Helen R. "Honey" Xakellis, 90, of Manheim, passed away Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at Mount Hope Nazarene Retirement Community, Manheim.

Born in Lancaster, she was the daughter of the late Arthur E. and Elizabeth Wise Bouder. She was the wife of the late Peter G. Xakellis, who died in 2008.

Helen was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, East Petersburg. She was also a member of the Manheim VFW Post 5956 Auxiliary. Her interests included knitting, crocheting, cooking, playing bingo and she was a Philadelphia Phillies fan.

Surviving are two daughters: Sandra X., wife of David L. Giltz, of Lebanon; and Diane E., wife of Charles W. "Chuck" Geib II, of Manheim; and two grandchildren: Charles "Chip" Geib III and Sarah, wife of Eric Quinn.

She was preceded in death by four brothers: Harold, Chester, Reuben and Arthur Bouder Jr.; and three sisters: Alice Campbell, Theresa Shotzberger and Elizabeth "Susie" Patterson.

Her funeral service was held at the Buch Funeral Home, Manheim on Feb. 17 with Rev. Michael W. Beynon officiating. Entombment took place in Conestoga Memorial Park, Lancaster.

Joan M. (Maiers) Thiel, 79, of Lititz, died peacefully Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012 at United Zion Home in Lititz.

She was born May 18, 1932 in La Grange Ill., the daughter of the late Matthias and Clara (Weber) Maiers.

After graduating from Nazareth Academy in La Grange in 1950, she worked as a secretary for Commonwealth-Edison in Chicago for four years.

On Oct. 16, 1954, she married Robert E. Thiel. Joan and Robert lived in a number of Midwest locations and in Newport, Vt., before coming to Lititz in 1977.

She worked as the accounts payable clerk at Anderson Bakery in Lancaster from 1982 to 1994. After her retirement, she and her husband enjoyed traveling and visiting relatives and friends throughout the far West and Midwest.

Joan was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Lititz. She enjoyed the activities and fellowship of the Silver Liners, the seniors’ club. Joan also belonged to the Legion of Mary and the Ladies’ Bible study group and helped with Christmas bazaars and the parish bereavement ministry. She was also a volunteer teacher/helper of crafts at Moravian Manor. For six years she and her husband volunteered weekly delivering Meals on Wheels. Joan enjoyed lots of sewing, knitting and quilting; her fingers were always moving.

Robert J. Stein Sr., 62, of Lititz, passed away Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at Hershey Medical Center, Derry Township, Dauphin County.

He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the late William and Mildred (Flanagan) Stein and was the husband of the late Catherine (Bellinie) Stein, who passed away Sept. 11, 2001.

Robert served in the U.S. Army National Guard and was a member of the Ephrata Amvets Post 136. He was an avid bowler, enjoyed shooting pool, baseball, softball, golfing, loved animals and was a New York Yankee and Giants fan. Robert worked as a shift supervisor for Sheetz Markets in Brownstown from 2007 to present..

Robert is survived by a son: Robert W. Jr., husband of Katherine (Goiens) Stein, of Fort Lewis, Wash.; four daughters: Priscilla, wife of Eugene Patrella, of Lititz, Patricia Stein, fiance of Rick Yanoshik, of McAdoo, and Christine and Carrie Stein, both at home; 10 grandchildren; two brothers: William, husband of Annette Stein, of Arizona; Thomas, husband of Karen Stein, of Lehighton; three nieces; and one nephew.

A viewing will be held on Feb. 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Stradling Funeral Home, 30 N. Ninth St., Akron. An interment service will be held on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, with full military honors accorded.

Betty B. Smith, 82, passed away Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at Landis Homes in Lititz.

Betty was born Feb. 11, 1930 in Shamokin. She was the daughter of Kimber and Lydia (Shoop) Beach.

A devoted Christian, Betty was a member of the Faithful and True Sunday School class of Grace Evangelical Congregational Church for more than 50 years.

While raising her family, Betty worked nine years as library secretary at Conestoga Valley High School and later was employed by Dr. Charles Heisterkamp. After 17 years as a medical records clerk for The Heart Group in Lancaster, she retired. In her retirement, she volunteered at the Mennonite Central Committee.

Betty’s love of family and travel took her to many places from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coasts, Hawaii, Hong Kong and Japan. Her smiling blue eyes, lively laughter and loyal friendship endeared her to all.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Helen and Margaret; and four brothers: Jack, Chester, William and Robert.

Survivors include her son: D. Scott, husband of Nancy, of Johns Creek, Ga.; daughter: JerryAnn, wife of Michael Nellestein, of St. Joseph, Mo.; brother: Richard, husband of Dorothy Beach, of Ephrata; grandchildren: Lesley, wife of Chris Rainosek; Ashley Smith, fiancé of Nate Charlton; and Andrew and Emily Nellestein; great-grandson: Warren Rainosek; and numerous nieces, nephews and cherished friends.

Rev. Robert S. Smethers Jr. died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. He was 96 years old and lived at Luther Acres retirement community in Lititz.

His beloved wife of 69 years, Muriel C. Smethers, preceded him in death on Jan. 29, 2009.

He was born in Berwick. Early in life he moved with his parents, Robert and Helen Smethers Sr., and surviving sister, Ines Spangenberg, to Harrisburg.

He attended William Penn High School, studied electrical engineering at his alma mater, Penn State University, and received his degree in theology from the Evangelical Seminary at Albright College. Robert and Muriel were married in 1940. Their first assignment was the Evangelical Church in Fleetwood. In 1943 they relocated to Reading, where he was the pastor for 11 years at Emmanuel Evangelical United Brethren Church on South Sixth St.

In 1954 he joined the administration of Albright College as director of church and public relations and served in various positions until his retirement in 1985.

Always an active minister, he supported congregations, including Salem United Methodist Church in Rothsville from 1965 to 1987, and West Lawn United Methodist Church near Reading.

Matilda "Millie" Sharpless, 93, of Lititz, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at her residence.

She was a homemaker and a secretary.

Her husband, the late William "Bill" E. Sharpless Sr., a former justice of the peace for Warwick Township, died in 1992. They had been married for 53 years.

Millie was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of the late Louis C. and Clara Jakeman Schmid.

She attended Olney High School. Millie had served as her husband’s secretary and was also a secretary for Paul Diem and Sharron Simpkins, both district justices.

Millie’s hobbies were crafts, knitting, square dancing and country music. She and Bill were life member of The Grand Square Club of Lancaster and the Swing-Thru Square Dance Club of Lititz. While members of the Keystone Rovers Square Dance Club, they traveled to Florida, Canada, New York, New Jersey and Nebraska. Millie was also the fan club president of the Younger Brothers Band, a favorite local country music band. She was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lititz.

Morris "Mac" M. Sapovits Jr., 77, of Lititz, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 at Lancaster General Hospital.

Born in Chester, he was the son of the late Morris M. and Elizabeth Jones Sapovits Sr. He was the husband of Virginia "Ginny" Huber Sapovits, and they would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on July 21.

Mac was a graduate of Nether Providence High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served as a police officer with the Nether Providence Township Police Department.

He retired as an insurance agent with Prudential after 22 years, and following retirement he worked 15 years for the Manheim Auto Auction. He was a member of the Lititz Moravian Church, where he served as a trustee, an elder and a diener. Mac was a life member of the Garden City Fire Company, a member of the AMBUCS, served on the board of Lititz Youth Soccer and he was instrumental in the planning for the rebuilding of the Lititz Train Station.

He enjoyed salt water fishing, being on the water and was a fan of the Philadelphia sports teams.

Jane B. Russell, 75, of East Petersburg, died Thursday afternoon, Feb. 16, 2012, at Moravian Manor in Lititz.

She was the daughter of the late Michael and Ruth Fitz Urda, of Apalachin, N.Y.

For more than 30 years, Jane and her husband Robert operated Roto-Rooter of Lancaster.

Jane is survived by her husband: Robert of East Petersburg; her son: Craig, husband of April, of Port Crane, N.Y.; her son: Richard, of Lancaster; her grandson: Ryan, of Lancaster; and by her sister: Barbara, wife of John Gibson, of Apalachin, N.Y.

A memorial service will be held on Feb. 24 at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz. Interment will take place in East Petersburg Mennonite Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Jane’s memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125 hospiceoflancaster.org.

To send an online condolence, visit snyderfuneralhome.com.

Dorothy S. Ruhl, 79, of Willow Street, formerly of Manheim, passed away Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at Conestoga View, Lancaster.

Born in Mount Joy, she was the daughter of the late Phares M. and Anna Kautz Sweitzer. She was the wife of the late Martin H. Ruhl, who died in 1992.

A homemaker, Dorothy enjoyed crocheting, gardening, bowling and playing games. She loved animals and traveling to the mountains with her family.

Surviving are four children: Martin E. Ruhl, of Willow Street; Virginia L., wife of Robert H. Morris, of East Petersburg; James M. Ruhl, of Willow Street; and John E. Campbell; three grandchildren: Michelle and Andrew Morris and Barry Campbell; a great- granddaughter: Danielle Morris; and a sister: Betty Belmonte, of Manheim.

She was preceded in death by a son: Donald Ruhl; two brothers: Lee Sweitzer and Phares Sweitzer Jr.; and two sisters: Edna Mays and Mable Bricker.

Her funeral service was held at the Buch Funeral Home, Manheim, on Feb. 22. Interment took place in Hernley Mennonite Cemetery, Rapho Township.

Kindly omit flowers. Those desiring may send contributions in Dorothy’s memory to American Heart Association, 610 Community Way, Lancaster, PA 17603.

Mary M. Guthrie Rosenfeld, 85, formerly of Manheim, passed peacefully and went home to be with her Lord Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 at the Mennonite Home, Lancaster.

Born in Mount Joy, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Elizabeth Fietz Cornies. She was the wife of the late George H. Rosenfeld, who died in 1998. Her first husband was the late Ray Guthrie Sr., who died in 1980.

Mary was employed by the former Apparel Manufacturing Company, Elizabethtown; previously she worked for numerous sewing factories throughout Lancaster County. Mary attended God’s Missionary Church, Landisville. Her interests included cooking, gospel music and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Surviving are a son: Ray Jr., husband of Gloria Guthrie, of Ephrata; two daughters: Linda M., wife of Howard Stalnecker Jr., of Maytown; and Ruth Ann, wife of Clayton Thomas Jr., of Marietta; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a sister: Elizabeth Greenawalt, of Mount Joy.

Preceding her in death is a brother: Henry Cornies.

Her funeral service was held at the Heilig Funeral Home, Mount Joy, on Feb. 21. Interment took place in Risser’s Mennonite Cemetery, Mount Joy Township.