Three local schools will benefit from the estate of a Frackville man who died almost a year ago and has generously remembered Catholic schools in his will.

They are Marian Catholic High School, Our Lady of the Angels Academy in Lansford, and St. Jerome's School in Tamaqua.OLOAA and St. Jerome's will receive more than $10,000 while Marian was bequeathed more than $400,000.Robert M. Mesch, who worked as a surveyor for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Buckeye Pipeline, died November 12, 2011 at the age of 80. He was a member of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Church in Mahanoy City.Under terms of Mr. Mesch's will, six elementary schools in the Diocese of Allentown: McAdoo Catholic, McAdoo; Assumption BVM, Pottsville; St. Ambrose, Schuylkill Haven; Trinity Academy, Shenandoah; St. Jerome, Tamaqua; and Our Lady of the Angels Academy, Lansford will each receive more than $100,000 as will St. Joseph Center for Special Learning, Pottsville.Mesch also bequeathed more than $400,000 each to Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville and Marian High School, Hometown.Dr. Philip J. Fromuth, Diocesan Secretary for Education, expressed his gratitude. "On behalf of the Diocese of Allentown and the schools that will benefit from this bequest, I am so grateful for the generosity demonstrated by Mr. Mesch in remembering Catholic education in his will. With the ever increasing costs to operate Catholic schools, this significant gift will provide much needed financial support and resources for our schools, many of which are experiencing both enrollment and financial challenges.