James B. Gaffney

James B. Gaffney, 68, of Pen Argyl, PA, passed away , Tuesday, September 24, 2013, at his residence. Born: James was born in Brumbaugh Hospital in Pen Argyl, PA on February 11, 1945, a son of the late James B. Gaffney Sr. and Margaret "Sis" (Dorsey) Gaffney. Personal: He and his wife, Donna L. (Kale), would have celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on October 14. He was co-owner and funeral director of the James B. Gaffney Funeral Home in Pen Argyl and Bangor. He and his wife, Donna purchased their first funeral home, the former Swoyer Funeral Home in Pen Argyl in 1969. In 1975, they purchased their second funeral home, the former Miller Funeral Home in Bangor. Then in 1992, Jim and Donna, assisted their daughter Kelly, in purchasing the former Franklin H. Reed Funeral Home in Johnsonville. Jim was a 1963 graduate of Bangor High School. He received a certificate of Preliminary Education in Pre-Mortuary Science from Temple University in Philadelphia and graduated from the American Academy - McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science in New York City. Memberships: He was a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church in Pen Argyl, PA. Jim was also a member of the former St. Roch's Catholic Church in West Bangor, where he served as a Lector from 1971 until 2008. Jim was a member of the Father DeNisco Council #3862 Knight of Columbus in Bangor, since 1970, and is a Third Degree Knight, a former Chancellor and was award Knight of the Year honors in 2001. He is a member of the Pope Pius General Assembly Fourth Degree in Easton, where he is a member of the Chalice Society. Jim served as a former member of the Bishop's Committee of the Laity for what was then known as the Catholic Charities Appeal. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, where he served on various committees. Jim is a life member and former Treasurer of the Bangor Elks Lodge 1106, a member and past President of the Bangor Exchange Club and a past President of the former Pen Argyl Exchange Club. He served on the Advisory Board of the Pen Argyl Salvation Army for 20 years, and was Chairman of the Board from 2004 to 2010. Jim was a former Treasurer and member of the Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce and helped to establish FISH (Fellowship In Service to Humanity) Chapter in the Slate Belt Area. Jim is a member and past President of the Eastern PA Funeral Directors Assoc., and a member of both the PA Funeral Directors Assoc. and the National Funeral Directors Assoc. He was also a member of the Advisory Board of the Funeral Services Education Program at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem. Survivors: In addition to his wife, Donna, Jim is survived by two daughters, Kelly Gaffney Parsons and her husband Curtis, and Kathleen Casagrande and her husband John, 4 grandchildren Grace Stianche, Kaley, Evan and John all of Johnsonville, PA. Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM Saturday, September 28th, 2013 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church, 300 W. Babbit Ave., Pen Argyl, PA, with Msgr. Vincent York officiating. Friends are invited to call from 4 until 8 PM on Friday, September 27th in the church. Burial will be in St. Elizabeth Catholic Cemetery, Pen Argyl, PA. Memorials: Family request donations to St Elizabeth of Hungary, Building Fund 300 W. Babbit Ave. Pen Argyl, PA 18072 or St. Luke's VNA Hospice, 1510 Valley Center Parkway, Suite 200, Bethlehem, PA 18017.