Archive for May, 2017

HELEN ANN AICHER FASCIONE

Helen Ann Aicher Fascione died on May 25, 2017 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s. Helen was born in Reiffton, Pennsylvania on November 23, 1929 to Willard and Paul Aicher, along with five siblings. She attended Penn State College, and later in life received a Master’s degree from Temple University. Helen had three children with her former husband Daniel Fascione (Secky, Chris, Nina) and three grandchildren (Nick, Andrew, Allie). In her early career, Helen worked at the Philadelphia Bulletin and at TV Guide as a journalist. As her family grew, she became a public school teacher (and AFT member) in Philadelphia, where she inspired generations of students to realize their intellectual and creative potential, first as an elementary school teacher and later as a reading and math specialist. She also taught Religious Education at the Main Line Unitarian Church. Helen had many friends and helped lead her book club, “The Bookies” for decades. She was active in the outdoors, serving as President of her Trail Club and taking bike riding and hiking trips around the globe, including climbing Mt. Fuji in her sixties and Machu Pichu in her seventies. Helen’s biggest passion was travel, and she visited dozens of countries with friends, her family, and on solo trips. Even as she neared retirement, she spent a year teaching in Japan. Helen supported many progressive causes, including Women’s Strike for Peace and the local Democratic Party. She was a dedicated volunteer, especially for Reading for the Blind, where she received an award after volunteering for many years. She taught her children a love of travel, reading and theater, and of board games (though all her life she preferred to win). Helen ended her days at Friends House in Sandy Spring, Maryland where she was supported and loved. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, her three grandchildren, and her sister Marty Petkosh of Mt. Gretna, PA.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Save the Children.org.

PATRICIA O’DELLICK BUCHANAN (Age 75)

On Sunday, May 28, 2017, of Silver Spring, MD. Patricia O. “Pat” Buchanan, 75, of Silver Spring, MD, passed away peacefully at Casey House after fighting a courageous two-year battle against cancer. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Bob; their daughter, Maria Buchanan of Silver Spring; their son, Andrew and his wife, Elise of London, England; and granddaughters, Brianna Buchanan of Silver Spring and Eleanor Buchanan of London. Pat was born in Altoona, PA to Michael J. O’Dellick and Anna (Moryken) O’Dellick on May 4, 1942. She grew up in the Altoona/Bellwood area and after high school, attended the former Altoona School of Commerce. She began her working career in Altoona with the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania and continued that career with the Bell System continued that career with the Bell System Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company after she and Bob relocated to the Washington DC Metro area. In DC and Maryland she worked as a Staff Associate in Billing and Collecting until taking a leave of absence after 13 years to raise her children. After the children reached school age, she began working for the University of Maryland at College Park in various capacities in Human Resources Management and as manager of Construction and Maintenance Contracting for the University’s agricultural facilities. During her years at the University, she also earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland University College. She retired in 2002 after 21 years of service. Throughout her working years, she participated in several volunteer activities such as serving on utility company consumer advisory boards. She was the founding president of the Latin America Parents Association, an adoption support group that helped hundreds of families understand the proper, legal procedures for completing adoptions from Latin America, as well as provided thousands of dollars-worth of clothing and other infant supplies to Latin American orphanages. More recently, she devoted her time and attention to caring for her granddaughter, Brianna. The family will receive friends at Collins Funeral Home (Valet Parking), 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD 20901 on Thursday, June 1, 2017 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 12319 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20904 on Friday, June 2, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. Entombment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. The family suggests donations in Pat’s name may be made to Extraordinary Minds or Ivymount Outreach Programs. www.COLLINSFUNERALHOME.com

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MICHAEL FRANCIS A’HEARN (Age 76)

On Monday, May 29, 2017, of University Park, MD.  Beloved husband of Maxine C. A’Hearn; father of  Brian J. (Zlata) of Oxford, UK, Kevin P. (Kanlayane) of Vienna, VA, and Patrick N. A’Hearn of Seattle, WA; grandfather of Sean, Brendan, Marie, Eliane, and Gabriel. Relatives and friends may call at  Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Wednesday, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Redeemer Church, Berwyn Rd & 49th Avenue, College Park, MD, on Thursday, June 1 at 10 a.m.  Interment  Gate of Heaven Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to S.O.M.E., 71 O Street, NW Washington, DC 20001, www.some.org, or Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090 , Baltimore, MD 21297, www.crs.org.

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 Catherine Dillon Bullen

On May 22, 2017, Catherine Dillon Bullen of Riderwood Retirement Community in Silver Spring, MD passed away at the age of 101. Catherine was born on January 22, 1916 to Joseph Thomas Stehle and Olive Nancy Atwell Stehle in Butler, PA. After graduating from Butler High School in 1933, Catherine became employed as a legal secretary and later worked for the Federal Home Loan Board. She excelled in secretarial work and become the lead secretary to the President of Bantam Automotive Company that produced a prototype army vehicle now known as the “Jeep.” Catherine served as source for the History Channel’s Story of the “Jeep.” At the start of the Second World War, Catherine moved to Washington, DC. and worked for the National Paper Board for several years. She returned to Butler and was employed as an executive secretary at the Heckett Engineering Company before her marriage. On February 5, 1949, Catherine married John C. Dillon, Jr. of Butler, PA, a veteran and a graduate of Harvard Law School who established a law practice in Butler, and later served as a Judge for the Butler County Court of Common Pleas from 1968 to 1985. Catherine and John lived in Butler for 36 years and raised four children. After John passed away in 1985, Catherine remained in Butler for three years until she married John H. Bullen of Homosassa, FL. Catherine moved to Florida and lived with John (Jack) Bullen until his death in 1998. She and Jack were active members of the Riverhaven Community Center.

After Jack Bullen’s death in 1998, Catherine moved to California, MD. Her move allowed her to be close to her two sons, Reverend John J. Dillon, pastor of at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Derwood, MD, and James C. Dillon of Gaithersburg, MD. In 2008, Catherine moved to Riderwood Retirement Community in Silver Spring, MD and continued to enjoy playing bridge, reading mystery and popular literature, and making new friends. Catherine is predeceased by her brothers, Joseph Stehle and Raymond Stehle, her sisters, Mary S. Rockenstein and Anne S. Hope, and her daughter, Catherine C. Dillon. She is survived by her three children, Reverend John J. Dillon of Derwood, MD; James C. Dillon (Alice) of Gaithersburg, MD, and Annemarie Dillon Casey (Dr. Paul) of Las Vegas, NV; her five grandchildren, John Dillon of Westminster, MD; Ann Dillon of Gaithersburg, MD; Mary Dillon of Germantown, MD; Emily Casey of Los Angeles, CA; and Olivia Casey of San Francisco, CA.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, MD (Valet Parking) Friday, June 2, 2017 from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6701 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD 20855, on Saturday, June 3 at 11 a.m. Further services and burial will be in Butler, PA on June 10, 2017. To honor Catherine’s memory, donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the charity of your choice .

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ELKE CARLA MELDAU-WOMACK

Elke Carla Meldau-Womack was born in Lennox Hill Hospital, New York, NY on December 31, 1941, daughter of the late Henry Meldau and Carla Lademann. She died May 18, 2017 in Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, MD. She lived in Bethesda at the time of death. She died after a seven-year battle with lymphoma. She attended public school in New York City. She later received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Queens College, and a Master’s degree from Columbia University. She studied abroad in Germany on a Fullbright scholarship in Kiel, Germany and later received a PhD in Economics from George Washington University. She worked first at the World Bank in the Latin American Department and later at the International Monetary Fund as a Senior Economist in the West Africa and Research Departments. She retired in 1995 and was active in her church, Christ Lutheran Church of Bethesda and its Thrive group. She is survived by her husband Franklin E. Womack; a brother Henry Meldau of Hawley, PA; a son Roland of Bethesda; a daughter Marion E. W. (George B.) Cole, and two granddaughters, Irma M. Cole and Lois C. Cole of Vienna, VA. A Memorial Service will be held at Christ Lutheran Church of Bethesda, 8011 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814 on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 1 p.m. Interment private.

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JAMES T. WHITE, IV (Age 41)
Master Sergeant, US Army

On Monday, May 15, 2017, originally of Leesburg, Virginia. Beloved son of James T. White, III and Rebecca White (nee Hodges); brother of Grant (Katie) and Andrew (Danielle) White and the late Carolyn Jennifer White; step-son of Maureen Diodati and Martha Woods. In his profession, Master Sergeant White attained an enviable eminence as a skilled Counterintelligence Agent and Soldier. He was assigned to Allied Command Counterintelligence of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Belgium. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, June 3, from 2 to 4 pm. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

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Andrea Chataigne (Age 92)

CHATAIGNE, Andrea, 92, born in Miragoane, Haiti on December 7th, 1924, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday 24 May 2017 at Northwest Hospital Center, Randallstown MD. She was a courageous, resilient and fearless woman, a loving mother, grandmother. She was a woman of God, having served as a choir member and a deaconess at Eglise Baptiste du Calvaire, in Adelphi, Maryland. A Memorial Service will be conducted on June 3rd, 2017 at 12:00 pm at Eglise Baptiste du Calvaire, located at 10002 Riggs Road, Adelphi, MD 20783. She is survived by five children Marie Denise, Robert, Yanick, Marlene and Guy, 14 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, a sister, Clarisse, nieces, nephews and friends.

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Henry Foteh Carmi

Henry Foteh Carmi died Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at Suburban Hospital after suffering a fall in his home. He was the beloved husband of Antoinette; loving father of Jack, Richard and George; grandfather of Gabriel, Hailey, Taylor, Jacklyn and Xavier.

Henry was born in Jerusalem on January 30, 1947.  He immigrated to the United States in 1969 and married the love of his life on New Year’s Eve 1972.  He lived in the Maryland area until his death.

Relatives and friends may visit at Collins Funeral Home (Valet Parking), 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, on Tuesday, May 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. and at The Shrine of St Jude, 12701 Veirs Mill Rd, Rockville, MD 20853, on Wednesday, May 31, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery to follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation: https://team.kidney.org/campaign/henrycarmi

William F. McLaughlin

“Bill” (Age 70)

On Tuesday, May 23, 2017, of Silver Spring, MD, originally of Turkey Thicket, DC.  Beloved husband of Rita Lawrence McLaughlin; brother of John J. McLaughlin, Jr., Patricia DeFino, Mary Yourishin and Catherine Wittenberger; also survived by  27 nieces and nephews, along with numerous extended family and friends.  Relatives and friends may call at  Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bernadette’s Church, 72 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, May 27, 10:30 a.m.  Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony Catholic School, 1029 Monroe Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017 or www.stanthonyschooldc.org.

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SUSAN SMITH BOONE (Age 65)

Of Mathews, VA, died peacefully on Monday May 22, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Tecla Smith. Loving mother of Erika Boone, Michelle Boone (Mike) Noyes, Danielle Boone (Seth) Benhard.  Grandmother of Quinn, Grant, Tess, Chase, Beau, Kate and Hals. Sister of Gloria Bosley and the late Harriet Fisher. Also survived by many extended family and friends. Visitation will be at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 9705 Summit Ave., Kensington, MD 20895 on Thursday May 25, 2017, beginning at 12 noon, where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Private interment in Mathews County, VA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to LUNGevity Foundation, 228 South Wabash Ave., Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60604 or www.lungevity.org