Dana Earl Hess, 49, of Galeton, PA, formerly of Westfield, PA, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer. 

Born February 6, 1976 in Wellsboro, PA, he was a son of Elwyn “Barney” and Tina (English) Hess, who both survive. Dana was a 1994 graduate of Cowanesque Valley High School and then attended the Pittsburgh Institute for Mortuary Science where he received his degree for funeral directing. On June 5, 1999 in Westfield, he married his Dear, the former Jean “Jeannie” Amann, who survives. High school sweethearts, they more than enjoyed, they built a beautiful life together for 26 years. After graduating from mortuary school, Dana worked at Vickery Funeral Home in Troy, PA, Weber Funeral Home in Allentown, PA and then finally, he and Jeannie purchased Hess Funeral Home in Galeton in 2007 and have been operating it together since.

In 2020, Dana and Jeannie also purchased what is now Murphy’s Pizza in Galeton in hopes of keeping himself busy and giving them a place to have fun and meet people in better circumstances than as the funeral director. He loved delivering pizza with a huge smile on his face. Murphy’s also gave them an opportunity to give back to the community. He frequently donated pizza to many organizations and churches in the area. Even taking 30 pizzas to Westfield after the flood, just to hand them out to people. He found great joy in providing pizzas to the area churches for their Vacation Bible Schools.

Dana’s great passion was helping people. He strove every day to try to make someone else’s day better, however he could. He loved the Galeton community and always tried to be reputable, respectable, compassionate, loving, and caring to all those he served through the funeral home and those that he saw in the community every day. He was only in a suit when he had to be. He worked to be a member of Galeton, not just the funeral director. Dana was an Eagle Scout and a member of Clymer Baptist Church in Sabinsville, where he and Jeannie started dating at a youth group function 35 years ago as teenagers. He loved Irish Setters and all of Galeton saw him and his buddy, Alex, walking every day. Alex was 14 years old and stayed with Dana until the end. He was then let go to be with Dana and his girl Gracie. 

A more contagious smile and laugh will be hard to find. A bright light has gone out on earth, but he is with his Savior in Heaven waiting for his Dear and his many family members and friends. 

Surviving in addition to his wife, Jeannie Hess of Galeton and his parents, Barney and Tina Hess of Westfield, are a brother, Gregory (Laurie) Wood, Knoxville; a sister, Jeannine (Chris) Louca, Westfield; a brother, Miroslav (Vera Trnkova) Trnka, Czech Republic; a sister, Marinka (Antii-Markus Rantatorikka) Wuorenmaa, Finland; two nephews, Allan (Kassie Burch) Wood, Knoxville and Andrew Louca, Westfield; two nieces, Evelyn Louca, Westfield and Courtney (Johnny) Daum, Elmira, NY; a great niece, Willo Wood, Knoxville;  three brothers-in-law, Francis, Scott and Freddie Amann; a sister-in-law- Pam “Sue” Whitmire; an adopted surrogate mother-in-law, Jessie Cole; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A private service for family only will be held at the Clymer Baptist Church in Sabinsville, with Pastor Kyle Horton officiating. Friends and the community may call on Saturday, June 28, 2025 from 11:00am-1:00pm at his parents’ family farm at 52 Mill Creek Lane, Westfield.

Funeral Services will follow at 1:00pm with Pastor Sherry Elliott and Daniel Brelo officiating. Interment will be made in the Sabinsville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Goodyear Hose Company, the Gale Hose Ambulance Association or to Clymer Baptist Church. Arrangements are being handled by the Hess Funeral & Cremation Service, Kenyon Funeral, Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home and the Matthew X. Merlin Funeral Home.