The family of Barbara Thomas gathered to remember and given thanks to God for the gift of her life on September 9, 2021.   Barbara was a woman dedicated to the care of her family: her husband Gerald (d); and her children: Sheryle, Dianna, Linda, Rita, Nannette, Gerald and Donald; her sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She took great pleasure in turning an “ordinary” day into a “special” day.  Birthdays meant choosing a dinner and cake of preference.  In addition to individualized dinner and cake options, decorating “let the whole world know” that that particular day was not an “ordinary” one.  Her children shared that Barbara made each of them feel special.

Family and friends of Donald Anthony Toeppe gathered to celebrate the blessings God had bestowed on him during his earthly life: his family, his friends as well as his deep faith. One of Don’s greatest gifts to others was his openness to take people under his wing and help them to rebuild their lives.  His personal faith in a loving and merciful God inspired him to care for others and draw people closer to God.  Guided by his faith and commitment to helping those who were homeless and marginalized, Don helped organize the Damascus House and the Philadelphia House; entities that continue to assist those most in need in Monroe County.  He was also instrumental in starting the Boy Scout Troop 519 at St. Mary Parish.

Gathering with family and friends, the family of Shirley Mae Hauser remembered with gratitude the blessings of God through the joys and challenges of Shirley’s life.  Shirley was often called the “Energizer Bunny” had a gift of getting people to laugh.  Small in stature, she did everything quickly and was found it important that everything had to be in the right place.  Spending time with her friends was important to Shirley and later in life when she relied on public transportation she would use her walker to get her to the bus stop in order to meet with her friends.