Obituaries

Barton G. “Bart” Smith, Jr., 74, of Martins Creek, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. He was the husband of Patricia Elizabeth Smith. They were married 55 years. He was employed by S I Handling Systems for 30 years as an electrical technician. Born in Easton, he was the son of the late Barton G. Smith, Sr. and Ruth Mae (Derr) Smith. Bart served in the New Jersey Army National Guard for 12 years. He was a member of Nazareth Moravian Church, a member of the Easton Gun Club and life member of the Order of Fleas. He also played in the S I Handling softball league.

Surviving are two sons, Barton G. Smith, III of Phillipsburg, NJ and Stephen F. Smith of Bethlehem Township; a sister, Sharon Ann Smith-Lutzi of Florida; a brother-in-law, Stanley E. Smith, III and his wife, Joan; a sister-in-law, Sandra Karr and her husband, Mike of Arizona; a brother-in-law, Daniel Bean; a grandson, Robert Brotzman-Smith and his wife, Brittany; and two great grandsons, William and Chase.

A graveside service will be held at Noon on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in Hays Cemetery, Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, www.kidney.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

John Charles Werkheiser, 60 of Easton, PA died Sunday, May 31, 2026 at his home. Born April 17, 1966 in Easton, PA he was a son of the late Mary (Tiger) and Stanley Werkheiser.  He was a 1985 graduate of Easton High School.  John was employed by Lafayette College for many years and the Bethlehem School District, Korte Meats and the Express Times.  John loved to hunt and had been a member of the Fleas, the Rice-Ebner Post 588 and the Citizen’s Hose Company.

He is survived by his twin daughters: RoseMary and Allie both of Wilson Borough, PA; his brothers: Stanley, Jr. of Mechanicsburg, PA, Lester and Barry of Easton; a sister: Jennie of Allentown and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings: Donald Werkheiser, Barbara Haydt and Judy Diehl.

Services are 10:30 AM Friday, June 5, 2026 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with a calling period from 10 to 10:30. Interment is in Hays Cemetery.  Contributions in his memory may be made to his daughters in care of the funeral home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Sydna G. Armstrong, 90, of Bethlehem, died Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Kirkland Village from an illness that incapacitated her physically, yet did not dilute her indomitable spirit and love for life. Born September 8, 1935 in Malone, NY, she was the daughter of the late Dr. William Gaspar and Erma (Musser) Gaspar. Her husband, David F. Armstrong died in 2024. She was a high school English teacher in Horseheads, NY and an English tutor at Northampton Community College. Sydna graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a minor in History. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem where she sang in the choir. She was also a member of the Junior League of Bethlehem and AAUW and was a volunteer for St. Luke’s Hospital and the Allentown State Hospital.

Surviving are a daughter, Kimberly A. Breslin of Philadelphia; a son, Brett W. Armstrong of Bethlehem; a daughter-in-law, April Armstrong; five grandchildren, Emily Markos, Tyler Breslin, Alyssa Armstrong, Ashley Rampulla, and David Armstrong; and three great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, Todd B. Armstrong and her brother, Robert W. Gaspar.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Doctors Without Borders, www.doctorswithoutborders.org or St. Luke’s Hospice, www.SLHN.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Margaret Gemma Shaughnessy (Aragoni) passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026. She was 92 years old and had lived with her daughter (Joanne) the last 5 years in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Margaret was born on December 15,1933 in Syracuse, New York to Jenny and Ralph Aragoni. Margaret and her brother Anthony Aragoni lived on Peter’s Street and graduated from North High School.

Margaret was married to Frank J. Shaughnessy for 65 years until his death in 2021. For more than half a century, she co-owned Shaughnessy Insurance Agency alongside her husband. They made their home in Eastwood and are survived by two children: Frank Shaughnessy and Joanne Bard. Margaret was also a grandmother to five—Kristen, Kyle, Lauren, Rachael, and Jennifer—and a great-grandmother to Mariella, Perry, Everett, Riley, and Leah.
She enjoyed cooking and hosting at their Teall Avenue home in Eastwood, well known for her sauce and meatballs. Her secret: add pork and grated carrots if the sauce needed sweetness. Guests always left full, often hearing her say, “Mangia up,” meaning “eat “in Italian. In addition to her passion for cooking, she enjoyed listening and attending operas and continued playing the piano well into her eighties.

Margaret will be entombed alongside her husband at St. Mary Cemetery Mausoleum, 4100 East Genesee Street, Dewitt, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 259 Onondaga Street, Syracuse, New York on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 8:30 AM. There will be no calling hours. Gang Memorial Chapel 104 Fordham Road, Syracuse, New York is assisting the family. Expressions of sympathy may be made by visiting the funeral home’s website at www.gangmemorialchapel.com

Victor Frank Dennis, 96, formerly of Forks Twp., PA died Monday, May 4, 2026 at Moravian Hall Square, Nazareth, PA. Born September 15, 1929 in Honesdale, PA, he was the son of the late Fred and Ilah (Irish) Dennis. He was a graduate of Damascus High School and the California Polytechnic Institute. He served in the Navy and Navy Reserves from 1952 to 1973. Vic was employed by Met Ed in Reading from 1955 before being transferred to Easton in 1978 and retiring in 1991. A very active member of Green Pond United Methodist Church, he served as chair of the Financial Committee and as a Sunday school teacher. Vic was a Past President of the Easton Kiwanis Club, where he was honored for his years of service and was a PA Kiwanis Lieutenant Governor and Kiwanis International Life Member. He was also a member of the Gideons; the Chamber of Commerce; and served on the Boards of the Salvation Army and Safe Harbor.

He is survived by his children: Carolyn Johnson of Forks Twp., Mark Dennis (partner Michael) of Bethlehem Twp., PA, Robert Dennis of Burbank, CA; a sister: Martha Davis in Blue Spring, Missouri; 2 grandchildren: Sean Johnson (wife Mary-Jane), Colin Johnson (wife Valerie) and 2 great-grandchildren: Jacob and Ginny. He was predeceased by his wife: Margaret (Camp) Dennis in 2014 and sisters: Virginia Ellison, Sylvia Hemingway and Ilah Thompson.

Services will be held 11 AM Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Green Pond UM Church, 4411 Green Pond Rd., Easton 18045, with visitation from 10 to 11 AM. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Interment will be held at noon, Tuesday, May 12 at Calkins Union Cemetery, Milanville, PA. Contributions in Vic’s memory may be made to Green Pond UM Church. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Dorothy Anna Ferri, 94, of Easton, PA died Thursday, April 30, 2026 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus. Born September 12, 1931 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Albert and Pearl (Fehr) Kirchhofer. Dorothy was a 1949 graduate of Easton High School and had been employed by Mack Printing for many years. She was a member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church and volunteered at the Gracedale Nursing Home and as a tutor with Adult Skills Quest at Easton library. “Dups” was an avid reader who loved golfing, tennis, and knitting, but she especially adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter: Debra Bohr (husband Jeffrey) of Forks Twp.; grandchildren: Jarad Bohr (wife Erica) and Jordan Miller (husband Michael); and great-grandchildren: Cole and Archer. She was predeceased by her husband James Ferri in 2024 and siblings: Albert Kirchhofer, Jr. and Irene Hammerstone.

Services will be held May 14, 2026 at 11AM in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with a calling period from 10 to 11 AM. Interment will be private in Easton Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert J. Fetherman, Sr., 84, of Forks Township, formerly of Clinton, NJ, died Wednesday, April 29, 2026 in his home. Born September 9, 1941 in Phillipsburg, he was the son of the late Randall and Ella (Byerlee) Fetherman. He and his wife, Linda (Long) Fetherman were married 63 years. Robert was a truck driver for the State of New Jersey and retired in 1997. He was a member of the National Campers and Hikers Association and the Holiday Rambler RV Club. He was also a former member of Clinton Presbyterian Church.

Surviving with his wife, Linda, are two sons, Robert Fetherman, Jr. and his wife, Amy of Nazareth, and Richard Fetherman and his wife, Nicole of Forks Township; a sister, Beverly Lambert; five grandchildren, Dylan, Randy, Mackenzie, Tyler and Madison; and three great grandchildren, Emma, Rylee and Baker. He was predeceased by a brother, Alton Fetherman and his twin sister, Beatrice Fetherman.

A visitation will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.