Obituaries - June 2010
Benjamin James Farbaniec, 92, died Sept. 15, 2009. He had been in ill health for one year. He was born Sept. 23, 1916, in Elizabeth, NJ, where he lived all his life.
He served in the U.S. Army in World War II in Europe. Benjamin was the recipient of the Victory Medal, the American Theatre Ribbon, and the Middle Eastern Ribbon with three bronze stars.
Benjamin was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Pauline, two brothers, Walter and Robert. His sole survivor is a niece, Mary Anne Costanza.
Linda Hull, 57, passed away in Birmingham, AL, on April 18, following a brief battle with cancer. Linda was a member of Grace Covenant Fellowship. She loved people and always greeted you with a smile. Linda recently took up playing the dulcimer and performed a number of times at church. She will be deeply missed by her family. Her mother, Barbara Bosworth, is also a member of Grace Covenant Fellowship.
Merle Christian Opperman, 109, died on Feb. 1, two days before her 110th birthday. She was born Feb. 3, 1900, in Newhall, IA, to Martin and Mary Schonborn Luther. She married Henry Jacob Opperman on Sept. 24, 1919, at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Strawberry Point, IA. They spent almost all their married life farming in that area. She lived eight years with her daughter and son-in-law before breaking her hip and entering the care center.
Survivors include one daughter, Beverly (Doran) Welch of Cedar Rapids, 17 grandchildren, and approximately 145 great, double-great, and triple-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, Richard (Celia) and Arnold (June) and one daughter, Vernita (Walter) Faust; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Otto and Clarence Luther; and a sister, Esther (Ralph) Peck.
She was a long-time member of the Family of Faith GCI church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Pastor John Bailey conducted the funeral to a full church. Over half the attendees were her descendants.
William Gerald Slaughter, Sr., 77, passed away April 17, in Newark, NJ, after a lengthy illness. He was born March 26, 1933. He was a member of the 24-7 Community Church, and has been a member since 1964. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Slaughter, two daughters, three sons, seven brothers and sisters, 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. He was loved dearly by many and was very concerned about the future of the youth. He will be missed dearly.
