Dewey F. Roop Jr., 83, of Audubon, formerly of Cochranville, PA, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the Einstein Hospital. He was the husband of Dorothy Abel Roop, with whom he shared 56 years of marriage.
Born in Riner, Va., he was the son of the late Dewey F. Roop Sr. and the late Susie Johnson Roop.
Dewey was a self-employed truck driver, owning Roop & Roop Trucking in Cochranville. He retired in 1996 after 32 years of service. After retirement, he taxied the Amish with whom he formed a close relationship.
He was a member of the Kennett Square Missionary Baptist Church.
Dewey enjoyed buying and restoring old antique cars, going to auctions and being with his family and friends.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons, Dewey “Rocky”, III of Little Britain, Robert of Honey Brook, Richard of West Grove, and Palmer “Bud” of Thorndale; four daughters, Deborah Jenkins of Coatesville, Sandra Brown of Downingtown, Jane Rizzuto and her husband John of Audubon, and Karen Roop of Gap; 20 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by one son-in-law, Gary Jenkins.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA. His Funeral service will follow at 11. Burial will be in Longwood Cemetery, Kennett Square.
In memory of Dewey, a contribution may be made to Einstein Montgomery Home Health and Hospice, 1330 Powell Street, Suite 100. Norristown, PA 19401
To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com
Peter Pagano, owner of Paw Prints Forever, says the idea is about making the family feel better.
Every pet owner knows the devastation of losing that four-legged member of the family. Whether it’s a dog or cat is irrelevant. The bond between humans and their companion animals is undeniably strong. When the inevitable comes, even grown men are known to cry.
For Peter Pagano, tending to the animal’s remains is a matter of respect and of comforting the owners whose pets have died. That’s the idea behind Paw Prints Forever Pet Crematory.
Pagano’s name might be familiar since he’s the owner of Pagano Funeral Home in Boothwyn. It’s a business he built in 2000. In 2009 he was granted a permit to have a crematory on site there. Almost from the beginning, he knew people were interested in having their departed pets taken care of properly.
He started by getting a few calls per month, but then they increased in frequency.
“I’d get a call every week asking if we could cremate a pet,” he said. However, state law prohibits cremating animals and humans in the same facility. “You have to have a separate crematory for that. But the more calls I got, the more I started thinking that maybe I should open a pet crematory.”
Paw Prints Forever also offers a variety of urns and lawn plaques.
In 2011 he bought the site of the Rigby Funeral Home in the southbound lanes of Route 202 in Concord Township. He didn’t do anything with the property until 2016 when he decided to use that location as a pet crematory. He’s proud of what he’s accomplished with the site.
“I wanted to put up a good looking place. I wanted a warm presentable place to give the public options when their pet passes away,” he said.
Previously, he explained, people only had two options, either to bury the pet in the back yard, which is now illegal in some places, or at least frowned upon, he said, or to go through the veterinarian.
“The veterinarian does not do cremations…The veterinarian subs it out to a third party crematory. The question always was ‘Would you like communal or cremation individual pet cremation,'” he said.
Pagano continued by saying there were always doubts over what people who chose individual cremation got in return. He told a story of someone who had two small dogs, weighing about 10 pounds each. The first dog died, the owner had it cremated and received the ashes. Later, when the second dog died, the owner opted for the same service but received something unexpected.
“They got twice as many ashes back,” he said. “The animals were the same size. How could they get back twice as many ashes as the first time?”
Paw Prints operates on an individual basis, sometimes through a veterinarian, but the pet owner can always contact Paw Prints directly. They also work with a veterinarian who would come to the house to euthanize a pet at home if need be.
“Here at Paw Prints, all animals are cremated individually, on our premises here. Everything is captured on video…It’s all about making the family feel better,” Pagano said.
Paw Prints Forever handles household pets, not large animals such as horses. The size of the animal determines the price. Prices range from $90 for a pet of no more than two pounds, up to $395 for a dog weighing 150 to 200 pounds.
Included in the service is a video recording of how they handle the animal. Most people don’t care to view the recording, he said, but it’s available to them for about three weeks. Pagano also sells urns for the ashes and non-urn lawn plaques for those who don’t want the ashes.
Families may come in to have a viewing and can even bring in remaining pets for the viewing if they choose, Pagano said.
Paw Prints Forever opened 10 weeks ago in June. Since then, Paw Prints has been getting about four calls per week, and Pagano estimates that will increase to 10 per week by this time next year.
The business is currently open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, but plans are to expand to a seven-day operation.
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
The following animals are ready to be adopted from the Brandywine Valley SPCA in West Chester.
Droolius Caesar
Droolius Caesar
Droolius Caesar is truly one of a kind. Not only does he have the coolest name, he’s got a great personality. Droolius would make an incredible pet for any family. He’s awesome with kids, adults, and other dogs. He came to us from ACCT in Philadelphia, but he doesn’t let his past get him down. Whenever you see him, he is happy and smiling. Droolius Caesar’s adoption fee is “pay what you want” through Sunday, Aug. 27.
Connie
Connie
Connie is a friendly cat who loves meeting new people and responds well to attention. She is8 years old, but with the mind of a kitten. She’s curious, loving, and has a very sweet personality. Connie’s adoption fee is “pay what you want” through Sunday, Aug.t 27.
For more information, go to www.bvspca.org or phone 610-692-6113.
• The Brandywine Valley SPCA is holding a free microchipping clinic for the public on Sunday, Aug. 27, from 9 to 11 a.m., as part of our work to bring lost pets back to their families. Locations are West Chester Campus: 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, New Castle Campus: 600 South Street, New Castle, Del. and the Georgetown Campus: 22918 Dupont Boulevard.
• Chester County will participate in International Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday, Aug. 31. The County will be joining communities around the world in encouraging residents, businesses and organizations to raise awareness of overdose, reduce the stigma surrounding overdose, remember the lives lost to overdose and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends who have lost a loved one. Events include an Awareness Day vigil in New Garden Township, a candlelight vigil hosted by Kacie’s Cause, at First Baptist Church, 415 W. State Street, Kennett Square from 7-8:30 p.m., and Building Community, Sharing Hope hosted by Pennsylvania Recovery Organization-Achieving Community Together, at Charles A. Melton Center, 501 E. Miner Street, West Chester from 5:30-8 p.m.
• Two new businesses are about to open at the Barn Shops in the village of Chadds Ford. Barbara Moore, the former director of the Chadds Ford Gallery is opening her own shop, Barbara Moore Fine Art, and Bri Brandt is opening Arden and James selling handcrafted bags. The two businesses will occupy the front of the main building of the Barn Shops where the gallery had been located. They’re scheduled to open Sept. 1.
Concordia Choral Arts’ mixed choir, Concordia Voices, is holding auditions for its fall season. Auditions are being held now through Sept. 3, and are by appointment only. Email auditions@concordiachoralarts.org to sign up for a time slot. Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons in Paoli, Pa from 3-5 p.m., beginning Sept. 10. The concert is on Sunday, January 28th.
Dolce Suono Trio plays the Brandywine River Museum of Art on Sept. 9
• It’s Music on the Brandywine with the Dolce Suono Trio at the Brandywine River Museum of Art on Sept. 9 from 6-9 p.m. Admission is $40 for members, $50 non-members. There will be a rare performance of “American Canvas for Flute, Cello, and Piano” by Jennifer Higdon, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, commissioned by Dolce Suono Ensemble. The piece features three movements inspired by great American painters: Andrew Wyeth, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Jackson Pollock. Admission includes a complimentary glass of wine or sparkling water and light fare. Cash bar available. Museum galleries will be open before the performance for guests to view Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect.
• How colonists prepared for the hard, winter months will be the subject of the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s September Tavern Talks scheduled for 7-9 p.m. on Sept. 14 at the society’s Barns-Brinton House on Route 1 in Pennsbury Township. Guest demonstrators for the evening include herb drying and preservation with Terra Luna Herbals, preparing cheese with Amazing Acres Goat Dairy, spinning wool with Greenbank Mills & Philips Farm, beekeeping with Brandywine Bee Company, and learning about the power of vinegar with Keepwell Vinegar. Tavern Talks is a monthly experience exclusively, for adults 21 and older, that focuses on unexplored aspects of early American history and culture. Admission is $20 for non-members and $15 for members. Tickets must be purchased in advance over the phone, in person or online as space is limited. For more info on the CFHS or to purchase tickets, call 610-388-7376 or email info@chaddsfordhistory.org or visit www.chaddsfordhistory.org.
