|
 Jane
H. Abel of Lancaster passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday,
September 20, 2011 at Willow Valley Retirement Community,
surrounded by her loving family. She was the widow of Frank J.
Abel who died in 2001.
Born in Lancaster in 1920, she was the daughter of the late Frank
A. and Elise Hurter Heckendorn. From her father, a hard working
blacksmith on Pine Street, and her devoted mother she learned
important lessons that would carry her through life.
Jane attended city schools and was in the first graduating class
of McCaskey High School in 1938. She then attended Temple
University School of Nursing in Philadelphia. Married
 in
1940, she was happy to celebrate 62 wedding anniversaries. She was
a long-time
member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Quarryville, and
Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Lancaster.
Jane was predeceased by her only brother Franklin Heckendorn and
her sister Frances Hager.
She is survived by three daughters: Judith A. Warfel, wife of W.
Donald Warfel, Jane A. Albright, wife of Richard H. Albright, Jr.,
D.D.S., and Anne A. Butterfield, wife of Jay V. Butterfield, D.Ed.,
and one son Frank M. Abel, V.M.D., husband of Margery M. Abel.
Jane was the grandmother of six grandsons and six granddaughters,
as well as 23 great-grandchildren who fondly remember her as
“Little Grandma Abel”. Small in stature but genuinely large in
grace and kindness, she always carried herself with pride and
dignity, sharing her outgoing personality with everyone. She could
be heard singing throughout the daytime hours. A wonderful mother,
grandmother and great-grandmother, she spent her adult life caring
for and being surrounded by her family - the center of her life.
Jane’s grateful family expresses heartfelt appreciation to
everyone at Willow Valley Retirement Community, as well as Hospice
of Lancaster County, for their devoted service. She always had an
optimistic smile for each of them as they did for her. She will be
greatly missed.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10 AM, Saturday,
October 1, 2011 at Historic St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 119 S.
Prince St., Lancaster, PA 17603, with The Rev. Leo M. Goodman, III
as Celebrant. Relatives and Friends will be received at the church
on Saturday from 9 to 10 AM. Private interment will be at the
discretion of the family. In lieu of flowers, Contributions can be
made in Jane’s memory to Mom’s House, 415 S. Queen St., P.O. Box
787, Lancaster, PA 17608-0787.
To send the family online condolences, please visit
SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home &
Crematory, 717-560-5100 |
