Marie Clare Leek
BERLIN — On Feb. 20, 2019, Marie Clare Leek went to be with her Lord and Savior at 86 years of age.
Marie Clare Leek
She was a devoted daughter of John and Marie Ilgenfritz; loyal and loving partner of Andrew Szypula for 40 years; loving sister of John Ilgenfritz, Margaret McGuire, Bernadette McCarty, Carolann Stripling and her two children Alicia and Brandon; cherished mother of Teresa Lerner, Sharon Sapp, John H. Leek and daughter in law Margaret Leek; adoring grandmother of eight wonderful grandchildren, Heather, Leah, Lauren, Amanda, Kristin, Jackie, Billy and Melynda; and beloved great grandmother to seven beautiful great grandchildren.
Marie was a loving, independent, giving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who enjoyed her family, friends, adult coloring, Ravens football and her rescued cat “Gracie”. She also enjoyed her work as the accountant for the Maryland Coast Dispatch before her retirement after 20 years.
A gathering will be held at Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, located at 504 Franklin Avenue in Berlin, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2019. Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service a division of Holloway Funeral Home, P.A., 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Md. 21811. Please visit www.easternshorecremation.com to express condolences to the family.
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Joel Thomas James
BERLIN — We can all be grateful for the gift of having Joel Thomas James in our lives.
Joel Thomas James
Born on Aug, 13, 1977, Joel left this world unexpectedly on Feb. 12, 2019. In his wake, he left an imprint on so many people around the world — family, friends, colleagues and students and their families.
Joel loved nature, especially surfing. On summer mornings, he could be found surfing the beaches at Assateague Island. Joel could brighten your day with his smile or a hug. He told great stories and loved a good laugh. He saw the good in every being and lifted up those around him. He was a loving family member, a loyal friend and a gifted and enthusiastic teacher. Without a doubt, Joel lived life to its fullest. He enriched the lives of so many of us, and we are thankful for having had him in our lives, even if that time feels so short and ended so suddenly.
Joel is survived by his wife, Honor McElroy, and son, Emmett (age 3) who both brought him great joy; parents Jim and Vera James; sisters Aimee James and Jennifer Wissink; and by his extended family Julie Kerr, Georgianna and Robert McElroy, Maggie and Chris Eby, Joe and Lindsey McElroy, Larry Wissink; and nephew and nieces Gerrit, Megan and Madeline Wissink.
Joel was a graduate of Chenango Forks High School in Binghamton, N.Y., and of Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. He received a Master’s degree from the University of Buffalo. At the time of his passing, he was teaching at the American Community School in Amman, Jordan.
A service to remember and celebrate Joel’s life will be planned for a later date in summer 2019.
Life will not be same without Joel in it, but his impact and memory live on. We think he would want to be remembered not with tears but with a good story, music, laughter and love and goodwill for those around us. If you are so moved, please consider donating in Joel’s name to one of these causes which we think he would hold dear: Assateague Island Alliance and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Or, choose something that means a lot to you. It’s what he would want.
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John Francis Finch
BERLIN — John Francis Finch, age 88, died on Friday, March 1, 2019, at Atlantic General Hospital.
John Francis Finch
Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Harry and Catherine Hughes Finch. He is survived by his wife, Mary Seabrease Finch, and children, Billy Taylor of Baltimore and Teresa Shehan and her husband Jeffrey of Glenville, Pa. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathy Prochaska. There are six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Mr. Finch had been employed by Budweiser as a truck driver. A sports fan, he loved to watch baseball and football.
A funeral service was held on Monday March 4 at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Rev. Paul Jennings officiated. A donation in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, Tenn. 38105, or Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr. Tampa, Fla., 33607. Letters of condolence may be sent via www.burbagefuneralhome.com.
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Robert F. Harrington
DAGSBORO, Del. — Robert “Bobby” or “Bear” F. Harrington, age 73, of Dagsboro, Del. and formerly of Key West, Fla. and Washington, D.C., passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall, Md.
He was born in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 10, 1945 son of the late Robert G. and Margaret Ann (Flynn) Harrington. “Bear” proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He retired in 1991 as one of the most highly decorated Washington, D.C. firefighters.
“Bobby” was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Moose, American Legion Post #24 and the Emerald Society Firefighters of Washington, D.C. He also enjoyed fishing, riding his Harley Davidson and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his five siblings, Thomas Harrington and his wife, Janice of Cooksville, Md., James Harrington and his wife, Marie of Roxana, Del., Anne Luke and her husband, Michael of Willards, Md., Maureen Cathell and her husband, Wayne of Berlin and Kathleen Porterfield and her husband, Rick of Madisonville, Tenn. and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 29, 2019 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 35318 Church Rd., Frankford, Del., where friends and family may call after 10 a.m. Interment will follow with military honors at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, Del.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Robert’s name to the Emerald Society Firefighters of Washington DC, 3002 12th Street NE, Washington, DC 20018 or by visiting www.dcfdemeralds.org
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com