For information on submitting an obituary, please contact Reading Eagle by phone at 610-371-5018, or email at obituaries@readingeagle.com or fax at 610-371-5193.
Most obituaries published in the Reading Eagle are submitted through funeral homes and cremation services, but we will accept submissions from families. Obituaries can be emailed to obituaries@readingeagle.com.
In addition to the text of the obituary, any photographs that you wish to include can be attached to this email. Please put the text of the obituary in a Word document, a Google document or in the body of the email. The Reading Eagle also requires a way to verify the death, so please include either the phone number of the funeral home or cremation service that is in charge of the deceased’s care or a photo of his/her death certificate. We also request that your full name, phone number and address are all included in this email.
All payments by families must be made with a credit card. We will send a proof of the completed obituary before we require payment. The obituary cannot run, however, until we receive payment in full.
Obituaries can be submitted for any future date, but they must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. the day prior to its running for it to be published.
Please call the obituary desk, at 610-371-5018, for information on pricing.
The Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading recognized dozens of young people who gave their time and energy to participate in projects that aim to help their community.
The program, an initiative of VOiCEup Berks, mobilizes teens to complete activities that foster leadership skills while giving back to the community. A recent ceremony highlighted the efforts of students who collectively contributed thousands of hours of service.
Officials said that over the course of the last year 966 participants served nearly 10,500 hours, which demonstrates the power of young people working together to create meaningful change.
“These young leaders are proving that youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow — they are leaders right now,” program director Lindsay Sites said in the organization’s announcement of the honors.
Thirty students were recognized for completing more than 35 hours of service during the past year, with eight others celebrated for reaching the 100-hour milestone.
“These dedicated volunteers worked on projects addressing food insecurity, mental health, homelessness, education and more,” Sites said. “They demonstrated the powerful role young people play in shaping a more equitable future.”
In addition to service hour milestones, several special awards were presented to those who demonstrated exceptional commitment, creativity and heart in their service:
The Project of the Year Award was given to Luca Mele, a junior at Lancaster Country Day School, who transformed an overlooked Reading field between the Hope Rescue Mission and the Lighthouse into a peaceful meditation garden. Mele worked with Ariyan Patel, a student leader at Wyomissing High School, to create a welcoming space for relaxation, contemplation and healing.
The Heart of Youth Volunteer Corps Award was presented to Addison McKittrick, an Exeter graduate who began volunteering in sixth grade.
The Reading Youth of the Year Award was given to Wilson graduate Kemi Ojikutu, who recorded 254 hours of service last year alone and has surpassed 500 lifetime service hours.
The World Changer Award was presented to Wilson graduate Samantha Martinez for achieving the rare milestone of 1,000 hours of service.
The Young Adult of the Year was given to Karleigh Patton, a graduate student at Kutztown University and Exeter and KU graduate, for her service to the community.
“As we celebrate another year of service, what stands out most is the leadership, empathy and passion these youth bring to their work,” Sites said. “They are already stepping up as changemakers and showing what true leadership looks like, and they are already transforming their communities in measurable ways.”