Anne B. (Haines) Elbert, 81, loving mother, sister, wife, grandmother, friend, died June 18 surrounded by her family after a sudden illness. Born in Coatesville Oct. 12, 1927, to G. Edward and Sara (Fuller) Haines, she was the oldest of five children. She graduated from Coatesville's Scott Senior High School in 1945 and from Coatesville Hospital School of Nursing in 1948 as a registered nurse. At Coatesville Hospital she helped create the Central Supply Service. She married William "Bill" R. Elbert Jr. in 1958 and spent the rest of her life in Lancaster. Bill died in 1988; she missed him ever since. She worked as an R.N. until 1995, when she retired from Conestoga View Nursing Home. Anne loved her family and friends. Her grandchildren were always a source of great happiness, pride and comfort to her. She was a devout Catholic and gave generously to anyone in whatever way she could. She was a smart and strong woman whose unwavering faith was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her words of wisdom will be deeply missed. She was known to share her playful side with those around her, telling jokes, playing pranks (especially on her children) and making witty comments. Her creativity always shined through, especially when she'd help her children with school projects. She enjoyed traveling, especially by car, both before and after she wed, going up and down the eastern seaboard from Canada to North Carolina's Outer Banks. She especially loved vacationing with her family on the Outer Banks and dreamed of one day retiring in Ocrakoke.

Anne was an avid reader. She enjoyed gardening, was an amazing cook and made beautiful embroidery work.

She is survived by four children, Christopher Elbert, married to Mary (Bucks), of Lancaster; Gregory Elbert of Holtwood; Maureen Beiler, married to Wayne, of Lancaster; and Monica Elbert of Lancaster; grandchildren Kyle Phillips, Jared and Megan Elbert and Madison, Olivia, Isabella and Grant Beiler; four siblings; Agnes Haines, Elizabeth "Betty" Shirk, Charles Haines and Robert Haines, all of Lancaster; three great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 501 East Orange Street, Lancaster with Father Norman C. Hohenwarter as celebrant. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph New Catholic Cemetery. A Viewing will take place at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Inc. 414 East King Street, Lancaster on Monday evening from 6-8 PM with a Christian Prayer service starting at 7:45 PM. There will also be a viewing on Tuesday morning from 9-10 AM at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 96280, Washington, D.C., 20077-74911. Arrangements by the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Inc. To send an online condolence please visit: snyderfuneralhome.com