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 Elizabeth
"Betty" Helen Wendel Kirchner passed away on Tuesday, November 9,
2010. She was 91 years old. She was preceded in death in 1988 by
her beloved husband of 46 years, Robert Emmet Kirchner, and her
eldest son, Robert Michael, who passed away in 2001. She was the
daughter of the late Philip Emmanuel Jervase Wendel and Martha
Elizabeth Lintner Wendel and was one of six children in that
family. She is survived by her sisters, Ruth Wendel, also known
as Sister Philip Marie, IHM of Immaculate, PA, and Kathryn "Kitty"
Harnish of Lemon Grove, CA; her son, David George Kirchner aka
Kirk and his husband, Randy Paul Stopher, both of whom cared for
her in her later years; her grandchildren Robert Michael, Jr.,
Thomas Paul, Jeffrey Patrick and Jennifer Anne Arraya; and her
great grandchildren, Brooke Helena and Colin Hayes Kirchner and
Stephen Edward Arraya; and her 17-year old cat, Molly. A lifelong
Lancastrian, she was the 8th great-granddaughter of
Hans Herr, an original settler of Lancaster County.
She grew up at 948 Columbia Avenue, raised her family at 524 West
James Street, enjoyed her retirement at 421 Surrey Drive in
Manheim Township and lived the last two years of her life at St.
Anne's Retirement Community in Columbia, PA.
She was a 1937 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School. During
WW II, she and her husband were civilian employees of the U.S. Air
Force at Hickam Field Air Force Base in Honolulu, HI. She joined
her husband there by traveling on a cattle ship protected by a
convoy of war ships. She and her husband were known for their
sense of humor and hospitality. While living in Hawaii during
WWII, many members of the military became their friends and made
Betty and Bob's house their home away from home. Her first son,
Robert Michael, was born in Hawaii. His cradle was fashioned by
military friends from wood scraps and his milk was provided
courtesy of the officers' mess. Following the war, she was a
secretary at Lancaster Press, Inc. and, when her youngest son
began high school, she returned to work as a legal secretary and
notary public for a Lancaster attorney.
Betty played pinochle throughout her life. She was a member of a
"family" card club, which starred an evolving cast of her sisters,
aunts and cousins; and a "ladies" club, comprising her many
friends. The latter ran continuously for 53 years, from 1952 to
2005. During most of her stay at St. Anne's, she continued to
host monthly card clubs, at which she served the food category
known in Lancaster as "pickin's." She also was of the generation
that knew the difference between "dinner" and "supper,"
"housecleaning" and "spring cleaning."
She was a member of the Junior and Senior Catholic Daughters of
America, the Mother's Club of Sacred Heart Church, Guys and Dolls,
St. Anne Neumann Seniors, AARP Chapter 530, and the AARP Chorus.
As children, Betty and her siblings would sing popular songs while
doing their chores. Betty loved to sing and would burst into song
at the drop of a hat or the hint of a lyric. Her grandchildren
fondly recall Betty and Bob's rendition of "Paper Doll," recorded
by the Mills Brothers in 1942. And if anyone were to say
"Patience is a virtue," she'd launch into this ditty without fail:
"Patience is a virtue, catch it if you can, seldom found in a
woman, never in a man."
Betty was a cradle Roman Catholic and was a lifelong member of
Sacred Heart of Jesus church where she was baptized, attended
primary school, was confirmed and married the love of her life.
Her life will be celebrated there at a Mass of Christian Burial on
Saturday, November 13 at 10 a.m. She will be interred beside her
husband at the St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery.
Friends and family are invited to call on Friday, November 12 from
6 - 8 p.m. at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home at 414 East King
Street Lancaster, PA and again at the church on Saturday from 9-10
a.m. The burial will be followed by a luncheon for invited family
and friends at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. Please call
610.792.3329 to receive an invitation. In lieu of flowers, please
make a generous donation to St. Anne's Retirement Community,
StAnnesRetirementCommunity.com.
To send an online condolence or for more information, visit
SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory
717-393-9661 |
