Easo Daniel

Easo Daniel, 94, of Stroudsburg, PA, passed away on July 6, 2024, at his residence. Born the eldest of six children to the late Mr. Daniel Puthupallil and the late Mrs. Sosamma Daniel, Easo, lovingly called Kunjuchayan by his family and later Daniel Appachan by numerous Sunday School students, lived his life fruitfully for his Lord and Savior.

Born in Kerala, India at the onset of the Great Depression, Easo was determined to overcome innumerable challenges to help raise his siblings. In 1955, after a printing apprenticeship in Madras (Chennai), he was recruited to work in East Africa. There he met his wife of 55 years, the late Mrs. Mariamma Daniel, the couple had three children. He worked in Kampala for the country’s largest newspaper The Uganda Argus.

In 1972, he took the family out of a bloody civil conflict that eventually led them to settle in the U.S. That was fifty years ago. They made their home in Hillside, NJ while Easo worked in South Plainfield, and then in Trenton for 20 years, as an editor for publications of the Office of Administrative Law for the State of New Jersey before retiring and moving to Stroudsburg.

His passion was for serving God with enthusiasm and it showed in his work with the church. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Mar Thoma Church in the US and a founding member of the New Jersey Chapter. He energetically taught in the Mar Thoma Sunday School helping mold generations of children. He served as the Sunday School Headmaster and its Superintendent for many years. In retirement, he volunteered his time at the Pocono Medical Center/Lehigh Valley Hospital and local nursing homes. He was an eternal optimist, an avid gardener, and loved meeting new people.

Easo Daniel is survived by his three children: son George (April), his grandchildren Samuel and Priyana; daughter Susan (George Kalarikkal), his grandchildren Philip (Sherin), great-grandchildren Lilian and Rayanne; Christina (Gregory McCutchen), James (Kimberlee Letizi), great-grandchildren Layla and Chase; and son John (Usha), grandchildren Sareena, Anisa, and Kiran.

He is also survived by his sisters Aleyamma Eapen of Chengannur, India, Mary Thomas, of Perth Australia, Anne Koshy of Dayton, OH, several cousins, nephews, nieces, and many relatives.

Viewing and funeral services will be held from 3 to 8 pm on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at the Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey, 790 Route 10 West, Randolph, NJ, with Rev. Varghese Mathew officiating.

Final viewing will be held from 9 to 10:30 am on Monday, July 15, 2024, at Bensing-Thomas Funeral Home, 401 North 5th Street, Stroudsburg followed by entombment with services to be held at 10:45 am in Mountainview Mausoleum at 501 Prospect Street, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or a worthy cause of your choice.