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Chester County Press

Obituaries for the week of December 25th

James Colson Haney, III

James Colson Haney, III, 68, of Oxford, passed away on December 13, 2024 at West Chester Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in West Chester.

Born in West Grove, he was the son of the late J. Colson and Mary Townsend Haney.

James lived and farmed on the family farm in Elk Township all of his life. 

He is survived by two brothers, Michael Paul Haney and Stephen Douglas Haney, both of Oxford, an uncle, John Latta Haney, an aunt, Joyce Tracio, and aunts and cousins.

A graveside service was held on December 17 at Faggs Manor Cemetery in Cochranville, Pa. 

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

Dirce Renata Taraboletti

Dirce Renata Taraboletti, of Kennett Square, passed away on December 17, 2024 at Chester County Hospital – Penn Medicine in West Chester. She was 96.

She was born on October 12, 1928 in Brusnengo, Italy, and was the only child of the late Giovanni Diana and Laura Gilardi Diana. 

She spent her early life in Brusnengo until she moved to New York with her parents. She was quite the graceful ice skater, and often skated at Rockefeller Center. She also claimed the title of Miss Manhattan, and she was a natural beauty. In 1951, she married Hugo J. Taraboletti. They soon relocated to Kennett Square, where they raised their family. They shared 52 years of marriage before his passing in 2003. 

Dee, as she was affectionately known by her friends, especially enjoyed gardening and was very keen on orchids. She was a long-term volunteer at Longwood Gardens, and was also a member of the Italian American Club. One of her favorite pastimes was reminiscing about her life and family. Just opening a photo album and going through photos of her family brought a gleam to her eye, and she radiated such pride and joy as she told all the stories about what each photo sparked within her. 

Dirce is survived by her four sons, Richard Taraboletti (Lori), Hugo Taraboletti (Denise), Edward Taraboletti (Marisol), and Robert Taraboletti (Margaret). She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. 

You are invited to visit with Dirce’s family and friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, December 27 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 212 Meredith Street, Kennett Square. Her funeral mass will follow at 11 a.m. Following mass, interment will take place at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, 460 North Union Street, Kennett Square. 

In honor of her husband, Hugo, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society: https://Donate.cancer.org.

The family wishes to extend sincere gratitude to the staff at Penn Medicine Hospice Care for the kindness, compassion, and dedication provided to Dirce in her final days, as well as to the staff at Friends Home in Kennett, where she resided for the past several years. 

 Arrangements are being handled by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. 

To view Dirce’s online obituary, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.