WHEATLEY – Donnell Wheatley, formerly of Swedesboro, at the age of 82, received her crown and well-deserved rest on Dec. 31, 2019, at home with her devoted daughter at her bedside.
Donnell Wheatley also known as “Polly” and or “Bonnie” was born on April 3, 1937 to the late George “Buddy” Anthony and the late Eudell Anthony in Metter, Georgia.
Donnell was not only an African American woman served as a solider in the U.S. Army but also a nurse in the infirmary ward serving soldiers injured in battle.
Her love for southern down home cooking, Perry Mason, a large cup of cocoa, beloved cowboys and westerns, John Coltrane and gospel music playing on her record player, her infectious laugh, caring spirit, a penny for your thoughts wittiness and a heart to help anyone in need, her compassion, patience and more will be missed by those who had the opportunity to meet her both family and friends.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories to her devoted daughter Terri Wheatley; son Edward Eason; beautiful grandchildren Edward Jr. Clay; Son Clay’ Tashena Eason; Treaon Eason” Rashawn Pittman; affectionately known as “Nanny’s Baby” Tynea Smith (Damien Cooper); numerous great grandchildren; her precious niece “blondie” Nancy Stone-Nock; multiple nieces and nephews; her in home helper Sandra Smith; her beloved cousin Carl Holloway; her right hand and forever friend/cousin yet more like a brother Willie McBride; and a host of loved ones both near and far. Donnell was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Wheatley and parents George and Eudell Anthony.
Services were arranged by Cheega Funeral Home, Swedesboro.
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LONG — Ashley N. Long (nee Wirtz), 39, of Mullica Hill, passed away on Jan. 25, 2020. Beloved wife of 14 years to William R. Long; loving mother of Victor Wirtz, Jack Long, and Charlotte Long; loving daughter of Gary and Karen (nee Eisenhart) Wirtz; cherished granddaughter of George Eisenhart and Margaret Wirtz; dear sister of Carl (Jennifer) Wirtz, Lauren (John) DeSilvio, and Jaclyn Wirtz; devoted aunt of Hailey, Paige, Emily, Jaime, Keily, Luici, Alivia, Little Carl, Dane, Ava, Dez, Liberty, Luke and Lacy; daughter-in-law of William and Alice (nee Rice) Long, and sister-in-law of Missy (Carl) Daddona. Ashley is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Share the memories … share love … ShareLife at www.mcgfuneral.com.
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MYERS – Bridget M. Myers, 53 (nee Falcone) of West Deptford and formerly of Swedesboro, passed away Jan. 27 at home. She was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Kingsway Regional High School, Class of ’84.
She is survived by her husband, Darryl Myers, her siblings, Maria Powell, Rita Rizzi, Paul, Ralph and Caroline Falcone.
Services were held at the Cheega Funeral Home, Swedesboro.
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BELVICK – Wendy Belvick, 52. Some of the happiest times for Wendy were when her sons were young. She found the “Play Group” on-line and formed great friendships. The group would email a destination to meet and they would all arrive set to have fun.
She and her late husband Steve bought a big Victorian house in Swedesboro. It was perfect for holiday family get togethers. Steve cooked and Wendy hosted with enough seating for all in the large dining room.
Her latest job was with the court system working part time in West Deptford, East Greenwich, and Gibbstown. But the best job was with Godwin Pumps. It was there that she and Steve met and shortly after married. Their union was blessed with two sons, Nicholas and Christopher.
Wendy is also survived by her mother, Judy Kondas, a brother Richard Smith, and step-mother Donna Smith. She was predeceased by her husband Stephen and father Robert Smith and one thing was for sure, Wendy was always “Her Dad’s Little Girl”. Their bond lasted until the end.
Donations to her sons in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.
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TOBIN — Patrick J. Tobin, of Mickleton, passed away suddenly on Feb. 2, 2020. He was 46 years old.
Patrick was born in Woodbury, New Jersey and graduated from Gloucester Catholic and Wilmington University. Patrick spent his life dedicated to helping others with his career as a Registered Nurse.
Patrick’s greatest passion was his family, especially his three adorable daughters whom he loved to the moon and back. He was larger than life and always brought out the best in everyone he encountered along his life’s journey. Patrick loved spending time on the beach. He was a passionate Eagles fan and was a huge Philadelphia Sports enthusiast. Patrick coached his daughter’s basketball team at St. Margaret’s Regional School and also coached softball.
Patrick will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is the beloved husband of Colleen (nee Tinney); loving father of Madelyn, Charlotte and Elizabeth Tobin; dear brother of Phil (Anita), Mary Kate Smith (Dan), Jimmy, Tommy (Mary), Johnny (Dawn), Peggy Ann Gambone (Mike), Ellen McKenna (Bruce); brother-in-law of Connie (David) Lees and son-in-law of Edward and Dorothy Tinney. Patrick is predeceased by his parents, Philip and Margaret (nee Ryder) and his brother, Michael (Stacia). A cherished uncle to many loving nieces and nephews
Patrick’s family kindly requests memorial contributions made to The Tobin Girls’ Educational Fund, c/o TD Bank, 148 North Main Street, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062. Share the memories … share love … ShareLife at www.mcgfuneral.com.
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GRANT — Teresa Lynn Grant (nee Hudkins), 63, of South Harrison Twp., passed away on Feb. 3, 2020. She was born in Weston, WV and has resided in South Harrison for 35 years.
Teresa was the Senior Tax Advisor for H&R Block in Mantua for over 35 years. She was an active member of Central Baptist Church, a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Kingsway Band Mom and she enjoyed outdoor activities.
Teresa is survived by her husband Lawrence; sons LTJG Garrison (Keriann) of NOAA Corp and Nathan (Sydney) of Woodbury; father Hayword Hudkins of Harrisville, WV; sisters Helen (Frank) Baker of Washington, WV and Carolyn Shuman of Petersburg, WV; sister-in-law Polly Grant (Robert Lemoi); brother-in-law Rev. Glenn (Debbie) Grant and many nieces & nephews. She was predeceased by her mother Vonda (nee Leggett) Hudkins; stepmother Bertha Meredith Hudkins and brother-in-law Sheryl Shuman.
Donations may be made to Central Baptist Church, 37 S. Jackson St., Woodbury, NJ. Memories and condolences may be shared online at daviswagner.com.
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GAVENTA — Mabel Gaventa (nee Fell) age 94 years of Repaupo died Feb. 4, 2020 in Inspira Hospital, Mullica Hill surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Gaventa was born and raised in Paulsboro and moved to the Fell Family Farm when she was 13. She was a 1943 graduate of Swedesboro High School. Mrs. Gaventa was a devoted member of Repaupo Methodist Church for over eighty years, member of the E.S.G. Sunday School Class and a N.J. Farm Women’s Committee member. For many years she worked the election polls in Logan Township alongside her longtime friend, Helen Swain. Mrs. Gaventa was a devoted farm wife, enjoyed canning and planning anniversary gatherings every five years.
She is survived by her children, Janet Stiles of Eagle River, Alaska, Catherine and Edward Myers of Logan Twp., Ruth and Thomas Hurst of Mullica Hill, Ed and Marsha Gaventa of Logan Twp.; her grandchildren, Wendy, Scott, Mark, Brian, Kristy, Randy, Chris and Andrew and 11 great grandchildren. Mrs. Gaventa was predeceased by her beloved husband of 65 years, Elbert J. Gaventa.
Arrangements by McBride – Foley Funeral Home, Paulsboro. Contributions can be made in her memory to the General Fund of Repaupo Church, c/o Alice Montagnoli, 112 Sherwin Rd., Mullica Hill, NJ 08062. Memories can be shared at www.mcbridefoleyfh.com.
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SPRING — Jason Michael Spring, of Bridgeport, finally at peace on Feb. 8, 2020. Jason is in Heaven with his mother, Jill, brother Jonathan, Nanny and Pop-Pop Spring, Grandma and Grandpa Avis and Grandma Sharp. Jason is survived by his father Dane and step-mother Hope Spring, aunts and uncles, Florence and Ray Ballirano, Debbie and Steve Vandzura, Susan Jamieson, Walter Spring, III, Sharon Clark, Dan Leaf and Patrick (Spanky) Spring. He is also survived by 15 cousins.
Jason was employed at the Gloucester County Emergency Response Center and was an active member of the Logan Township Fire Department.
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NAGLER — Marie Nagler (nee Reymer), age 87, of Clarksboro died on Feb. 10, 2020, peacefully surrounded by her family at home.
Joan was born in Camden and retired from Campbell Soup, as an executive secretary. She was a member of the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Choir.
Joan is predeceased by her son Jeffery. She is survived by her beloved husband Karl; son Steven M.; a brother Mervyn Reymer; a sister Charlene (Don) Pyle; 8 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
The family request donations be sent in her memory to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 250 Anniversary Fund, 304 King’s Hwy., Clarksboro, NJ 08020. Memories and condolences may be shared @www.adamsstiefelfuneralhome.com.
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PRICE — Sollie Carl Price, 79. He knew just about everyone, but half the world knew him as Carl and the other half, Sollie. In any case, they knew him as a guy on the go; and a master story-teller always with a joke he wanted to share. If he couldn’t beat you at pool, rest assured that he had a stable of players behind him who could. It’s easier to name the bars that he didn’t captain pool teams in than those that he did. Before pool his thing was softball: as a coach he hoisted many a trophy. But Carl was probably most at home in the outdoors; he hunted (in every way imaginable) and fished. Back in the day, if he wasn’t on top of the water fishing, he’d be deep beneath it, diving, looking for lobsters. He was even a dive instructor at one time.
Sollie had a soft spot for animals, loved his dogs and raised pigeons since he was a kid. He’d let them out of their cage to play for a while but when he called them they’d fly right back in. And he bet the ponies, usually at Delaware Park but occasionally simulcast at Chester. Most of his working years found him at the Dupont Chambers Work Plant. Even there he was able to connect with nature. Besides being a pipe-fitter, he planted clover all over the property to feed the deer as the director of Wildlife Management.
But he found his true calling in the end as a grandfather, hauling the grandkids off to the flood gate to watch the planes or out onto the water to decimate the blue fish. He bet everyone that Freddy could finish a “big man’s” breakfast; gave Dani a lifelong love of fishing and showered Nikki with hundreds of Monarch butterflies.
A young Carl had a pig get loose and find its way into a neighbor’s garden. The neighbors sent their niece over to tell Carl about the pig. He’d ask her out on a date. “Do you have a car?” the late Roberta (nee Vanneman) asked. Carl confessed that he did not. She said if he ever got one he should give her a call. He sold the pig and bought a car the next day.
Their marriage was blessed by a daughter, Carla De Hoyos (A.J.) and grandchildren: Nikki, Dani and Freddy. He is survived by siblings, Barnel (Lena) Price, Jerry (Janet) Price, Loretta (Jackie) Woody, and Barbara (Carl) Brown; his sisters-in-law, Blanche Price and Nancy Steely; special niece, Chloe Madison and Tanya Madison and nephew, Brian Madison; his longtime friend, Beverly DeLorenzo and many many friends, cousins nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by father, Sollie Price and mother, Edna Mae Freshour Price; brothers: Tommy Price and Harold Price; Godson, Vinny Morgan; uncle, Leonard Price and aunts, Myrtle Myers Price and Doris Hawn Pemberton; mother in law, Helen Honey Hawn Vanneman.
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NOLAN — Nichola Geradette Nolan, 49, of Mullica Hill passed away on Feb. 13, 2020.
Born in Wilmington, DE, she was a 1988 graduate of St. James High School and a 1992 graduate of Immaculata University. Nichola worked as a school teacher at the Lafayette Pershing Elementary School. She loved to travel and she was a devoted mother with a fierce love for her children.
Nichola is survived by her mother Linda (Pagliaccetti) Valichka of Mullica Hill; her children Benjamin and Lillian Nolan; their father Aaron Nolan of Mullica Hill; and her brothers Ron Sorantino and his wife Laura and their sons Nicholas and Dean of Pilesgrove and Anthony Sorantino and his partner Jennifer DelPonte and their children Gabriella and Enzo of Carneys Point. She was predeceased by her stepfather William J. Valichka, Jr.
The family has asked that contributions be made to the Nichola Nolan Memorial Fund set up for Benjamin and Lillian at TD Bank.
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SCHMIDT — Christine K. Schmidt, 90, of Logan Twp. She was born Mildred but was way too sassy to stay a Mildred. As a teen she changed her name to Christine. She was previously of Morrisville and active in the Presbyterian church. One of the 10 percent that does 90 percent of the work: she was active with the youth group and the church suppers.
She was a wiz behind the stove; the best soups and a master with birthday cakes. And she was a great seamstress making all her kids’ clothing. As a mom she wasn’t too strict as long as they “rid up their rooms.” She and her late sister Marion used to like to get into a little trouble: they may have had one cigarette and one drink a month. Later years found her crabbing in Barnegat Bay before moving to Logan Township to help care for her grandkids.
Her best friend broke up with a guy, the late Howard. He cried on Christine’s shoulder. That move always works. Their marriage was blessed by two children: William (Pam) and Sandy Lykens (Terry); and later by 6 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and twins just arrived making two great-great-grandchildren. Donations to King’s Things, 1404 Kings Highway, Swedesboro 08085 will be appreciated.—
