The Kentucky Enquirer publishes obituaries of residents in Boone, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton and Pendleton counties as a free service. Information is accepted from funeral homes 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. Call (859) 578-5555 Monday through Friday; (513) 768-8600 Saturdays and Sundays.

Boone County

Gertrude Beckerich

FLORENCE - Gertrude Beckerich, 93, a proofreader for Southwest Publishing Co. for 20 years and member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Florence, died Wednesday at Villaspring of Erlanger Health Care & Rehabilitation Center.

Her husband, Carl, preceded her in death in 1976.

Surviving are two daughters, Joan Nienaber of Walton and Judy Sheridan of Cincinnati; two brothers, Arthur Burkart of Huber Heights, Ohio, and James Burkart of Villa Hills; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. today at St. Paul Catholic Church, 7301 Dixie Hwy., Florence. Stith Funeral Home in Florence is handling arrangements.

Memorials: Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, KY 41075.

Matilda Lang

FLORENCE - Matilda Marcella Tieman Lang, 90, a former employee for St. Elizabeth Medical Center and the former Booth Hospital in Covington, died Monday at St. Elizabeth Hospice in Covington.

She was also a former employee for the Gibson Greeting Card Co. and a member of St. Pius X Church in Edgewood.

Surviving are a son, Robert of Edgewood; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery in Fort Wright. Linnemann Funeral Homes are handling arrangements.

Memorials: St. Elizabeth Hospice Program, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, KY 41014-9988

Janice Schmid

VERONA - Janice Louise Bowling Schmid, 35, a homemaker and member of the Order of Eastern Star, died Tuesday in Lakeside Park after drowning.

Surviving are her husband, Bob Schmid; two sons, Charles Garnett of Latonia and John Garnett of Verona; a stepson, Steven Schmid of Florence; a stepdaughter, Sara Schmid of Florence; her mother, Janice Daniels Bowling of Covington; a brother, Gary Bowling of Covington; and her grandmother, Demia Daniels of Morningview.

A service will be 10 a.m. today at Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home in Independence. Burial will be in Independence Cemetery.

Memorials: Charles & John Garnett, care of Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, P.O. Box 55, Walton, KY 41094.

Campbell County

Ophelia Boeh

FORT THOMAS - Ophelia Gardner Boeh, 91, a former nurse, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital in Fort Thomas.

Surviving are two sons, David of Bellevue and Dr. Daniel G. Boeh of Paducah, Ky.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 9-10:30 a.m. and service 10:30 a.m. today at St. John's United Church of Christ, Park Avenue and Nelson Place, Newport. Burial will be in St. Stephen Cemetery in Fort Thomas. A.C. Dobbling & Son Funeral Home in Bellevue is handling arrangements.

Memorials: Downs Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky, 121 Dantzler Drive, Lexington, KY 40503-1368.

Norma R. Snell

NEWPORT - Norma R. Snell, 73, a retired data entry worker for Velva Sheen in Cincinnati, died Tuesday at St. Luke Hospital in Fort Thomas.

Her son, Gregory Snell, preceded her in death.

Surviving are a daughter, Glenna Kremer of Newport; two brothers, John Piccirillo of Newport and Pete Piccirillo of Cincinnati; two sisters, Carolina Buemi of Newport and Philomena Daniel of Villa Hills; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be 1 p.m. today at St. Therese Church, 11 Temple Place, Southgate. Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home in Newport is handling arrangements.

Grant County

William Thornton

DRY RIDGE - William Charles Thornton, 58, a cargo supervisor for American Airlines, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth Hospice in Covington.

He was a Vietnam War Marine veteran and member of Fellowship of Believers Church in Florence.

Surviving are two daughters, Amber Rouse of Dry Ridge and Charlsea Thornton of Walton; his father, Vernon Denson Thornton of Soldotna, Alaska; his mother, Gladys Irene Robinson of Florence; a sister, Sandy Louden of Burlington; a brother, Jack Robinson of Elsmere; and one grandchild.

Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. and service 3 p.m. today at Stith Funeral Home in Florence.

Memorials: St. Elizabeth Hospice Program, 401 E. 20th St., Covington, KY 41014-9988.

Lydia E. Risen Gard

WILLIAMSTOWN - Lydia E. "Betty" Risen Gard, 92, a retired teacher and reading specialist, died Monday at her home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Paul Dombey Gard; and by a son, Oliver William Gard.

Surviving are two sons, Dr. Paul D. Gard of Grenada, Miss., and Dr. James R. Gard of Pittsboro, N.C.; three daughters, Dr. Katherine Kowal of Cincinnati, Susan Kolesar of Ellicott City, Md., and Dr. Mary Haliz of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Service will be 11 a.m. today at Elliston-Stanley Funeral Home in Williamstown. Burial will be in Williamstown Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.

Kenton County

Patricia E. Macke

COVINGTON - Patricia E. Macke, 85, a homemaker and member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Covington.

Her husband, Joseph, preceded her in death in 1999.

Surviving are a daughter, Susan Macke Porter of Wyoming, Ohio; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Burial will be in Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell. Connley Brothers Funeral Home in Covington is handling arrangements.

Memorials: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Development Office, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039; or Welcome House of Northern Kentucky, 205 Pike St., Covington 41011.

Mary Allison Dirst

FORT MITCHELL - Mary Allison Dirst was stillborn Saturday in Chicago.

Surviving are her parents, Chad and Karen Ralenkotter Dirst of Chicago; grandparents, Karen Dirst of Minooka, Ill., and Joseph and Gertrude Ralenkotter of Edgewood; and great-grandmother, Margaret Dirst of Minooka, Ill.

Graveside service was Friday at St. Mary Cemetery in Fort Mitchell.

Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home in Erlanger is handling arrangements.

Joyce L. Wilder

INDEPENDENCE - Joyce L. Wilder, 77, a former beautician, died Aug. 8 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Edgewood.

Her husband, Parley Wilder, preceded her in death in 1976.

Surviving are a son, Roger of Florence; a daughter, Michele Kelley of Walton; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be 10 a.m. today at Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington.

Don Catchen & Son Funeral Home in Elsmere is handling arrangements.