All Obituaries

  Carl Robert Franceski Sr., 74, from Laytonsville, MD passed away on September 26th, 2022, after a long and valiant battle against cancer at Holy Cross Hospital in Germantown, MD. Born in Rahway, NJ and raised in Linden, NJ, Carl attended Linden High School. Shortly after graduating, Carl was drafted into the Vietnam War. After completing his boot camp at Fort Sill in Lawton, OK, Carl was deployed to Vietnam. As a member of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment, Carl fought...

Lynne S. Schanzle, age 84, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. Lynne was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 1, 1937 to Dale Stewart and Jean Cordes Stewart. Lynne grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a masters degree in history and education.  She moved to Colorado Springs (United States Air Force Academy) with her then husband, Allan Schanzle.  In 1970, the family, which now included their two children,...

Robert McIlvain ("Mac"), age 79, passed away in his sleep on September 18, 2022. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Carol, and son, Jeffrey. Mac and Carol built their home in Clarksville, MD in 1973 and he lived there until his passing. He was also a devoted older brother to siblings Mary Anne, Tommy, and Juanita. Mac joined the Army in 1964 and rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, earning several commendations leading truck convoys in Vietnam, and "jumping out of...

  Donald "Strag" Lee Nichols, 90 years young, passed peacefully from this life on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Frederick Memorial Hospital with his family by his side.  Born June 17, 1932 in Montgomery County, Maryland to the late George Thomas Nichols and Evelyn Trigger, Donnie was the second oldest of five siblings. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he proudly served his country for three years. Upon returning home, he honed his skills...

Maiga Miezis, 94, of Gaithersburg, MD passed away on September 13, 2022. Maiga was born in Latvia on February 27th, 1928. Her family escaped from the Soviets during World War II to a displaced persons camp in Germany. After the war she emigrated with her family to Poolesville, MD. She worked on a farm and for the Marriott Corporation after coming to the United States. In 1957 she married Ramons Miezis and became a housewife and Mother. She loved singing and dancing and especially...

  JOHN NEVIN RENTZ, JR. October 9, 1950 – September 11, 2022 Died peacefully on Sunday, September 11, 2022, at home.  John “Jay” was born in Bethesda, Maryland, and educated at Fishburne Military School for high school and then was graduated from the University of Maryland.  For most of his career, he served as a Police Officer/Sergeant with the Metropolitan Police Department, where he worked for 26 years.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor and Medal...

  Pauline “Polly” Blevins Andrakakos, 95, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dear friend, died peacefully at her Silver Spring, MD home on Friday, September 9, 2022, surrounded by her beloved family. Polly was born on April 4th, 1927 to the late J. Walter Blevins and Anna Beulah Shatley Blevins in Ashe County, NC. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Gus W. Andrakakos, as well as four sisters and one brother. Polly is...

Paula C. Tavarez Maldonado, 52, of Gaithersburg, MD passed away on August 27, 2022. She was the daughter of the late Andres Tavarez and is survived by her mother Ramona. She is also survived by her son Juan Castillo Tavarez of Gaithersburg, MD.  A Memorial Visitation and Prayer Service will be held on Friday, September 2, 2022, from 3pm to 5pm at the Roy W. Barber Funeral Home, 21525 Laytonsville Rd., Laytonsville, MD 20882. 

  John (“Jack”) Joseph Sweet, Jr. went to heaven on August 24th, 2022. Jack passed away peacefully at his home with his two devoted daughters by his side.  Jack was born and raised in Foxboro, Massachusetts to his late parents Margaret and John Sweet. He was the middle child to his late older sister and best friend Patricia O’Malley and late younger brother Robert Sweet. At age 12, Jack attended the prestigious LaSalle Military Academy in Long Island, NY for...

Bettie D. Kibbe, 92, of Ashton, MD passed away on August 11, 2022. Daughter of the late Herbert and Alice (Flippen) Dailey and wife of the late James W. Kibbe, Sr. Bettie is survived by her son James W. Kibbe, Jr. (Ranta) and her daughter Linda Addison (Daniel). She is also survived by her granddaughters, Atheia Addison Penafiel (Sergio), Nyia Addison-Garcia (Fernando), Amanda Sallade (Rob), and Alexandra Kleebauer (Scott), as well as her great-grandchildren, Dominic Garcia, Alec Penafiel,...