Catasauqua Press

Lori J. Molchany died Jan. 17, 2019, after a battle against a glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor. She was the wife of Rick Molchany for 39 years.

She was a daughter of Terry and Madeline (Haney) Leibenguth of Whitehall.

She was a registered nurse for 37 years and was honored by Lehigh Valley Health Network with a Friends of Nursing award. She was also a medical claim reviewer for Guardian Life Insurance.

She was a member of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, Berlinsville, where she was a Eucharistic minister.

Joel L. Serfass, 54, of Walnutport, died Jan. 4, 2019, at Lehigh Valley Hospital under Lehigh Valley Hospice Care. He was the husband of Martha M. (Jerant) Serfass for 35 years.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Luther H. and Dolphin J. (Butz) Serfass.

He was a 1982 graduate of Northampton High School.

He was self-employed at Serfass Lawn Care, Walnutport, for the past five years.

He was a lifelong member of Faith Reformed Church of Christ, Walnutport, where he was treasurer for the past 38 years.

Daniel “Lippy” S. Focht, 53, of Whitehall and formerly of Coplay, died suddenly Jan. 12, 2019. He was the fiance of Karen A. Matika, with whom he resided.

Born in Bethlehem, he was a son of William H. and Janet A. (Peters) Focht of Whitehall Manor.

He was a 1984 graduate of Whitehall High School.

He was a concrete contractor by PACT II Construction Company, Ringoes, N.J. Previously, he was employed by Howard Robson Contracting, Bethlehem, and Baseline Construction, Coplay.

Samuel P. Remaly, 92, of Whitehall, died Jan. 5, 2019, in his home.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Preston H. and Mamie (Peters) Remaly.

He attended and played basketball for Moravian College.

He was in the U.S. Army during World War II.

He was employed at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 43 years.

He is survived by three sons, Stephen and his wife Roseann, Glen and his wife Donna and Randy and his wife Martina; two daughters, Debra and her husband Richard Farkas and Donna L. Remaly; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Julius F. Iacocca, 93, of South Whitehall Township, died Jan. 10, 2019, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of Phyllis A. (Rose) Iacocca for 70 years.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Theodore and Assunta (Cocca) Iacocca.

He was a 1943 graduate of Allentown High School and a 1948 graduate of Lehigh University.

He was a first lieutenant in the Marine Corps during World War II. He completed officer training at the University of Notre Dame.

Charles S. Elias Jr., 84, of Allentown, died Jan. 8, 2019, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. He was the husband of Dolores E. (Ritter) Elias for 62 years.

Born in Bath, he was the son of the late Charles S. Sr. and Helen (Howard) Elias.

He was a layout operator for the former Western Electric, Allentown, for 24 years before retiring. He spent his retirement years working at the Lehigh Valley Zoo.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, stationed on the USS Caperton.

Thomas Allen Burkholder, 97, of Allentown, died Jan. 8, 2019, in his home. He was the husband of the late Anna (Zachar) Burkholder.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Oliver S. and Julia (Frederick) Burkholder.

He graduated from Catasauqua High School in 1939.

Granville Hilt, 86, formerly of Coopersburg, died Jan. 11, 2019, at Fellowship Community. He was the longtime companion of Joan T. (Pitta) Arner of Whitehall. He was the husband of the late Janet Hilt.

Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Granville and Kathryn H. (Gilbert) Hilt Hertzog.

He served with the 24th Division in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.

He worked at General Electric, Allentown, and retired from quality control. He was a private instructor on drums and played keyboards, harmonica and steel guitar.

Carl D. Snyder, 89, of Whitehall, died Jan. 4, 2019, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. He was the husband of the late Margaret J. (Gollatz) Snyder for 47 years.

Born in Nazareth, he was a son of the late Claude and Elsie (Zellner) Snyder.

He was in the U.S. Army in Panama during the Korean conflict.

He was a forklift operator for more than 46 years for the James River Corporation, formerly Dixie, until he retired in 1991.

Hilda Thomas, 95, of North Catasauqua, died Jan. 13, 2019, at Lehigh Valley Hospice, Allentown.

Born in Coplay, she was a daughter of the late Edmund and Rose (Seier) Thomas.

She was a seamstress, nanny and landlady throughout the Lehigh Valley for many years.

She is survived by nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a sister, Margaret Shedmock Yandrasitz.

Funeral services will be private.

Arrangements were made by Brubaker Funeral Home Inc., Coplay.