Life
Elaine M. Valenti, age 74 years of Merchantville, passed away on December 30, 2018. Beloved spouse of Sharon Novella; Devoted daughter of the late Anthony and Rose (nee Abiuso) and daughter in law of Miriam Novella; Dear sister of the late Lawrence (Patricia); Loving aunt of Dana (Daniel) Selbach and Anthony Valenti and great aunt of Derek Selbach; Caring godmother of Carmen, Frank and Nicholas Hapstak; Also survived by many loving in-laws, cousins and friends.
Prior to her retirement, Elaine was owner and operator of Ms. and His Unisex Hair Salon in Pennsauken for 40 years. She was also very active with both St. Peter's Parish in Merchantville and Notre Dame de la Mer Parish in Wildwood Crest for many years. Service details through Falco-Caruso Funeral Home.
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Milestones
Bill Rube has been involved in the hunter/jumper world most of his life. He and his husband Joe Miraglia live in Merchantville, New Jersey, and Rube works as the executive director for the Lindsay Maxwell Charitable Foundation. He celebrated 35 years of sobriety on July 26. "One Year Later: Continuing The Conversation About Addiction" is a follow up piece to an article he penned in The Chronicle of the Horse magazine in October 2017. While Bill is very open about his sobriety, there are many who are still unaware of this. He hopes these articles will help spread a message of hope and strength by starting a conversation and chipping away at the stigma associated with the disease.
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Wellness
It's getting closer and closer. The Spring season will be here before you know it at MLL. Don't miss out on registering your daughter for our upcoming Little League Softball Season. Did you know our Softball program is home to the last 2 Section 4 Little League Champions in the State of NJ? If you want to be a part of that tradition at MLL register today on www.merchantvillelittleleague.org. Don't know your daughters league age? Click on the following link to find our what level you should be registering her to play. Sign up today for early bird discounts at all levels of MLL Softball!
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Clubs
Panico, Elaine Hartman, 94, of Margate formerly of Ventnor, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday December 20, 2018 beside her ever-loving daughter and caretaker Lorne Panico. She was raised in Merchantville, NJ by her parents Edward and Eleanor Hartman. She is predeceased by her husband of over 50 years Dr. Frederick G. Panico and brother Earl Hartman. Elaine earned a Bachelor's degree in nursing at Jersey State Teachers College (now called The College of NJ). She was studying for her masters degree in Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania when she got swept off her feet by a young medical student named Fred. Memories may be shared here.
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Milestones
William Francis Waldron, Sr. of Merchantville passed away Monday, December 17, 2018. He was 78. Born September 21, 1940 in Camden and grew up in Collingswood, William was a graduate of Saint Joseph High School, University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University. He started working at Campbell Soup Company in 1958 in the mail room and continued for 42 more years rising to Senior Financial Analyst. His faith and church were very important to him and he passed his love of faith to his six children. He was a soccer coach, a basketball coach, a religious education teacher and a volunteer for St. Vincent DePaul. He is survived by his wife of 52 years Carole, four sons and two daughters. William (Liz) of Metuchen, David (Holly) of Tampa, Shawn (Angela) of Merchantville, Stephen (Stacy) of West Chester, Elizabeth (Dan) of Jersey City and Colleen (Andrew) of West Chester. Full Gaskill-Brown obituary.
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Milestones
On December 23, 2018 Luis Daniel Hernandez, age 35, of Merchantville, NJ. Relatives and friends are invited to gather with his family on Saturday from 1:00-2:00 PM in Immanuel Baptist Church Main Street and Poplar Avenue Maple Shade, NJ. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM in Immanuel Baptist Church, Main Street and Poplar Avenue in Maple Shade, New Jersey. Memories may be shared here.
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Milestones
It's that time of year again! We at MLL are running our early bird discount for all registrations completed before January 4th, 2019. Our programs this year include Tee Ball/ Coach Pitch/ Minor/Major and 50-70 Baseball. We also are registering players for Coach Pitch/Minor/ Major and Senior League Softball. Register now and receive a $10 discount on your sons or daughters Tee Ball registration at MLL for the Spring 2019 season. Register now and receive a $20 discount on your sons or daughters baseball or softball registration for the Spring 2019 season. All early registrations will make your son or daughter eligible for MLL's indoor training in the Merchantville School Gym starting in January. Don't delay as this discount expires on January 4th, 2019.
Use our website to find out the new USA bat standards adopted by Little League Baseball for 2019. Use our website to find out your sons or daughters Little League age for the 2019 season. When on our web-site www.merchantvillelittleleague.org or our Facebook page @merchantvillelittleleague use the registration button and it will guide you through the process. Please remember, we at MLL are a 100% volunteer organization. Being volunteers we are always in need of really good and experienced help. If you can reach out to our email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask us about upcoming board meetings and league wide activities. We would love to have your help and so would your son or daughter. Thanks and we look forward to another great year with you and your children at MLL!
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Clubs
John W. Smiley, 89, a longtime resident of Merchantville, NJ died November 16, 2018. Born in Stroudsburg, PA, he was a graduate of Lafayette College. He was a retired computer programmer with RCA in Camden and a US Army WWII veteran. Mr. Smiley was also a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church Merchantville and a former member of the Merchantville Zoning Board and Merchantville Historical Society. He was the husband of the late May McDowell and Elizabeth (nee Kies). He was the father of Patricia Hopkins of Pennsauken, Barbara (Dennis) Wilson of Pennsauken, and the late Susan (Darnell) Greene of Hewitt, NJ. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Saturday November 24, 2018 from 9:00-11:00 AM in Trinity United Methodist Church Maple and Chapel Avenues Merchantville, NJ. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM in church. Interment will follow in Arlington Cemetery Pennsauken, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church.
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Milestones
Kimberley A. Mancini (nee Crowder) of Cinnaminson passed away peacefully at home on October 31, 2018 at the age of 53. Kim grew up in Merchantville, attended Merchantville Elementary and graduated from Pennsauken High School in 1983 where she played in the Marching Band. Kim inspired so many while waging a battle against breast cancer and two strokes. She taught those around her to live in the moment and face each day with renewed strength and determination. Kim was the wife of the late Charles Mancini. She is the loving mother of Ashleigh and Brittani Mancini and grandmother to Joey and Liam Egan. Kim is the beloved daughter of Rosemary (Renie) Crowder and the late Ralph, and sister to Kristine Crowder Painter. She is also survived by several nieces and a nephew. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 4, from 1-4 p.m. at the Lewis Funeral Home at 78 E Main Street, Moorestown, NJ and more information is available through the Lewis Funeral Home website.
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Milestones
Jean “Patsy” T. DeBell-O’Neal passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Balfour Retirement Community in Louisville, Colo., on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. She is survived by her stepson-in-law, Michael Wirtz of Santa Fe, N.M.; step-grandchildren, Brian (Maria Wirtz) of Auburn, Calf., Carla Wirtz (Chris Lamson) of Longmont, Colo., Lara Wirtz Fahnestock (Todd) of Englewood, Colo., Carmen O’Neal of North Tonawanda, N.Y., Caity O’Neal Turner (Josh) of Candler, N.C.; her nieces, Georgine Traver of Newman, Ga., Kristine Trites of La Crescenta, Calif.; as well as eight great-grandchildren. Jean was born on March 7, 1927, in Merchantville, N.J., the daughter of George and Jennie DeBell. Jean lived a rich life, full of exploration, education and adventure. Full obituary notice.
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Milestones
Neil J. Robinson of Merchantville passed away Wednesday, October 31, 2018. He was 63. His memorial service will be held 10 am, Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, 10 W. Maple Avenue, Merchantville. Relatives and friends may visit with the family from 9 am until time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the church or the Almost Home Animal Shelter. For condolences and more information please visit Gaskill-Brown Funeral Home.
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Milestones