One of Raymond V. Ellis' favorite images across classic literature was the lamplighter, a figure often noted only by the glow brought to the darkness. Aspiring to become a lamplighter for his faith, he began taking classes in 1973 for the diaconate in the Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Marion Stanley Smith died Thursday, February 28, 2013, at Genesis HealthCare Center in Lebanon, N.H. She was born November 19, 1918, in Merchantville, N.J., to Loren Watts & Jessie (Young) Stanley. She was the youngest of eight children. When she was six months old, Marion’s family moved to the Sargent homestead on New Boston Road in Norwich, Vt., where she lived until the age of eight. She often shared her family history and many fond memories of her childhood at this homestead.

Dr. Hussong, 93, of Merchantville, died Tuesday, Feb. 19, at his home. Born in Camden, Dr. Hussong early on was a step or 10 ahead of the crowd, academically and athletically. At Camden High School, he was president of the Class of 1937 and lettered in football, basketball, tennis, and track.

James M. Hunter, 88, an orthopedic surgeon at Thomas Jefferson University and a pioneer and innovator in the field of hand surgery, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, of heart failure at the Southeastern Veterans Center in Spring City, Chester County. Dr. Hunter was born on April 5, 1924, in Camden, the son of Robert and Helen Hunter. He was raised in Merchantville.

The Rev. Canon James Elliott Purdy, 99, an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of New Jersey for 74 years, died Sunday, Jan. 6, at the Evergreens, a continuing care community in Moorestown. Canon Purdy formally retired in 1984 after serving as rector of Grace Church in Merchantville for 18 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Eloise Hughes Purdy, in 2009; his brother, Edward; his sister, Frances Irene Harris Purdy; and his parents, the Reverend Charles Edwin Purdy, M.D., and Mary Frances Ann Ginn. Canon Purdy is survived by his son, the Reverend James Hughes Purdy (Emma Sarosdy Purdy); granddaughters Emma Purdy Coyle (John) and Katherine Purdy Spung (Michael); a great-granddaughter; and his brother, Samuel Edwin Purdy.