Brenda Yannuzzi
Brenda Yannuzzi, of Newark, Del., passed away on May 29, 2024 at her home. She was 74.

She was predeceased by her two husbands, Mike Zarro and Joseph Anthony  “Jay” Yannuzzi.   

Brenda was born in Hempstead, Long Island, NY to Mildred (Collins) and Leonard Calderwood. She had five siblings, Lenny, Colleen, Pam, Wayne, and Diane.  As an adult, Brenda worked for several different companies but, most notably, for Blonder Tongue Laboratories and Syntrex Inc., both in New Jersey.   

Brenda was an avid volunteer in the animal rescue community in New Jersey and in Delaware after she and Jay moved there in the early 2000s.  She did everything from working in the shelters to helping with fundraisers and mailings to fostering dogs and cats in her home to making craft items that could be sold to benefit Forgotten Cats.  She gave much of herself over the years—time, money, talent, and energy to the cause of these “abandoned” animals finding their forever homes.   

Brenda was also a highly skilled seamstress, knitter, crocheter, and artisan. Anyone who knew her well was probably gifted with at least one of her scarves or any number of her other creations.  A professional doll maker for almost 20 years, she sold her beautiful works of art at craft shows and had a dedicated following of customers. She said, "Making a doll is like making a little human being" and watching it come together was her favorite part.   

In the later years of her life, Brenda was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and beat it with the help of the oncologists and medical team at the Abramson Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.  She had a strong faith in God and believed that his angels were watching over her.  She was aided greatly in these years by a group of friends who took turns taking her to chemotherapy treatments and to doctors appointments.   

Above all, Brenda will be remembered for her spicy sense of humor, for her "tell it like it is" personality, for her love of food and drink, and her love of spending time with her many friends.  She will be missed by all who loved her.   

In addition to her three sisters, Brenda is survived by a beloved niece, Donna King and her husband, Ernesto Rodriguez; her nephew, Ryan Calderwood, her dear friends, Danielle and Paul Salonis, their three sons Jonathan, Matthew, and godson Daniel, nieces and nephews and by many friends from different ages and stages of her life.  

A memorial service will be held in her honor at a later date. Contributions in her memory may be made to Forgotten Cats, Inc., 4023 Kennett Pike, Suite 422, Greenville, DE 19807. To donate online, visit forgottencats.org/services/donate/.

Arrangements are being handled by Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. To view Brenda's online obituary, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

Colton Trevor Ward
On June 7, Colton Trevor Ward, affectionately called "Boogie," unexpectedly passed away. He was a 29-year-old resident of Nottingham.

He was born on April 2, 1995 to Todd Ward and the late Sandy Williams Ward.
Colton was a graduate of Oxford Area High School.  On July 1, 2017 Colton married the love of his life. During their 10 years together, they raised two daughters. There wasn’t anything he cherished more than his Pais and Chlo. It wouldn’t matter what he was working on or where he was, one of his girls would be by his side. Colton was employed at R.T. Price as a heavy equipment operator. He was a very hard worker. If he wasn’t running equipment or a truck, he was picking up a shovel an helping out where needed. He worked alongside his brother every day and treasured their time together, antics and all. Colton was a master of many trades, and he could fix anything. In recent years he took his passion for farming and started his business known as Ward Ag.   

After working long days, he would come home and go straight to the field. He took great pride in his family and valued his time with them, even if he was making them all work on the farm to get the crop in. When he wasn’t out pursuing his dreams of farming, he was with his daughters who adored him, he was the true definition of a girl dad. He enjoyed taking his family camping and spending time in Potter County at the family cabin. Colton influenced and became a mentor to many young people. He wanted to teach them all of the things he loved whether running equipment, farming, snowmobiling or his signature Boogie wave. 
Colton was a good man and he would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it. Known for his huge heart, quick wit and infectious smile Colton left a lasting impact on everyone he met. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. 

Colton is survived by his loving family—his wife Mallory, their daughters, Paisley and Chloe, his father Todd Ward, Granny Theresa Ward, Pop-Pop Barry McCummings, brother Cole Ward (Gabby), brother Caleb Gilley (Felichia), sister Morgan Kessler (Jeffrey) and many nieces and nephews. Colton was preceded in death by his mother, Sandy.
A service to celebrate Colton’s life took place on June 13 at Waterway Church in Oxford.

Burial will be at Nottingham Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paisley Ward and Chloe Ward in Colton's memory for his daughters. Those donations can be mailed to Sun East Federal Credit Union, 198 Baltimore Pike, Nottingham, PA 19362.

Arrangements are being handled by the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.  

Florence Griffith Harkins
Florence Griffith Harkins, age 97, of Kennett Square, passed away on May 29, 2024, at Linden Hall-Friends Home in Kennett Square. She was the spouse of Francis S. Crossan, with whom she shared 49 years of marriage, and then the spouse of Jack Vernon Harkins, with whom she shared 6 years of marriage. 

She was born in West Grove, the daughter of the late Sanford Griffith and Maude (Bassett) Griffith. 

Florence worked for the DuPont Company for 38 years, starting in the steno pool fresh out of Avon Grove High School, and retiring as a department manager in human resources at the age of 56. 

She enjoyed golf, bridge, painting, shopping, a good joke, a glass of wine, but mostly her friends, (that she made wherever she lived), and her family, especially her granddaughters. 

She will be remembered for her intelligence, her strength, and her sense of humor. 

Florence is survived by her son, Lawrence Crossan and his wife, Patricia; her daughter, June Sitko and her husband, David Reitz; three granddaughters, Jennifer Houck, Penelope Sinanian, and Katherine Sitko-Reitz; six great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and two stepchildren, Beverly Picard and Steve Harkins. 

In addition to her husbands, Florence was predeceased by her brother, Sanford E. Griffith, her sister, Lois G. Crossan, her stepson, Guy Harkins, and her great-grandson, Ryan A. Houck.   

Contributions in her memory may be made to Friends Home: fhkennett.org/donate or checks can be mailed to the Friends Home, 147 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348. 

Arrangements are being handled by Matthew Grieco of Grieco Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square. To view Florence's online obituary, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.

Harry Collins, Jr.
Harry Collins Jr., a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on June 13, 2024. He was 95. 

Born on September 19, 1928, in Marcus Hook, Delaware County, Harry was the son of the late Harry Collins Sr. and Pauline Collins. He was one of ten children and is survived by his siblings, Wayne “Tiny” Collins and Elizabeth Kowalchuk.

Harry is survived by his loving wife, Mary Collins (nee Doyle), and his children, Michael Collins (Margaret Collins), Kathleen Collins, Maureen Lincoln, Eileen Campbell (Scott Campbell), Sarah Holland (Stan Holland). He was the cherished Pop Pop to ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. 

He was a veteran of the Korean War and a past fire chief of Marcus Hook Fire Department. He was a member of the Kennett Square VFW 5467. 

Harry retired from SunOil Company in 1990. Post-retirement, he explored his art, specializing in building scaled models of the wooden work boats of the Chesapeake Bay. He exhibited at juried Wildlife and Decoy Festivals in the Chesapeake Bay Area. 

Harry Collins Jr. will be remembered for his love and dedication to his family, his service to his country and community, and his artistic talents. He leaves behind a legacy of love, bravery, and creativity that will continue to inspire those who knew him. 

Services will be held 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. (www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com) at 86 Pine St., Oxford, where friends and family may visit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Interment with full military honors will be in New London Presbyterian Cemetery.