OBITUARY:

Miriam “Miri” Klau died on Saturday, January 9, 2021, of a drug overdose following a long struggle with addiction, narcolepsy and mental illness. Born in Boston, she was 26. She was the beloved daughter of Dr. Jennifer (Feldman) Klau and the Honorable Daniel J. Klau of West Hartford. Miri had proudly enjoyed more than a year of sobriety before her death and was planning on moving from Los Angeles to Hawaii with her boyfriend, who had taught her how to surf. A graduate of The Bess & Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy (2008) and William Hall High School (2012), Miri was a passionate artist who loved glassblowing and metal work, especially wrought iron. She was a talented musician and vocalist who brought family and friends to tears whenever she performed. Classically trained on piano, Miri also taught herself cello, guitar and saxophone. She loved to paint, create digital art and sketch her friends. To the trepidation of her parents, who lost countless nights of sleep, the adventurous and friendly Miri hitchhiked and train-hopped her way across the United States several times after completing a gap-year program. At times she chose to live on the streets. Ever afterwards she admonished family and friends to show compassion for the homeless. Miri’s friends remember her loving spirit, genuineness and wide-ranging creativity. They recall that, despite her own challenges, Miri always put others’ needs before her own. Miri is survived by her parents, younger siblings Ari and Etan, grandparents David and Barbara “Bobby” Klau of West Hartford, and Wallace and Cecily Feldman of Brookline, MA and Delray Beach, FL, an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins, and innumerable friends she made in her travels across the continent and, occasionally, in jail. Her beloved dog Ani, a Husky-Akita who rarely left her side in their four years together, will be adopted by Ari. A private graveside funeral for family members will be held on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. In remembrance of Miri’s compassion for the homeless, donations may be made in her name to My Sisters’ Place (sistersplacect.org). For further information or to sign the guest book for Miri, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.

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OBITUARY:

Michael F. Baker
12/09/2020
Michael F. Baker, 27, of Tobyhanna, died unexpectedly, from an accidental overdose on Wednesday, December 9, 2020.
Born in Livingston, New Jersey, Michael was the youngest son of Sharon A. (Duva) Baker of Tobyhanna, and the late Charles “Steve ” Baker Sr.
Michael was a Pocono Mountain West High School graduate. He worked for Dog Goods USA in Tobyhanna. Michael was an avid skateboarder and snowboarder, and you would often find him spending the winter months at Big Boulder Mountain in Lake Harmony.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by brother: Charles S. Baker II and his wife, Patricia of Tobyhanna; niece and nephews: Riley, Charlie, and Ryan.
There will be a viewing from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 13 at Bolock Funeral Home, 6148 Paradise Valley Road, Cresco. The Reverend Father Sean Carpenter will conduct a blessing service at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to his family through the Go Fund Me account already set up with deepest gratitude, by visiting gofundme.com/f/please-help-the-family-of-mike-baker.
Private cremation has been entrusted to Bolock Funeral Home Crematory.
Bolock Funeral Home

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OBITUARY:

Bethany L. MacKenzie

York – Bethany Lynn MacKenzie, 29, fell asleep in Jesus on Tuesday, December 29, 2020. She was born in York, PA. Bethany’s love for people, particularly the less fortunate, made working with those with mental health and developmental disabilities a natural fit. She was a hard worker and was most proud of her employment with Jessica & Friends and most recently Community Services Group as a supervisor. She loved her parents, sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephew. Bethany’s soul-care included reading the Bible and listening to Christian music. Beach escapes and spending time in the outdoors, whether at Chickies Rock or hunting, was where she found personal peace and solace.

Six years ago, Bethany was introduced to heroin. This nectar from Hell immediately peddled its hideous lies like, “Every day can be Christmas morning,” “You can stop using heroin whenever you feel like it,” “My addiction has nothing to do with anyone else,” “I have nothing to live for anyway. I might as well keep using,” “Life is no fun without heroin.” Bethany never wanted to be defined by her addiction. She fought heroically completing countless rehabs and detox programs. In the end, Bethany traded EVERYTHING for heroin: family, friends, cars, phones, money, her life. It may appear that heroin has won once again in York County. Though we miss Bethany terribly, her personal faith in Christ convinces us that she is now safe in the arms of Jesus forevermore (Ps. 139:14-16; Rev. 21:4). Because her struggle is over, our struggle is over.

If you or your family member battle with addiction, never give up hope. This family disease demands the utmost in empathy, education, tough love, humility, prayer, accountability, and undying support. Trump heroin’s lies with the facts.

Survivors include her loving parents, Rev. Dr. Dave and Susan MacKenzie; sisters, Kara and husband, Brad Sadler, Kaitlin and husband, John Riggs, Aimee and husband, Roger Casado; and her beloved nieces and nephew, Leah, Ava, Jane, Alexis, and Silas.

Visitation will be from 7-9 PM, on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. A final visitation will be on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, from 10-11 AM, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11 AM. All services held at Bridgeway Community Church, 255 Reynolds Mill Rd, York. Rev. Dr. Kevin Frain presiding. Interment will be at Blymire Cemetery followed by a luncheon. Austin H. Eberly Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. The family asks that all attendees wear masks. Instead of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the York Chapter of Not One More.

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OBITUARY:

Billie Jo Orndoff Bruce, 48, of Washington, died Wednesday, December 30, 2020, in her home.

Billie was born November 12, 1972, in Waynesburg. She was the daughter of Joan Lewis Caputo of Richeyville and William Orndoff of Punta Gorda, Florida. She was also raised by her loving stepfather, Joseph Caputo of Richeyville.

Billie Jo graduated from Bethlehem-Center High School in 1990. She continued her education at Western School of Health and Business ,where she became a medical assistant. In 2003, she married Allen Wayne Bruce.

Billie struggled for almost two decades with an opiate addiction. Once she stopped using heroin, she continued to feed her addiction with synthetic heroin, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and anti-anxiety medication in large doses, prescribed by medical professionals. As a result, she was further estranged from her family and struggled to function in society. A young beautiful soul was lost to addiction. Beyond the addict was an incredible person with an infectious smile and sarcastic sense of humor that would have her loved ones in stitches. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. She was smart and witty and hilarious. She will be missed eternally. It is our hope that by sharing Billie and her family’s struggle we can raise awareness about what happens when an addict stops using street drugs and replaces them with equally harmful prescription medications.

In addition to her husband and parents, left to cherish her memory are one sister, Jennifer Schmidt (Curtis Guthrie) of Centerville; three daughters, Shaylee Teegarden (Michael) of Monessen, Allena Bruce and Irelyn Bruce of Washington; three grandsons, Aris, Axel and Wyatt; two nephews and a niece, Steven, Sydney and Shane. Also surviving are many aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, Colin Bruce.

Due to COVID restrictions, there will be no public visitation at this time. The family is planning a celebration of life in the spring. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 700 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon. 724-929-5300

Content in this article. in part or in full, was first published HERE

ABOUT ME:

My David was not just the love of my life he was my right side he was my goof ball my joking partner my confidence my support system he boosted my low self esteem he was my best friend my happiness my pain in the butt at times but most of all he was my fiancé my soulmate the daddy and step daddy to our 4 kids. The day he was to come home was a day our kids and myself couldn’t wait for we missed him while he was away our son whom disconnected w his daddy was ready to accept his daddy and he had the most excitement to see his daddy his words were mama I’m gunna hug my daddy oh so right and kiss his cheek and tell him how much I’ve missed him and how much I love him those words are what I’ve been waiting to hear. His addiction ripped the bond between our son and himself I will never forget how many times I’ve begged and cried to his family to help me help him or help me get him to a place to help him because it was awful I didn’t want to lose my king and I couldn’t imagine my life without him but now I have no choice and it’s been the worse pain ever he was always such a fun loving person he had such a big heart and did so much for anyone he loved to joke with friends and kick backs when we first started dating he took my older two kids under his wing without me asking he stepped up and filled in that empty spot for my two kids that their own father never showed them he loved them like they were his I was surprised and speechless seeing how they easily connected with each  other then when we had our first son together I never seen a father love so hard he was the most amazing devoted daddy I could ask for he made me fall even more in love with him then we had our little girl automatically that first moment he saw her he was in protective daddy mode and watched her closely as he did our other 3 he had his own lil princess and he was nervous but thrilled at the same time that was true father daughter affection he made my life become the best thing i been through a lot and he changed it he made me see the good from the bad he made me feel loved daily when I walked in on him using I about fell I was confused angry mad hurt etc. he promised it was only a one time thing I believed him until he started to became a total stranger who became so distant flip outs on us over anything I was so scared hurt when things got more intense I’ve become a total wreck stressing everyday worrying recasted late night no sleep majority of the times watching him as he was sick from the addiction etc my biggest fear nightmare was me and our kids walk-in in on him laying there I begged I prayed for that to never happen I thank god it didn’t. But the fact that the day he was supposed to return home to us from being clean for almost 8months when they released him 2days prior to his release date without notifying us they dropped him off to a town farther then what he should have been and that night I got the call they found his body in a restaurant bathroom gone I died that night with him I’m left with so much pain so much hurt my heart is broke. In billions of pieces and there’s no way possible to fix this damage our kids are not the same I’m. Not the same my nightmare is now my reality and it kills me everyday I’m hurt with his family when I needed them to step in when he needed them the most they refused they turned their backs they didn’t help the issue they helped feed the addiction who does that ill never be able to move pass all that I’ve been thru or went thru he passed sept 2018 I still haven’t grieved or been able to accept losing my best friend my king to this addiction nothing makes sense of what happened I feel like his family are leaving so much more out and it hurts I deserve to know the truth I miss him so much the anger I have deep down is only growing the sadness roses I’m just a wreck I need my David back I wish I could bring him back

ABOUT ME:

Jason was a caring son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, & grandson. Most importantly, he was a great friend. You knew he cared about you because he always had your back. Even in his darkest days, he was there for those he loved.

He loved the outdoors & adventures. Fishing was a hobby of his & hanging out with his friends in his free time.