John E. Chabrol

John E. Chabrol, 57, of Blandon, passed away suddenly on Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Leesport, PA.

Born May 7, 1968, in Lachine, Canada, he was the son of the late Anthony and Maria (D'Abarno) Chabrol. He and his wife, Joann M. (Short) Chabrol, were married in Kingwood Township, New Jersey, on April 5, 2002.

John was a dedicated employee of Estes Express Lines, currently working at the Lehighton office. His influence reached far and wide across the company. He joined Estes as a driver in 2002, logging miles as both a Line-haul and P&D driver out of the Allentown 026 terminal. During those years, he also served as a driving school instructor, shaping the careers of countless teammates and future drivers.

John moved into leadership in September 2022 as a Regional Safety Manager, first based in Norristown 044 and later in Lehighton 059. He was promoted to his current role as Senior Manager, Driving, Training & Compliance, in April 2025, where he continued to make a meaningful impact on our safety culture, our training programs, and the people he worked alongside. John will be remembered not only for his expertise and commitment, but for his big personality, his warmth, and his ability to connect with everyone he met.

John was a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Kutztown. He was a 1986 graduate of Stone Mountain High School, Stone Mountain, Georgia, and loved old cars, trucks, tractor trailers and loved boats. Most of all, John cherished spending time with his family and friends.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Joann, are his three children, Mikala J. Chabrol, Steven J. Chabrol, and Jennifer K. Chabrol, all of Blandon, his sister, Katherine Chabrol, Princeton, Texas, his brother, Jason Chabrol, Rockwall, Texas, his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Tom and Kelly Short, Holbrook, New York, and Chris and Ginny Short, Port Jefferson, New York, his nieces and nephews, Hunter, Austin, Caden, Olivia, Jenna, Danny, and Emma, and by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Kathleen and Bernie Short, Milford, New Jersey.

A Mass of Christian Burial for John will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 10:00 am at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 14833 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, with Rev. John C. Maria, as celebrant. Guests are asked to arrive by 9:30 am to greet John's family prior to mass beginning.

A viewing for John will be held on Monday evening, December 1, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Walbert Funeral Home & Crematory, 14390 Kutztown Road, Fleetwood, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place • Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.

Walbert Funeral Home & Crematory, Fleetwood, is honored to be caring for John and his family at this difficult time. Messages of comfort and sympathy can be offered to Joann and her family at www.WalbertFuneralHome.com.