December 4, 2008 Issue
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Classified Chestnut Hill Local Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or Winner of Two |
ObituariesDavid W. O’Neill
David W. O’Neill, 72, of Mt. Airy, a retired letter carrier, died Nov. 24 of complications of congestive heart failure at the Artman Lutheran Home in Ambler, where he had been a resident for three days. Mr. O’Neill retired from the U.S. Postal Service after carrying mail for 38 years, most of that time in Mt. Airy. Born in Willow Grove, Mr. O’Neill was a graduate of Upper Moreland High School. He is survived by his wife, the former Pamela Lynch; sons John O’Neill, Tim O’Neill and Ryan Ritz; daughters Patti McDade, Terri Adolf and Kathy Maile; a brother, Jim O’Neill; a sister, Helen Hando; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A sister, Kathy Smith, preceded him in death. Funeral services were held Nov. 29 at the Decker Funeral Home in Warminister. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
James M. Ledwith A registered plumber, Mr. Ledwith established his firm in 1972. He specialized in repairing heating systems in older homes in Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Germantown, and was highly regarded by his customers. A native of Mt. Airy, Mr. Ledwith attended Holy Cross Parish School. He was a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School and the Dobbins Technical Institute. He was a member of the Chestnut Hill Bocce Club. Mr. Ledwith is survived by his wife, Miriam; a stepdaughter, Jennifer Wing of Seattle, Wash.; two grandchildren; two brothers, and two sisters. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at Holy Cross Church, 154 E. Mt. Airy Ave. Relatives and friends may call at 9:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross School, 144 E. Mt. Airy Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19119.
John A. Kerper Mr. Kerper was the son of the late Catherine and William Kerper. He is survived by many nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 2 at Seven Dolors Church, 1200 E. Willow Grove Ave., Wyndmoor, PA 19038. Interment was private. Memorial contributions may be made to Men of Malvern, P.O. Box 315, 315 S. Warren Ave., Malvern, PA 19355-0315 or to the above church.
Elizabeth Graham
Elizabeth Graham, 94, of Chestnut Hill, an active community volunteer, died Dec. 1 at her home in the Hill House. Mrs. Graham was the mother of Stewart Graham, a longtime board member of the Chestnut Hill Community Association. Mrs. Graham was a volunteer with many local organizations, among them the Chestnut Hill Community Association, the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, Teenagers Inc., Chestnut Hill Hospital, the Chestnut Hill Business Association, the Chestnut Hill Cultural Alliance, Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Coatesville Veterans Hospital. Mrs. Graham was born in Germantown, the daughter of William John and Elizabeth Anderson Brunt. She and her two sisters were raised by their father when their mother died in the flu epidemic of 1918. She graduated from the Powers Modeling School in New York City, but was only allowed to model for charity events because her father considered it unseemly for her to work as a professional model. Her father also stepped in when she was offered two contracts by movie studios in Hollywood, believing that a career in the entertainment industry was unacceptable for a young woman. In 1936 Mrs. Graham married Thomas Alexander “Sandy” Graham, a textile industry salesman who had recently emigrated from Northern Ireland, and the couple settled in Germantown. With the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Graham joined the U.S. Army and Mrs. Graham served as a volunteer for the Red Cross in California, driving Hollywood celebrities to army camps to perform for the troops. In the years after the war, the couple moved to Teaneck, N.J., so Mr. Graham could be closer to his work as a salesman in the textile division of DuPont de Nemours in New York City. Mr. Graham died in1961 at the age of 47, leaving his wife to raise two boys on her own. Her skill in investing, however, which she had learned from her father, enabled her to become a millionaire and provide her sons with a good education and cultural experiences that enriched their lives. Although her opportunities as a young woman had been limited, she traveled abroad frequently in later life and served as a member of a trade delegation led by Leonard Woodcock, the first American ambassador to China after its opening to the West. After her husband’s death, Mrs. Graham lived in Detroit, Washington, D.C., Boston and Williamsburg, Va., before returning to Philadelphia in 1991. In addition to her son Stewart, she is survived by another son, Thomas Alexander “Sandy” Graham II, and one granddaughter. A grandson preceded her in death. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118. Friends and relatives may call at 9 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at Ivy Hill Cemetery. A reception and lunch will be held in the Parish Hall of the Church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Church.
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