Compiled by
Joe Novetsky

Father Alvin Black
Father Alvin A. Black, O.F.M., 73, a Franciscan Friar for 50 years and a priest for 44 years, died Dec. 26, 2004.
Born in Philadelphia, Father Black was stationed at Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J., at the time of his death.
He was parochial assistant at several parishes in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania and served on university staffs.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 29 at St. Anthony Church, Butler, N.J. Burial was at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Butler.
Surviving are a brother, James; a nephew and niece.

Samuel Bookbinder III
Samuel C. Bookbinder III, 69, of Gulph Mills, husband of Constance Bookbinder (born Cunningham) died Dec. 24, 2004.
Mr. Bookbinder was owner and operator of the former 15th Street Bookbinder Restaurant. The restaurant closed in 2003.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 30 at St. Patrick Church.
He was the father of Abbie Meyer, Samuel C. IV and Ronald C.
Also survived by four grandchildren.
He was a brother of Richard C. Bookbinder.

Beatrice Donnelly
Beatrice M. Donnelly (born Fichter) wife of the late William J. Donnelly, died Dec. 26, 2004.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 30 at St. John the Baptist Church. Burial was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham.
She was the mother of Sarah-Anne, Beatrice E., Edward F. Donnelly, Mary-Anne Wagner and Margaret-Anne Rose.
Also survived by 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Gertrude Garifolas
Gertrude R. Garifolas (born Dooley) 91, formerly of Drexel Hill, died Dec. 26, 2004. She was the wife of the late Nicholas L. Garifolas.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 31 at St. Anselm Church. Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.
She was the mother of Mary Bucciarelli.
Also survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Sister Mary Kinsella
Sister Mary of Victory Kinsella, G.N.S.H., the former Ellen C. Kinsella, died Dec. 28, 2004 at the age of 94. She entered the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in 1926.
Sister Mary of Victory served in the Philadelphia Archdiocese at high schools for 24 years, including Melrose Academy, Little Flower and Bishop McDevitt High Schools.
She served as teacher and principal in both elementary and high schools in Buffalo, Corona and Jackson Heights, N.Y. She was dean of students at D’Youville College in Buffalo.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 31 at the Grey Nuns motherhouse in Yardley. Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.
Surviving are a brother, Francis J., two nieces, a nephew, cousins and members of her congregation.

Peter Klepesky
Peter A. Klepesky, husband of Anne Klepesky (born Alisauskis) died Dec. 27, 2004.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 30 at St. Cecilia Church.
He was the father of Peter, Wayne and the late Carol Klepesky.
Also survived by eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Theresa Laird
Theresa R. Laird (born Ruoff) 72, wife of Nelson K. Laird Sr., of Darby, died Dec. 27, 2004.
Mrs. Laird was a 1952 graduate of West Catholic Girls’ High School.
She worked for the Evening Bulletin from 1953 to 1958 and was secretary at St. Clement Parish from 1970 until it closed in 2004. She was a former eucharistic minister.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 29 at Divine Mercy Church. Burial was at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield.
She was the mother of Theresa Reynolds, Laura Crouse, Nelson K. Laird Jr., Valerie Cubel and Douglas I. Laird.
Also survived by 14 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
She was a sister of Katherine Howe, Ellen Dettinger and Howard Ruoff.

Sister Helen Leary
Sister Helen Elizabeth Leary, M.M.S., of the Medical Mission Sisters, died Dec. 19, 2004 at the age of 88.
Sister Helen served as a hospital dietitian in Venezuela and the U.S., and as a hospital administrator in Bangladesh.
She also worked as a business manager, administrator and vocation directress in the U.S.
For 20 years, until her retirement in 1999, she was a eucharistic minister to the elderly, sick and homebound in Tuscon, Ariz.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 6, 2005 at the North American headquarters of the congregation in Philadelphia. Burial was at the community cemetery.

Leonard Mancini Jr.
Leonard A. Mancini Jr., husband of Dorothy Mancini (born Jesilionis) died Dec. 26, 2004.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 30 at St. Bridget Church. Burial was at Baltimore, Md.
He was the father of Paul, Leonard and Robert.
Also survived by eight grandchildren and a sister, Leonore Mancini.

Sister Rita Smith
Sister Rita Geraldine Smith, S.S.J., the former Katherine L. Smith, died Dec. 24, 2004 at the age of 99.
Born in Philadelphia, Sister Rita Geraldine entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1925.
She served in the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Newark Archdioceses and the Allentown, Camden and Harrisburg Dioceses.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 29 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown. Burial was at the community cemetery.
Surviving are a sister-in-law, Mae Smith; nieces, nephews and members of her congregation.
She was preceded in death by brothers John, Hammond and Jerry Smith and sisters Marie and Rita Smith.