Thomas “Tom” E. Searer, 84, of Hershey, passed away on May 7, 2025 at home in the care of Serenity Hospice with his family at his side. Tom was born in Lewistown, PA on August 23, 1940.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Anne M. (Abel) Searer and two children, daughter Gwenyth R. Searer of Lafayette, CA and son Scott A. and wife Theresa M. (Wolf) Searer of Hershey, and three granddaughters, Ashlynn Searer of Salt Lake City, Utah and Arden and Iona Searer of Lafayette, CA.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents Feron D. and Grace E. (Eby) Searer, brother William G. (Kathryn) Searer and sisters Shirley L. (Bert) Reigle, and Joan C. Cadeaux.

Tom was a graduate of Bloomsburg University and received a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught math at the Milton Hershey School and later was employed by the U.S. Navy at Mechanicsburg for 30 years as a mathematician and computer specialist.

A long-standing advocate for the environment, Tom belonged to the Derry Township Environmental Committee, helped residents of Hershey Plaza Apartments complete Rent Rebate forms, and was actively involved in the Derry Township Pollinator Garden and the Hershey Community Garden.

Tom was an avid tennis player, bicyclist, and gardener who loved to walk in fields and woodlands and relax along mountain streams.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Tom can be made to Solar Fund at St. Joan of Arc Church, make checks payable to St. Joan of Arc Church, (memo: Solar Fund) 305 West Areba Ave., Hershey, PA 17033, or Serenity Hospice, 205 Granite Run Drive Suite 210, Lancaster, PA 17601.

Catharine Mary (Hoke) “Kitty” Wright, 92, of  Hummelstown, passed away on March 19, 2025 peacefully at home.

She was born August 10, 1932 in N. Lebanon Township, daughter of the late Joseph and Catharine (Spangler) Hoke.

Kitty served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, which is where she met her late husband, Larry.  She devoted her life to raising their ten children.  Later, she worked for Hershey Foods until retiring.  

Her memberships include St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and Chocolate Workers Local #464.

Kitty is survived by her children, Thomas A. Wright, Michael J. (Pamela) Wright, Theresa E. (Gregory) Dawson, Richard A. Wright, Sr., Timothy J. Wright, Sheila A. Wright, Andrew J. (Stephanie) Wright, Christopher P. (Rosie) Wright, Steven C. Wright, Matthew G. (Crystal) Wright; sister, Helen Ruhl, brother, Robert Hoke; 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren and many  nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard "Larry" Wright;  (newborn daughter), Angela; grandson, David A. Wright; and several siblings.

A rosary service will be held on Sunday, March 30th at 2PM, followed by a viewing from 2:30-4PM., in the Hoover Funeral Home of Hershey.  
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 31, 2025 at 11:30AM in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave., Hershey.  Interment with military honors will follow in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, followed by a Luncheon at Snitz Creek Brewery, 1805 Fisher Ave, Annville.

Michelle A. Montgomery, 50, of Brooklyn, New York, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on January 29, 2025 at Calvary Hospital Hospice in Brooklyn after a four-year battle with osteosarcoma. A loving vigil was kept by her sisters and friends.


Michelle was great fun, generous of heart, dedicated to public health and community, witty, wise, adventurous, and kind. She is survived by her parents James and Nancy Montgomery of Hershey, PA; sister Joan Halford (Shawn Halford) of Needham, MA; sister Denise Montgomery (David Urso) of San Diego, CA; and her nieces and nephews: Gabriel Halford, Rose Halford, Olivia Urso, and Barrett Urso. Michelle had an enormous circle of friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors whose lives she touched and forever changed.
Born on September 22, 1974 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Michelle’s early childhood was spent in Bethlehem and nearby Lower Nazareth. In 1980, she moved with her family to Strongsville, OH.


In 1985, Michelle and her family moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from Hershey High School as class valedictorian. Michelle was part of the Productions Staff and co-editor of the Hershey Broadcaster school newspaper. It was during these years that she developed a love of reading and music.


Following high school graduation in 1992, Michelle entered the University Scholars Program at Pennsylvania State University, earning degrees with honors in Psychology and English in 1996. Her love of live music performances that began in high school expanded in college, and she and her friends attended many concerts together. Michelle remained close with her college friends throughout her life. Following graduation from college, Michelle worked in a residential facility for young people experiencing mental health challenges.


In 1997, Michelle moved to New York City to attend Columbia University, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in nonfiction writing. During her time at Columbia, Michelle worked at the Columbia University Oral History Research Office on a project documenting the voices and experiences of doctors who cared for patients during the early years of the AIDS crisis. The project culminated in the 2002 book AIDS Doctors: Voices from the Epidemic. She was also an editorial board member of Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art. During her time at Columbia, Michelle fell in love with New York City and made more friendships she cherished.
Following graduation from Columbia in 1999, Michelle moved to Brooklyn, first to Park Slope,then to Ditmas Park. The borough became her adopted home for 26 years: She loved the energy, the people, its quirky shops, farmer’s markets, lively restaurants, Prospect Park, and the endless music, art, and culture.
In 2000, Michelle joined the staff of CAMBA, a social services organization based in Flatbush in Brooklyn. She brought her creativity, dedication, and talents to work in public health and disease prevention, where she was a program and evaluation manager. Over her nearly 25 years with CAMBA, the organization became another longstanding Brooklyn home for her. Michelle’s work at CAMBA and her relationships with her colleagues meant a great deal to her.
While working full-time at CAMBA,Michelle earned a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics from Hunter College at The City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy in 2012. She co-authored three research publications based on research she conducted with professors and colleagues from CUNY.
Michelle purchased an apartment in a beautiful building in Ditmas Park in 2019. There she became involved in the coop board, planted flowers and trees with the gardening committee, and made dear friends.
Together with family and friends, Michelle traveled throughout the United States and abroad. Some of her favorite destinations included Amsterdam; Hawaii; Squam Lake, New Hampshire; London; and Turks and Caicos.
Michelle loved 90s British bands, KEXP radio of Seattle, dining out with friends, autumn, the color orange, The Hunt column every Thursday in the New York Times, tai chi, real estate television, the family dogs, the beach, French fries, baking, cooking, and thinking about cooking. She called being an aunt one of the great joys of her life. She considered herself rich in friendship and lived an incredible life with a full heart. Michelle will be dearly missed by the many people who loved her.
There will be a memorial gathering in New York City in the Spring and a private service in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Food Bank NYC, the World Food Program, Doctors Without Borders, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, KEXP Radio of Seattle, or The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Kathleen Ann Lewis, 92, a life-long resident of Hershey, passed away on February 20, 2025, at the Lebanon Valley Home in Annville.  She was born on July 3, 1932, in Hershey, the daughter of the late Edward Sr. and Dorothy (Rogers) Lewis.

Kathleen attended Derry Township Schools where she participated in chorus and played tenor sax in the band, orchestra, and dance band. After graduating from Hershey High School in 1950, she continued her education at Hershey Junior College and later became a dental assistant at Fort Indiantown Gap.  She loved swimming, excelling in the backstroke in the competitions she entered. In 1952, she accepted a job at the Hershey Women’s Club where she taught swimming and diving. Recognizing the need for female competitive sports, Kathleen established and coached the Hershey Girls’ Aquatic Club, a successful competitive swim team for girls 8 to 16 years old, leading them to meets across south central and southeastern PA.  Beyond guiding their athleticism, Kathleen taught “her girls” important life lessons including discipline, sportsmanship, and teamwork, while having fun and developing friendships. Many of her swimmers kept in touch over the years, several visiting her in the last days of her life.

After 10 years of coaching at the Women’s Club, Kathleen turned her attention to earning a degree in Dental Hygiene. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965, thereafter dedicating her entire dental hygiene career to working side-by-side with her sister, Joanne, and her late brother, Dr. Edward B. Lewis, in his dental practice.

Above all, Kathleen’s faith was most important to her. She was a life-long member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church and participated in numerous church activities including volunteering for the annual church festivals, traveling to Washington, DC for the March for Life, and singing in the choir for many years.

With the discovery of old family letters in her late mother’s belongings, Kathleen developed a genuine interest in genealogy. Initial conversations with local relatives, visits to graveyards, and sifting through old courthouse documents in her grandparents’ hometown in Lebanon County led her to the identification of relatives back to the 1700’s, both here in the United States and across the ocean to Trowbridge, England.  This connection through her grandfather Rogers not only extended this branch of the family tree back to the 1500’s but also sparked a lifelong friendship with the Rogers family.  Over the years, Kathleen visited the Rogers’ numerous times, also welcoming them and several members of their family to the U.S. The years of research and discovery culminated in Kathleen’s publication of “Family Reunion,” a 364-page book recording all the information she discovered, dedicating her labor of love to her parents with the closing instruction that future generations continue to be recorded.  Because of her discovery of several relatives’ military service, Kathleen was inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1976 as a direct descendent of a patriot of the Revolutionary War.

Kathleen’s interest in history extended beyond genealogy to a commitment to honoring the history of her hometown, Hershey, PA.  In 1991, she became a founding member of the Hershey Historical Society, serving on the board for more than 20 years, including many as its board president.  Starting in their living room, Kathleen and her sister, Joanne, worked tirelessly to build Society membership to more than 1,800 members, a remarkable number in comparison to similar  organizations. After stepping down from the board in 2011, Kathleen continued to volunteer for the organization.  Her passion for expanding and organizing the Society photo collection led to her developing a much-needed search catalog for the images, a key contribution to the Society’s successful management of its ever-growing photo collection.

Kathleen is survived by her sister, Joanne Lewis Curry, of Hershey, seven nieces and nephews, fourteen great-nieces and nephews, and one great-great niece. Never having children of her own, Kathleen doted on the extended families of her siblings, loving each of them as her own.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Dr. Edward B. Lewis, Jr.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30AM on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 West Areba Ave., Hershey.  The family will begin receiving guests at 10AM.  Interment will follow in the Hershey Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made to St. Joan of Arc Church or the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society, 40 Northeast Drive, Hershey, 17033.