in Kennett Square. Her Funeral Mass followed at the St. Patrick Church in Kennett Square.

Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

In memory of Toni, a contribution may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

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