Compiled by
Joe Novetsky

Mary Gabor
Mary R. Gabor (born Longo), wife of Ronald E. Gabor Sr., and daughter of Anthony J. and Ruth M. (Thomas) Longo, died Jan. 6, 2005.
Mrs. Gabor was a member of the Torresdale Women’s Association.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 11 at St. Katherine of Siena Church. Burial was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham.
She was the mother of Maureen and Ronald E. Jr.
Also survived by three siblings, S. Tony Longo, Greg Longo and Tina Melissen; seven nieces and seven nephews; four great-nephews; many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Joseph Henkel
Joseph B. Henkel, 86, of Clifton Heights, husband of the late Theresa M. Henkel (born Derago), died Dec. 24, 2004.
Mr. Henkel was a graduate of the former Southeast Catholic High School. He was employed by Atlantic Refining Co.
He was a World War II Navy veteran.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 29 at Holy Cross Church, Springfield. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.
He was a brother of the late Francis J. Henkel and the late Mary Henkel.

Joseph Leicht Sr.
Joseph E. Leicht Sr., husband of Elizabeth Leicht (born Lewis-McCue), died Jan. 4, 2005.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 8 at SS. Simon and Jude Church, West Chester. Burial was at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield.
He was the father of Joseph E. Leicht Jr., and R. T.
Also survived by five grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Lena Marine
Lena Marine (born Falco), wife of the late Louis Marine, died Jan. 9, 2005.
Mrs. Marine was a lifelong resident of Norristown and a 1946 graduate of Norristown High School.
She was a member of the Senior Citizens Club of Holy Saviour Parish, Norristown.
She was the mother of Msgr. John C. Marine, vicar for Montgomery County.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 15 at Holy Saviour Church, Norristown. Burial was at St. Patrick Cemetery, East Norriton.
In addition to her son, she is survived by a sister, Sophie Pasquini; brothers-in-law, Sal Marine and Phil Marine.
Also survived by nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews.

Catherine Mazzone
Catherine Mazzone (born Beccaria), wife of the late George Mazzone, died Dec. 30, 2004.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 4 at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Church, North Wales. Burial was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham.
She was the mother of Steven Mazzone and the late Charles Mazzone.

Sister Roseanne McHugh
Sister Roseanne Theresa McHugh, S.S.J., formerly Sister Anna Daniel, died Dec. 29, 2004. She was 86.
Born in Philadelphia, Sister Roseanne entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1941.
She served in the Philadelphia and Washington Archdioceses and the Camden and Harrisburg Dioceses.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 3 at St. Joseph Villa, Flourtown. Burial was at the community cemetery.
Surviving are great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and members of her congregation.
She was preceded in death by brothers Joseph and Daniel McHugh.

Mary Lou O’Driscoll
Mary Lou O’Driscoll (born Sobon), wife of Gregory O’Driscoll, died Jan. 1, 2005.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 4 at St. Anselm Church. Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem.
She was the mother of Colleen McAllister, Gregory and Christopher; daughter of Catherine Sobon.
Also survived by five grandchildren.
She was a sister of Kathleen Davis.

Sister Mary Slater
Sister Mary Natalie Slater, I.H.M., the former Agnes R. Slater, died Dec. 24, 2004 at the age of 82.
Born in Philadelphia, Sister Mary Natalie entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1940.
She served in the Philadelphia Archdiocese and the Allentown Diocese.
She was serving at St. Martin of Tours Parish at the time of her death.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 28 at Camilla Hall, Immaculata. Burial was at Immaculata.
Surviving are four sisters, Sisters Mary of Peace, I.H.M., Catherine Augustine, I.H.M., M. Agnes Frances, I.H.M., and Mary K. Meisner, also members of her congregation.

Sister Marie Thoden
Sister Marie Richard Thoden, I.H.M., the former Sally Thoden, died Dec. 27, 2004. She was 73.
Born in Philadelphia, Sister Marie Richard entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1949.
She served in the Philadelphia Archdiocese and the Allentown and Harrisburg Dioceses.
She also served in South America and Arlington, Va.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 31 at Camilla Hall, Immaculata. Burial was at Immaculata.
Surviving are five sisters, Adelaide Robertson, Helen Brennan, Anne McGuire, Margaret Rossi and Janet Clarke; four brothers, Richard, Philip, William and Robert Thoden; and members of her congregation.

Louis Tumolo
Louis J. Tumolo, husband of the late Josephine Tumolo (born Adduci), died Dec. 31, 2004.
The funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 5 at St. Hilary of Poitiers Church, Rydal. Burial was at Lawnview Cemetery.
He was the father of Louis A. Tumolo; brother of Edward Tumolo, Elizabeth McElroy and the late Albert, George, Joseph, Helen and Jeanette.
Also survived by nieces and nephews.

Philadelphia pays tribute to business leader G. Fred DiBona Jr.

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE
CS&T Staff Writer

“Imagining Independence Blue Cross and Philadelphia without Fred DiBona is like imagining City Hall’s tower without William Penn,” said Robert H. Young, board chairman of Independence Blue Cross.
G. Fred DiBona Jr., 53, a Catholic who was president and chief executive officer of the Philadelphia-based health insurance company, and a former president of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce as well as a former chairman of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s BLOCS (Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools), died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005, of cancer.
Reared in St. Monica Parish in South Philadelphia, at the time of his death DiBona belonged to St. John Baptist Vianney Parish in Gladwyne.
In a letter to DiBona’s widow, Sylvia, Cardinal Justin Rigali said he would continue to remember DiBona in his prayers.
“I renew the heartfelt gratitude of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for all his many services and contributions to the Church and to the cause of Catholic education,” the Cardinal said.
“May the Lord sustain you, G. Fred III and Christine in the consolation of Christian hope,” the Cardinal said. “Be assured of my personal solidarity during this time of loss.” G. Fred III and Christine are Fred and Sylvia DiBona’s children.
More than 2,000 packed the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul for the funeral Mass on Friday, Jan. 14. Among those in attendance were Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell, U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), and numerous dignitaries from Philadelphia.
Mayor John F. Street attended DiBona’s viewing at the Cathedral Thursday evening. The line of those who came to pay their respects stretched for blocks.
Retired Auxiliary Bishop Louis A. DeSimone, a personal friend of the family, served as the principal celebrant and homilist of the funeral Mass.
“Fred DiBona, from the time he was a boy in the home of his beloved parents, was taught to know and love God and to serve Him and His people,” Bishop DeSimone said in the homily.
The bishop said DiBona had been determined to become a success, which he did as a young lawyer, in commerce, in his outstanding service to the community and through many charitable endeavors, including BLOCS. DiBona was also a former chairman of the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment and a former president of the Philadelphia Port Corporation.
In 1997, La Salle University bestowed its Business Leadership Award on DiBona, and, in 1996, Roman Catholic High School for Boys honored him with the Thomas Cahill Leadership Award for his efforts in economic development.
“All will agree that Fred DiBona was a successful man, winning many honors, but his greatest honor was to serve people, especially the people of his beloved Philadelphia,” Bishop DeSimone added. “He made every effort to understand their needs, to share their hopes and allay their fears.”
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph P. McFadden remembered DiBona as a “staunch advocate of Catholic education,” who “worked tirelessly” to assist the Archdiocese in promoting the importance of Catholic schools in the community and in seeking financial support from the business community to help maintain its programs.
As the chairman of BLOCS in the early 1990s, DiBona helped to resurrect the interest of the business community in supporting the Catholic schools and was behind the enrollment of Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) program, which provides scholarship money for Catholic schools to help needy families obtain a Catholic education for their children.
“He will be sorely missed by all involved in Catholic education,” added Bishop McFadden, who assists Cardinal Rigali in overseeing the Archdiocese’s Secretariat for Catholic Education.
In addition to his wife and children, DiBona is survived by a brother, Frank, and two sisters, Emily Presenza and Evelyn Parish, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Common Pleas Court Judge G. Fred DiBona and Rose (formerly D’Amico) DiBona.
Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Conshohocken.

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine can be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org