retired funeral director and past owner, W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors, Tupelo, Mississippi, died September 19, 2022, at age 86.

Pegues graduated from John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee. He was a longtime member and served as president of the following boards: Tupelo Rotary Club, Community Development Foundation and the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association. He was a past chairman of Tupelo Airport Authority and also served as chairman of the BancorpSouth Center and the BancorpSouth Community Bank Board and Advisory Board.

Pegues also served on the North Mississippi Medical Center and the North Mississippi Kidney Foundation Board of Directors Executive Committee. In 1999, due to the generosity of a donor, he received a kidney, for which his wife and daughters will be eternally grateful.

Pegues is survived by wife Sylvia; daughters Sherie, Lisia and Kimberly; two granddaughters; two great-grandsons; and a sister-in-law.

died peacefully October 8 at age 66 surrounded by family at home in Wayne, New Jersey, after a courageous four-year battle with ovarian cancer.

Daughter of the late Michael and Regina Mary (D’Amelio) Josephs Sr., she was raised in Paterson and had lived in Wayne for the past 30 years.

With a passion for helping and an innate ability to see people as people, she was a New Jersey-licensed funeral director and embalmer for over 35 years alongside her cherished, devoted husband, Robert C. Moore IV, at the family-owned and -operated Moore’s Home for Funerals (Wayne).

Her funeral ministry helped thousands of families create beautiful life celebrations for those they loved and allowed people to find a sense of hope and light during life’s darkest hours. A staunch advocate for funeral service, Moore was an active and engaged member of the Passaic County Funeral Directors Association, the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association and NFDA. Within each organization, she served on numerous committees, all with the objective of preserving and strengthening the important role funeral directors play in society as they serve and help the living by caring for the dead.

Moore was an integral part of the fabric of both NJSFDA and NFDA for many years while her husband served in numerous leadership positions in both associations. Traveling together frequently around New Jersey, the United States and internationally, the pair promoted the value of the funeral and the rewards of becoming part of this noble profession. Moore’s unique ability to welcome people and bring them together, along with her expertise as a working funeral director, made her an asset to the mission.

Moore’s faith was a window into her soul, where one would see her steadfast and loving heart whose actions spoke her truth. That truth was grounded in the love of family and friends, and she was as devoted to her best friend and life partner, Rob, as he was to her, for more than 37 years. They were blessed with a son, Robby, truly the light in his mother’s eye and of whom she was extremely proud.

Moore will be remembered by many for her variety of hobbies, including cooking Italian delicacies, decorating her home and the funeral home at Christmas, her knowledge of the locations of the best beaches and her mastery of fine wines. It will always be said of Pat Moore that, with a ferocious passion, she did things her way and invited everyone else along for the ride, which was always a fun one.

Moore’s words and deeds allowed countless others to see goodness and compassion in the world. She rests now in the sweetest peace and until we are all reunited again in that place where there will be no pain or suffering but only light, peace and hope, we honor her by being a bit more compassionate and loving to all God’s children.

She is survived by loving husband Robert Cowell Moore IV; her son, Robert Cowell Moore V and his partner, Kyle Mesce; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathryn and Michael Manza and Lynn Marie and Diego Lezcano; two brothers and sisters-in-law, James “Shemp” Sr. and Judith Josephs, and Michael “Spec” and Lisa Josephs; “Aunt” Jay and “Uncle” Bob Tubman; extended family; and dear friends from all around the world.

retired funeral director and owner, Dauderman Mortuary, Alhambra and Hamel, Illinois, and Dauderman Monument Sales, Alhambra, died September 28, 2022, at age 89. Dauderman graduated from Hohenschuh Carpenter College of Mortuary Business in St. Louis, Missouri. He worked for Kassly Funeral Home in East St. Louis before joining the U.S. Army and serving during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal.

In 1956, he opened Dauderman West End Mortuary (Alhambra), which also included an ambulance business. In 1957, he opened Dauderman Mortuary (Hamel); in 1963, he purchased R.F. Dauderman & Halleman Funeral Home (Alhambra). In addition, he founded, owned and operated Galaxy Restaurant in Alhambra from 1963-85. In 2013, he retired.

Dauderman was a retired Alhambra volunteer fireman; a member of Masonic Lodge 355, A.F.&A.M., American Legion Post 1147 and the Illinois Funeral Directors Association; a past president of the Madison County Funeral Directors Association; president of the Salem Cemetery Association; Madison County deputy coroner; and Madison County Housing Authority past president.

He is survived by daughters Susan Jo and Cindy Lee, son Joseph Robert, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

retired funeral director and owner, Coleman-Taylor Funeral Services, Cecil, Pennsylvania, died August 29, 2022, at age 88. Coleman operated the funeral home for many years and, after selling the business in 2007, frequented Coleman-Taylor Funeral Services regularly, greeting guests and sharing stories.

He was a member of Corpus Christi Parish and St. Mary’s Church, an honorary lifetime member of Cecil Township Volunteer Fire Company #3 and a member and former president of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association.

Coleman is survived by sons Eugene and David, daughter Rosanne, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

of Easton, Maryland, died Tuesday, October 11, 2022, surrounded by family. He was 89 years old. Born in Easton on August 12, 1933, he was the son of the late M. Everest Jr. and Louise Wright Newnam. He was the stepson of the late Lillian Pritchet Newnam.

After graduating from Easton High School in 1951, Newnam went to Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia to receive his mortuary education. Following graduation, he returned to Easton for a brief time before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years of service.

After serving three years on active duty, he returned to Easton to join the family funeral business known as Maurice E. Newnam & Son. In 1970, he took over ownership of the business to operate under the name “Newnam Funeral Home, P.A.” During this time, he owned and operated funeral homes in Easton, St. Michaels, Sharptown, Centreville and Queenstown. He also was owner/operator of the Newnam Service Inc. Memorial Division.

In 1996, he was the founding partner in the business known today as Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., with several locations on the Eastern Shore and Annapolis. Newnam retired at 70, after 50 years of service. Along with serving the community as a mortician, he served as cemeterian for the Oxford Cemetery, retiring in 2018 after 30 years of service.

Besides his family, Newnam’s main interest in life was serving others, both as a mortician and as a member of several local, state and national organizations, many of which he served in a leadership role, including as NFDA president in 1996-97.

Newnam is survived by his wife, the former Susan L. Hill, whom he married in 1968; a daughter, Michelle L. Lowrey and her husband, Alan, and their four children, Aiden, Suzanna, Elaina and Lucas; a son, Maurice E. “Mo” Newnam IV, his wife, Lora, and three sons, Maurice E. “Max” V, Nicholas and Owen. He is also survived by two very special people, stepson Steven T. Wrightson (Mindy) and stepdaughter Elaine A. Wrightson.

retired funeral director, brother of Jerry Jagers and uncle of Tim Jagers, all of Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens, Ohio, died September 1, 2022, at age 92. Jagers attended Ohio University and Cincinnati College of Embalming, and he served at Jagers and Sons for more than 75 years. He was a member of NFDA and the Ohio Funeral Directors Association.

Jagers was a founding father and one of the first volunteers of Richland Area Fire Department, where he served for over 63 years, moving up the ranks and serving as chief from 1958-70 and as treasurer for more than 35 years.

Jagers served in the U.S. Army as a medic during the Korean War. He belonged to the Masons of Paramuthia Lodge 25 F&AM (a 70-year member who held the position of Worshipful Master in 1960). He was a 65-year member of Athens York Rite Bodies, 60-year member of Kiwanis Club of Athens, Athens Chapter 175 Order of the Eastern Star (65 years), Aladdin Temple Shrine, Athens Co. Shrine Club, Amesville Grange 798, K.T. Crossen Post 21 American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a major on the Auxiliary Ohio State Highway Patrol for a number of years.

He is survived by wife ­Sarah; children Steve, Don, Jamie and Jennifer; three grandsons; a granddaughter; and a brother.

funeral director and secretary-treasurer, J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Charleston, South Carolina, died September 4, 2022, at age 63.

Stuhr graduated from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science and joined his family’s business in 1980, representing the fifth generation of the firm. Over the course of 40-plus years, he provided leadership in many capacities in the family business. Stuhr was loved by co-workers for his professional knowledge, spirit, true heart, humility and humor. If families served by Stuhr Funeral Home were not cared for in the best way possible, though, he was a force to be reckoned with.

Stuhr was a certified funeral service practitioner, a member of NFDA, member and past president of the South Carolina Funeral Directors Association, and member and former board member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes. He was a member of Etiwan Masonic Lodge, Exchange Club of Charleston, Executive Association of Greater Charleston, German Friendly Society and the Hibernian Society.

He is survived by wife Lynne; father W. Sandy; son William (“Trey”), daughter Courtney and stepson Gary; six grandchildren; and sisters Carol and Catherine.

funeral home owner, wife of funeral home owner/director Michael Hornung, and daughter of funeral director and NFDA Past President Chuck Bowman, both of Hornung Family Funeral Home, Liberal, Kansas, died September 10, 2022, at age 40.

Hornung earned an associate degree as a registered nurse and worked several years in La Junta, Colorado, and in the Denver metro area. In 2016, she and her husband moved to her hometown of Liberal, Kansas, where Hornung returned to her love of teaching, working at Colvin Adult Learning Center, where she taught the adult GED program. In 2017, Hornung and her husband purchased Hornung Family Funeral Home and she went to work full time helping her husband and her dad run the family business.

Hornung was a lifelong Colorado Avalanche and Denver Broncos fan. She had a special love for all things Disney. From an early age, she was a spectacular cook and baker. Recently, she had returned to ceramics, a hobby she avidly pursued as a teenager. Finally, Hornung loved to travel with her family, sharing experiences and moments that became fond memories and the bases for stories told and retold.

Hornung is survived by husband Michael, parents Chuck and Connie, and sisters April and Christina.

retired funeral director, Triska Funeral Home, El Campo, Texas, died September 12, 2022, at age 89. Bubela, a U.S. Army veteran, began working for Triska Funeral Home in 1958. Initially, his duties included driving the ambulance and working as an assistant on funeral services. He earned his funeral director’s license in 1965 and his embalmer’s license in 1967. He was exceptional in all aspects of his job and served at Triska Funeral Home for 64 years, almost to his death.

In 1961, Bubela married his first wife, Arlene, and in 1975, the couple welcomed twin boys. Bubela was very active in their lives, coaching many baseball teams, leading Scout troops and cheering them on when they became El Campo Ricebirds. When the boys were 17, Arlene tragically died of cancer.

Bubela was a member of the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree and a retired justice of the peace. He is survived by wife Patsy, twin sons Brent and Bert, sons Greg and Brian, daughter Alicia, eight grandchildren, two sisters and a brother.

funeral director and owner, Taylor Funeral Home, Chicago, Illinois, died June 30, 2022, at age 93. Taylor attended Prairie State College and shortly thereafter received a graduate certificate from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He was awarded a master’s degree in business administration from Jackson State College. Taylor also served in the Illinois National Guard for 22 years, retiring as first sergeant. He also attained his pilot’s license and has flown for more than 25 years.

He founded Taylor Funeral Home in 1963, and the business grew steadily, allowing him to found Thrifty Printing as well. Taylor also acquired Oak Hill Cemetery Association in Gary, Indiana, where he built a mausoleum of 500 crypts. Another Taylor Funeral Home location was acquired later.

Taylor was a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, NFDA, the National Funeral Directors Pilots Association, National Select Morticians Association and the National Baptist Convention College Board, among many other organizations.

He is survived by wife Leyeuna and children Nicholas and Margo, all of whom are licensed funeral directors.