Beula E. Bodistow Kestler, 97, of Pinecrest Manor, St. Marys, and formerly of Wilcox and Johnsonburg, died Wednesday night, January 18, 2023 at Pinecrest Manor. She was born on May 14, 1927 in DuBois, PA to the late Herman L. and Edith S. Lydick Delp. On November 20, 1965 in St. Anne’s Church, Wilcox, she married Anthony J. Bodistow. He passed away September 27, 2005. On February 16, 2007 in Sacred Heart Church, St. Marys, she married John R. “Jack” Kestler. He preceded her in death on July 31, 2017.

Beula had lived in St. Marys since 2007. She had previously lived in Wilcox for 47 years and had lived in Johnsonburg for 42 years and DuBois. She was a 1943 graduate of Brady Twp. High School. Beula was a member of St. Anne’s Church and had been a Girl Scout Leader for many years. She loved to cook, bake, sew and quilt and had been a member of quilting groups in St. Marys and Kane. She had retired from Stackpole Corp. in 1980 after 39 years of service in Johnsonburg and Kane.

Beula is survived by step-children: Carl Bodistow of Wilcox and Sharon Kestler of Erie, grandchildren Michael Proctor and his wife Christina and Sara, Mrs. Lars Johannesen and great-grandchildren Lillian and Eli Proctor. She is also survived by sisters Hazel Kriner of DuBois, Jeanette Hayes of Luthersburg and Evelyn, Mrs. Richard Vandervort of Falls Creek.

Beula is predeceased by her parents, husbands Anthony Bodistow and John “Jack” Kestler, a daughter Mary M. Kepner, sisters Vera Shaffer and Elsie King and a brother Willis Delp.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Beula E. Bodistow Kestler will be conducted at St. Anne’s Church, Wilcox on Monday January 23, 2023 at 10 AM with Fr. David Wilson, Pastor, as celebrant. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Rasselas.

Friends will be received at the Anthony F Ferragine Funeral Home and Cremation Services Chapel, 401 Chestnut Street Johnsonburg, PA
on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4 PM.

The Gale Largey documentary film being shown for free at 7 p.m. this coming Wednesday, Jan. 25 in the Grand Community Room at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts at 104 Main Street in Wellsboro is about the first 19 Laurel Festivals held from 1938 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1959 with a three-year hiatus in 1943, 1944 and 1945 due to World War II.

Largey is a retired Mansfield University sociology professor who enjoys making fascinating documentary films about local history and involving community people and others in the process.

“The 45-minute documentary about these Laurel Festivals was inspired by ‘Life in Wellsboro 1920 – 1960’ published in 1988,” Largey said. It was the sixth in a series of books about Tioga County communities that Largey had put together beginning in 1973 with the publication of the first one, “Life in Roseville.”

“For this 1996 film, I interviewed many of the laurel queens by telephone, including Phyllis Viola of McKees Rocks,” said Largey.

Larry Woodin initiated the festival under the sponsorship of the Lions Club.

The first Laurel Festival was held Saturday through Monday, June 4-6, 1938. Following a Monday afternoon parade and circus, Miss Viola, one of

37 queen candidates, was crowned the first queen. “I only came because my mother made me,” she told Largey. “I really didn’t want to be in it.”

The first time a queen was chosen from Wellsboro was in 1947 when Janet Evans was named. She shared with Largey the criteria used to select the queen.

The documentary also incorporates a variety of film footage taken at the Laurel Festivals during those years, including some provided by 1958 queen, Heather Streich of Emporium, which shows the 66 candidates walking down Main Street.

Three songs, each written for the festival by different local people, one in 1938, another in 1941 and one in 1949, are sung in the documentary by Mansfield University students.

In 1950, the Laurel Festival officially became “The Pennsylvania

State Laurel Festival, the three-mile parade included 23 bands and drum corps, and 24 floats and for the first time, the 67 queen candidates brought escorts.

In 1954, the first Sunday Service was held on The Green and in 1959, the first Pet Parade.

Now in its 81st year, it is interesting to compare the festival’s early years to the way it works today.

Also being shown on Jan. 25 is Largey’s documentary “Lost & Found: Beliefs & Honesty in the 1950s.” This film offers a unique understanding of honest behavior in St. Marys, a small, rural community. “This was a fun film to do and has humorous moments,” said Largey. It draws attention to praying to St. Anthony to help one find a lost item, and resisting the notion of  “finders keepers, losers weepers.” Special recognition is given to local nuns and a local newspaper editor who strongly promulgated the importance of honesty. 

This 21-minute film was written and directed by Largey, edited by Mark Polonia and narrated by Adam Brennan. Eleven other local residents were also involved in its production.

“I will introduce each film and point out interesting aspects about it,” said Largey.

After the showings of the documentaries, Largey will host a question and answer session with the audience.

The Grand Community Room is located on the second floor of the Deane Center and is handicapped accessible via a ramp into the lobby from Main Street and an elevator on the right side at the back of the lobby. 

More Largey films will be shown for free at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, Feb. 1 and 22. Donations are appreciated and will be used to support the Deane Center and its programs.

For more information, call the Deane Center at 570-7

BRADFORD, Pa. — The Friends of Hanley Library honored longtime board member and former president Jim Guelfi recently with emeritus status in recognition of his leadership, service and contributions to the organization.

            Friends President Jeff Bosworth noted that Guelfi is a founding member of the organization, which was established in 1990. In addition to having served as president of the friends, Guelfi has served in several other leadership positions over his 32 years as a board member, including chair of the hospitality, finance and program committees.

            The Friends also welcomed two new board members, Christine Tyler of Bradford and Stephen Eidson of Smethport.

            Tyler is the director of development and major gifts in the philanthropic and alumni engagement office at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, where the Hanley Library is located. Active in the community, she also serves on the board of directors of the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of the Bradford Area and the Festival of Trees Committee for the ELF Fund. She lives with her husband, Brent, and daughters, Grace and Chloe.

            Eidson has previously served on the Friends’ board and is now the recording secretary. He is retired from the University of Pittsburgh, where he worked on the Bradford and Titusville campuses and most recently for the School of Social Work’s Pennsylvania Child Resource Center. Eidson is active in his church and other local organizations.

            The Friends were formed to strengthen the relationship between Pitt-Bradford and the surrounding community. The organization has helped develop an archive room in the library, supports a scholarship, bought laptops, furniture and other items to help students as well as an original piece of art by the Bradford native and successful commercial illustrator Roger Hane. The organization also sponsors several programs a year to support local writers.