January 4, 2019

Artemio Zavala Avalos, of Wilmington, died Tuesday, Jan. 1. He was the husband of Maribel Zavala of Mexico.

Born in Rancho Las Penas, Moroleon, GTO, Mexico, he was the son of the late J. Edwiges Zavala and the late Valeria Avalos.

He was a mushroom worker at Pietro Industries in Kennett Square.

Artemio was a member of St. Rocco Catholic Church.

He enjoyed watching sports on TV and being with his family and friends.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Luis Angel Zavala and Juan Carlos Zavala, both in Mexico; two brothers and three sisters.

You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 11, at St. Rocco Catholic Church, 313 Sunny Dell Road, Avondale. His funeral mass will follow at 7. Burial will be in Mexico.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com

Arrangements by the Cleveland & Grieco Funeral Home, Avondale.

Penelope Jane Simone, 71, was born on Dec. 29, 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the home of her father David Allan, and mother Phyllis Fouracre, who came from Gloucester, England.  She was the identical twin of Aileen, younger sister of Catharine, and older sister of brother Alasdair and baby sister Phyllis.

Educated in Edinburgh, she graduated from James Gillespie’s High School for Girls, and began her working life with the Scottish Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries. She married her childhood sweetheart, Hugh Douglas McLeod, a navigating officer with the British Merchant Navy, in March 1967.

Together they emigrated to South Africa in 1968, where Hugh was tragically killed in a car accident. Jane returned to her parents’ home in Northern England where she resolutely picked up the shattered remnants of her life  She took up riding and studied with the British Horse Society under whom she gained qualifications as an instructor. She emigrated to the United States to join her twin sister Aileen in 1972.

In 1973 Jane met and married Louis Francis Simone of Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1979 they had a baby girl, Gwyneth Nicola, and in 1982 they had a son, David Matthew.

They moved several times within the United States as a consequence of Lou’s career and came to Kennett Square in 2002, where Jane was director of Development at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, a position she took up in the fall of 1999. She retired in early 2015, having completed a highly successful tenure as a respected, knowledgeable, ethical, enthusiastic fund-raiser.

Jane was a fine horsewoman, a talented writer and a great cook. She was an avid lover of classical music, though her tastes were electric. She loved to travel, she studied and understood history and was adamant that education should be the life-blood of all. Her views on life were informed, broad-minded and she always practiced what she preached. She was cosmopolitan in the best way possible; irrepressibly open in her actions and interactions, and most memorably, in her well-studied opinions. She was an acute observer of humankind, a friend to all she met and knew, and she inspired those around her to strive to do their best. Above all she was a wonderful, much-loved wife, mother and sister.

Jane was the axis upon which we spun.  She was wise, funny, clever, talented – and she always looked on the bright side of things, even when they looked bad.  She was a hugely positive influence in so many other peoples’ lives, as well as our own.  She is, and always will be, sorely missed.

Jane died on Dec. 30. She was a valiant lady, a brave fighter and the wind under our wings.  She is irreplaceable.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 45 years, Lou, her beautiful, clever daughter Gwyneth, and Gwyneth’s wonderful husband John Hawn, her handsome, talented son Dave, her devoted twin sister Aileen Elliott, sisters Catharine Castree and Phyllis Carruthers, and her only brother, Alasdair Allan.

In her memory, donations may be made in her name to St. Joseph’s Indian School P.O. Box 326, Chamberlain, SD 57326. Jane supported this Lakota Sioux Charity, because she felt keenly the injustices which have been perpetrated on the native peoples of this great continent, and because she made certain that the children of this school are being brought up to learn, know and understand their heritage.

Her service will be held privately.

To view her online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecocares.com

Arrangements by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home, Kennett Square.

Jorge Gomez Mercado, 37, of Avondale, died Sunday, Dec. 30, at his residence.

Born in Tepehuajes, Almoloya de Alquisiras, Mexico, he was the son of Ma Felix Mercado Flores of Mexico and the late Rogelio Gomez Mercado.

Jorge was a self-employed painter.

He was a member of St. Rocco Catholic Church in Avondale.

He enjoyed collecting model cars and being with his family and friends.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by three sisters. Maria Gomez Mercado. Cenorina Gomez Mercado and Belen Gomez Mercado all in Mexico.

You are invited to visit with his family and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at St. Rocco Catholic Church, 313 Sunny Dell Road, Avondale. His funeral mass will follow at 7. Burial will be in Mexico.

To view his online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com

Arrangements by the Cleveland & Grieco Funeral Home, Avondale.