Edith “Edie” Fragale, 82, of Kennett Square, died peacefully, surrounded by her entire family on Sunday, Dec. 31, at Twin Pines Health Care. She was the wife of Frank J. Fragale, who died in 1977, and with whom she shared 21 years of marriage.
Edith Fragale
Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Wilmer Miller and the late Kathryn Aberts Miller. She was a 1953 graduate of Kennett High School.
Edie retired in 1997. She was a bookkeeper at Benge’s Service Center for 16 years and prior to that, she worked at Mason Chevrolet for 21 years, both in Kennett Square.
She was a member of St. Patrick Church in Kennett Square.
Edie enjoyed going out to eat, movies, trips to Lancaster, and being with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren.
She is survived by two sons, Michael A. Fragale and his wife Deana of Kennett Square, and Barry F. Fragale and his wife Monica of Kennett Square; one daughter, Kathy F. D’Amico and her husband Philip of Kennett Square, and eight grandchildren, Al, Nick, Dominic, Frank, Lauren, Michael, Mia and Emilie.
She was predeceased by one sister, Marian Barber, who died on Dec. 31, 2010.
We want to give a special thank you to the caregivers and many wonderful people at Twin Pines who treated Edie with care and compassion.
You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Jan. 5, at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church, 8910 Gap Newport Pike (Route 41), Avondale. Her funeral mass will follow at 12:30. Burial will be in Longwood Cemetery, Route 1, Kennett Square.
Happy 2018 from Mixed Media! After a solid week of falling off the face of the planet while eating entirely too much cheese, I can say I’m ready to resume my regularly scheduled programming. There’s a lot to look forward to in 2018. Let’s start with some shows that are already up and running.
“Skin Shed” by Mallory Weston
Wayne Arts Center has two fantastic shows on right now. The highly anticipated annual Craft Forms exhibition is up through January 27th, as is Breaking The Glass Ceiling – Women in Glass. Mallory Weston, a Philadelphia based jewelry artist won best in show in Craft Forms for her piece, “Skin Shed”. Graduated of Rhode Island School of Design, Weston now teaches at several Philadelphia universities and is very active in the jewelry arts community. Her work can be found in the permanent collection of CODA in the Netherlands. Check out the rest of the Craft Forms which feature several other award winners. The show was juried by Nora Atkinson The Lloyd Herman Curator of Craft, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
The Main Line Arts Center welcomes Gary Grissom on January 8th through February 12th to their Welcome Gallery. Grissom’s work is captivating as it combines photography and painting. A trained painter, Grissom takes photographs around Philadelphia and hand colors them. In this exhibition he also explores perspective and composition by photographing the streets of Philadelphia through glass enclosures. He creates a surreal, at times cubist composition, which combines the grit and history of Philadelphia with playful, color block-esque over-painting.
“Asylum” by Max Levenson
“Serenity In The Struggle” opens today at the Delaware Contemporary. Artists Max Levenson and Richard Remenick respectively explore the concepts of comfort in repetition, and the influence of cultural tradition on their work. Levenson received her Masters in Painting at Savannah College of Art and Design. She translated her background in painting to transforming the spaces around here on a larger, more holistic level. Using simple materials, Levenson creates an intentionally quiet space that focuses on the meditative aspects of repetition both in creation and in composition.
Richard Remenick creates bright and playful landscape and still life paintings that border of fauvist. The incorporation of tradition into his paintings works two fold. In the most literal sense, Remenick’s work is steeped in the classical traditions which no doubt were in part fostered by studying at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He also reaches into a more personal place, studying his Jewish heritage and focusing on how his culture affects his paintings. “Serenity In The Struggle” is on view through January 29th. Stop by for the opening reception on Friday, January 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
A reminder, Gallery 222 will be closed from December 24, 2017 until February 6, 2018. Tune in this week for WCHE 1520 Art Watch radio from 1 to 1:30 p.m. when Lele Galer hosts the new owner of Mala Galleria and guests about changing career midlife towards the arts.
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce has named Jim McLeod its 2017 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. The Chamber will honor McLeod at its 51st annual Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 16, at Longwood Gardens at 6:30 p.m. In the picturesque setting of Longwood’s Conservatory, the annual dinner attracts business and community leaders for an evening of live entertainment, dinner, dancing and silent auction. Tickets are $175, with sponsorship opportunities available. To purchase tickets and to learn more, visit www.scccc.com.
A highlight of the annual Dinner is the presentation of the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award. The Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award recognizes individuals who unselfishly contribute to the community’s quality of life and display exemplary volunteer efforts demonstrating vision, leadership, and citizenship that positively impact the Southern Chester County community. This year, the Chamber will honor Jim McLeod as its 2017 Citizen of the Year for his decades of service to the community.
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce has named Jim McLeod its 2017 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Pictured: Cheryl Kuhn, president & CEO, Doug Doerfler, chairman of the board, Jim McLeod, 2017 Outstanding Citizen of the Year, John Jaros, immediate past chair.
“I am honored and humbled. The announcement took me completely by surprise. My thanks to everyone involved for this honor, it is truly appreciated,” McLeod shared on the day he was told of his selection for the prestigious award.
“Jim McLeod is an exemplary example of community service,” said Cheryl Kuhn, president of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. “His tireless work in our community and his ability and desire to bring people together to work toward a common goal is truly outstanding. We are proud to select him as this year’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year award recipient and look forward to honoring him at our 51st annual dinner.”
James D. McLeod, Jr., has a long record of service at the local, county and state levels. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Automotive Association, was appointed to the association’s Legislative Committee and served on Ford Motor Company’s Zone Dealer Council representing Ford dealers in Pennsylvania and& Delaware.
Jim is a member of the Fulton Bank Brandywine Division Advisory Board and with Oxford Rotary for 28 years. He was a founding board member of the Jennersville YMCA of Greater Brandywine, serving for 30 years, two terms as chairman and oversaw fundraising and building.
Jim served nine years as chairman of American Red Cross Chester County Brandywine Division’s Disaster Action Team, assisting displaced fire victims. He sits on the Board and is Development Chairman of the Southern Chester County Emergency Medical Services and eight years on the SCCOOT Board. Jim served on various Oxford Borough Task Forces, Police Chief Search Committees, chaired the Borough’s Vacancy Committee and is Chairman of the Civil Service Commission. He served on the Pennsylvania Legislative District 13 Advisory Board, Chester County Department of Aging’s Paratransit Advisory Council, and chairman of Oxford Area Regional Sewer Authority.
In 2014 Jim was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Oxford Area School District for longstanding service including a memorial scholarship in memory of his wife, presented each year to a graduating Oxford Area High School senior. He served on District committees studying truancy and drop-out rates, served on the first Board of Directors of Oxford Educational Foundation in 1994 for mentors and tutors, and grants to bring innovative programs not funded through the budget. Jim also served as president for seven years.
Jim served two terms on the Board of Directors of Oxford Neighborhood Services Center. He and his wife, Mary, started the “Spirit of Christmas Luncheon” 27 years ago, raising funds for the Center. The event turned into what is known today as the “Spirit of Giving Luncheon”.
He served on the Board of Directors of Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce, two terms as president, and in 1986 was the recipient of the Oxford Area Community Service Award. For the past 34 years, he organized the Chamber’s annual Halloween Parade.
As a member of the Oxford Presbyterian Church Jim served as an Elder and Deacon, is a member of the Oxford Athletic Association and served two terms as president.
Jim has two grown children, Chris and Shelley, and four grandchildren: Paige, Finn, Zoey, and Lucy.
Mary R. “Muz” Basilio, 93, of Kennett Square, died Saturday, Dec. 30, at Neighborhood Hospice, West Chester. She was the wife of Anthony N. Basilio, who died in 2013, and with whom she shared 67 years of marriage.
Mary R. “Muz” Basilio
Born in West Chester, she was the daughter of the late Giuseppe Mozzani and the late Philomena DiSanti Mozzani.
Mrs. Basilio was the lunchroom cashier at the Greenwood Elementary School in Kennett Square, for more than 25 years.
She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kennett Square.
She enjoyed gardening, taking bus trips, going to the casinos, cooking, especially holiday meals, arts & crafts, shopping with her sisters, and being with her family and friends.
Mrs. Basilio is survived by three sons, James A. Basilio and his wife Linda of Swarthmore, Anthony N. Basilio, Jr. and his wife Ginny of Kennett Square, and Joseph E. Basilio and his wife Jeannie of Oxford; two daughters, Marie Phillips and her husband Roger of Alburtis, Pa. and Carol Basilio of Seville, Spain; one sister, Helen Mozzani of Downingtown; six grandchildren, Alicia, James, Jr., Paul, Anthony, III, David and Christian; eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by one grandson, Evan; five sisters, Eleanor, Alerana, Eva, and Josephine, and one brother, Joseph.
You are invited to visit with her family and friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 7, and again from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, 250 West State Street, Kennett Square. Her funeral mass will follow at 11 at St. Patrick Church, 212 Meredith Street, Kennett Square, PA. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Route 82, Kennett Square.
John. W. Bork Jr., 90, of West Grove, died Friday, Dec. 29 at Jenner’s Pond Retirement Community in West Grove. He was the husband of Nancy Burdett. Bork who died in 2009, and with whom he shared 52 years of marriage.
John. W. Bork Jr.
Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late John and Ida Wright-Bork.
He was a veteran, a Mason and a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 19 for 41 years retiring in 1990.
He was a member of the Manor Presbyterian Church in Cochranville.
Mr. Bork enjoyed traveling and being with his family and friends.
He is survived by two sons, Gary E. Bork of Harrisburg, and Eric P. Bork of New York, N.Y., one daughter, Leslie A. Pellini and her husband, Alan of Kennett Square, and one late son, Gregory A Bork. He also had a sister, the late Helen Miller, of Morrisville, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
You are invited to visit with his family and friends on Thursday, Jan. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Home at 200 Rose Hill Road, West Grove, PA19390. His Funeral service will follow at 12:30. Burial will be in Faggs Manor Cemetery, Cochranville.
Arrangements by the Foulk & Grieco Funeral Homes, West Grove, PA (610-869-2685)
