Barbara V. Gotchel (nee Valulis), 73, of Glen Mills, died April 27. Born in Riga, Latvia, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Milda Valulis.
She was the beloved wife of Joel P. Gotchel, loving mother of Andy Gotchel (Linda) of Spotsylvania, Va., Lisa Hickey (Brian) of Havertown, and Ingrid Greenwall (Clinton) of Fairway, Kan., devoted grandmother of Shane, Lillian, Charlotte and Conrad. Dear aunt of Paul and Carl and sister of the late Arnis Valulis.
Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing Friday, May 1, 1:30-3:00 p.m. at The Donohue Funeral Home 3300 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA 19073 (610)-353-6300 followed by her funeral service at 3 p.m. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory to Delco SPCA, 555 Sandy Bank Road, Media, PA, 19063, would be appreciated.
Thomas R. Cappie, 71, of Kennett Square, died April 24.
Born in Philadelphia, He was the son of the late Thomas J. and Pauline T. Cappie (nee Sader). Thomas attended Monsignor Bonner and Saint Joseph’s University. He was self-employed as a general contractor.
Thomas was the beloved husband of Janet C. Cappie (nee Carrozzino); loving father of Lisa Cappie Holahan (Patrick), Thomas R. Cappie Jr. (Jeneen) and Jenny C. Blaxland (Tom). Dear brother of Carol Azpell (Walter) and Barbara J. Donahue (Donald). Devoted grandfather of Jay, Emily, Jeff, Julia and Finn.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Friday, May 1, 9:45 – 10:30 a.m. at The Donohue Funeral Home, 3300 West Chester Pike Newtown Square, PA 19073 (610)-353-6300 and his funeral mass 11 a.m. at St. Anastasia Church, 3301 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square PA 19073.
Interment Birmingham Lafayette Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory to LaSalle University Scholarship Fund, The Paul Gallagher Scholarship Fund, LaSalle University Scholarship Fund, The Danielle Leonard Scholarship Fund, 1900 W. Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141 or The American Heart Association 1617 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 700, Philadelphia, PA 19103, would be appreciated.
Caroline M. Heimberger, of Kennett Square, died April 27 at the age of 88. Caroline was the wife of George J. Heimberger, who died in 2012, and with whom she shared 59 years of marriage.
She was born in Richfield, Pa. in 1926 to Jerome Graybill and Naomi (Elsasser). She graduated from Susquehanna University in 1948 with a major in science and mathematics and started her teaching career in the Mifflintown public school.
She served in the Special Services of the US Army in Okinawa where she established a library for the occupation troops. Later, while serving in the library at Ft. Meade, she met her husband, 1st Lt. George J. Heimberger. They were married in the chapel at Ft. Meade in 1952.
In the 1960s the Heimbergers moved to Lehighton, where Caroline worked in the Lehighton area public schools and earned a masters degree in guidance and counseling at LehighUniversity. When her husband transferred to Wilmington, she worked in the Guidance Department at Unionville High School for 24 years. While at UHS she introduced programs in career education and work experience.
A member of St. Michael Lutheran Church since 1966, she served on the Landscaping and Gardening committees.
She enjoyed family, travel, and gardening. In retirement she took the Master Gardener program offered by the Chester County Extension Service and volunteered on projects, including the Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square. Her love and enjoyment of other people always included a tour of her garden and a few plants to take home.
She is survived by two sons, Keith Allen and James Edward, her daughter-in-law Robin Joy, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Her viewing will be from 9 to 10 a.m. on Monday, May 11, at the Kuzo and Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square. Her Memorial service will follow at 11 at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 109 East Doe Run Road (& Route 82) in East Marlborough Townshi. Burial will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, May 12, at the Richfield Community Cemetery in Richfield.
Chester County 2020 and the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) invite the public to hear about a SEPTA project in the works: extending service on the Media/Elwyn line to the Wawa station.
The station, which has been out of service for more than 30 years, will be revitalized with parking to support 500 users per day, according to a Chester County 2020 press release. Byron Comati. a strategic planner for SEPTA, will discuss the project and its impact on the Route 1 corridor at a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, May 13.
The event will be held at the Red Clay Room in Kennett Square. Doors open at 7 a.m., and the buffet will start at 7:15 a.m. The program will run from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m., including time for a Q & A.
Chester County 2020 (CC2020) is a nonprofit change agent working to connect and educate the county’s resident and business and political leaders. CC2020 engages stakeholders in cooperative efforts to address common issues; dispel misguided rumors that develop in any community discussion; and produce measurable action on issues that affect the county’s quality of life, according to its website. For more information, visit http://cc2020.org.
TMACC is a nonprofit established in 1992 by PennDOT to serve as liaison between public sector transportation agencies and the private sector on transportation issues affecting the Chester County business community. Additional information can be found at http://www.tmacc.org.
An email that almost landed Unionville High’s vocal music director on the floor has led to a special performance on Thursday, May 7.
Vocal Music Director Jason Throne is shown with the Unionville High School Choir during a December performance of Ola Gjeilo’s “Sanctus: London.”
Jason Throne explained in a press release that in December, the Unionville High School (UHS) Winter Choir Concert featured a riveting piece, “Sanctus: London” by Grammy Award-winning choral composer Ola Gjeilo. Throne said “a reverent silence fell over the crowd as the magnificent student chorale ensemble performed the work with brilliance and emotion.”
Throne said he was so moved by the performance that he decided to send Gjeilo a video recording. Much to Throne’s surprise, Gjeilo responded to his email. Not only did Gjeilo praise the UHS students’ skill level and composure, but he also offered to join the group onstage at its upcoming spring concert, which will also feature many of his works.
“I almost fell out of my chair when Gjeilo offered to attend our spring performance,” Throne said in the release. “He will rehearse with the students and accompany them onstage playing piano. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the students to work with a composer of his caliber.”
The free concert will be held Thursday, May 7, at 7 p.m., at Unionville High School, 750 Unionville Rd., Kennett Square. To view the winter performance of “Sanctus: London,” go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp2DIA5MZ0c.
Gjeilo, who was born in Norway in 1978, moved to the U.S. in 2001 to begin his composition studies at the Julliard School in New York City. His concert works are performed all over the world and his debut recording as a pianist-composer, the lyrical crossover album, “Stone Rose,” was followed by its 2012 sequel, “Piano Improvisations.”
Many of Gjeilo’s choral works are featured on Phoenix Chorale’s Grammy Award-winning bestselling “Northern Lights” album, which is devoted entirely to his music for choir. A full-time concert music composer, Gjeilo, who lives in New York City, is also very interested in film, and his music often draws inspiration from movies and cinematic music. More information is available on his website: https://www.olagjeilo.com.
Pennsbury Township is offering a number of ways to perform spring-cleaning.
Township residents are reminded that a dumpster for large item disposal is available at the township maintenance yard through Saturday. A fee will be charged for residents who want to get rid of tires or refrigerators, and electronic waste will not be permitted.
The township’s official Clean Up Day is Saturday, May 2, a great opportunity to contribute, especially for those in need of service hours. Bags, vests, and gloves are available at the garage for roadside trash pickup; the township’s road crew will pick up full trash bags on Monday. Call 610-388-7323 for supplies.
Finally, a truck for shredding valuable documents will be stationed in the township building parking lot on Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. until noon. However, commercial waste will not be accepted.
David M. Csernica, 79, of Kennett Square, died Tuesday, April, at the Harrison House Senior Living facility after a long illness with Parkinson’s disease. He is predeceased by his wife Stefanie Zienkievicz Csernica who died in 2012, and with whom he shared 52 years of marriage.
Born October 21, 1935 in Bayonne, N.J. to Joseph and Anna Csernica he graduated from Bayonne High School and St. Peters College in Jersey City.
He worked his entire career at DuPont for 33 years and retired at the age of 55.
He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kennett Square. David was an avid New York Giants and Mets fan, a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He is survived by six children: Jacky, wife of Terry Cooley of Dallas, Texas; David Csernica and his wife Jolie of Havertown; Lisa, wife of Michael Rotella of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Micky Csernica and his wife Gillian of Kennett Square; Joey, wife of Tim Sipes of Downingtown and Tommy Csernica of Kennett Square. He is also survived by two brothers, Joseph and Theodore, 14 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by one sister, Justine Paster.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, May 3, and again on Monday morning May 4, from 8:30 to 9:30 at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street in Kennett Square (Phone: 610-444-4116). His funeral mass will follow at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church 212 Meredith Street in Kennett Square. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.
In memory of David, a contribution may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018 or www.parkinson.org
