Obituaries

Dolores Rose Santiago, 84, of West Grove, died Tuesday, Dec. 22, in Jennersville. Born on March 11, 1936, in Cochranville, she was the daughter of the late Clarence S. Bailey and Olga P. Bailey. Dolores married the late Richard Santiago on November 17th, 1956. They were happily married for 38 years and raised six beautiful children. Dolores was a loving wife, sister, mother, and grandmother…

William (Bill) R. Landmesser Jr., 89, of Kennett Square, died Wednesday, Dec. 16,  at Wilmington Hospital under the care of Season’s Hospice. He was the devoted husband for over 43 years of the late Virginia (Smith) Landmesser. Born in East Orange, N.J. on Oct. 10, 1931, he was the son of the late William R. Sr. and Louisa (Hochuli) Landmesser. Bill graduated from Summit High…

Rafael Murillo Rodriguez, 77, of Wilmington, died Friday, Dec. 18, at Christiana Hospital. He was the husband of Emilia Aguilar Herrera. Born in Moroleon, GTO, Mexico, he was the son of the late Pedro Murillo and the late Isabel Rodriguez. Rafael was a spinach packer at Avon Heights Mushrooms in Avondale, until his retirement. He was a member of St. Rocco Catholic Church, Avondale. He…

Emedio D. "Meets" Ianni, 89, of Landenberg, died peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 19, with his loving wife Mary and oldest son Samuel by his side. He was the husband of Mary V. (Bagnato) Ianni, with whom he shared 62 years of marriage. Born in 1931, Meets resided his entire life on Penn Green Road in Landenberg, and was the son of the late Samuel and…

Clara Elizabeth Pfitzenmeyer, 86, of Claymont, formerly of Chadds Ford, died at home Friday, Dec. 18. Born in Embreeville, raised in Chadds Ford, Clara was the daughter of the late Martin and Ethel Turner. She was a 1953 graduate of Kennett High School. Clara was employed in the banking industry for most of her working career. She was a member of Atonement United Methodist Church,…

Vera M. Cole, 101, of Oxford, died Wednesday, Dec. 16, at The Ware Presbyterian Village. She was preceded in death by her parents Ray P. and Mabel Roth Reese, her husband of 52 years Ray D. Cole, and her son Jay Dennis Cole. As a homemaker, Vera was able to be a cub scout leader, a piano teacher for more than 50 years, a past…

Kenneth Robert Renn, 77, of Chadds Ford, died peacefully at his home with family by his side on Wednesday, Dec. 16. He was a devoted husband, proud father, and grandfather. He loved traveling with his wife, working with his hands, fixing things, and treasured his time with family. Ken was born on Jan. 31, 1943, in Shamokin, to the late Howard and Rita Zelinskie Renn.…

Joseph P. Versagli Sr., 87, of Landenberg, died Monday, Dec. 14, at Jennersville Hospital. He was the husband of Lorena “Reni” Cocciolone Versagli, with whom he shared 65 year of marriage. Born in Landenberg, he was the son of the late Gusippe Versagli and the late Assunta Latttanzio Versagli. Joe was a lifelong mushroom grower, and part-owner of G. Versagli and Sons in Landenberg, retiring…

Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Harris, 100, of Kennett Square, died Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Twin Pines Nursing Home in West Grove. She was the wife of the late Raymond G. “Archie” Harris, who died in 2001 and with whom she shared 57 years of marriage. Born in Toughkenamon, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Ross and Dorcas Richardson Ross. Betsy moved to the Village…

George W. Franz, retired Interim Chancellor and an associate professor of history and American studies at Penn State Brandywine Campus, died Thursday, Dec. 10, following a four-year battle with multiple myeloma. He was 78.Dr. Franz joined what was then named Penn State’s Delaware County Campus as an instructor in 1968. He subsequently achieved the rank of associate professor, and he retired in 2007 after serving…