Bertha M. (Gaul) Wilds, 86, of Willow Street, PA, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2024, at Pleasant View Retirement Community surrounded by family. Up until the end she maintained her kindness, grace, compassion, and love for her family.

She was born in Nickel Mines, PA, to the late Ruth M. (Shultz) and Earl E. Gaul. She grew up in Paradise with her 3 siblings and attended a one-room school house. In addition to being a homemaker caring for children (hers and others), she worked at Woolworths, was a bus driver, and kitchen staff at Vo-Tech.

Bertha had an uncanny ability to show you how extraordinary an ordinary life could be, and she truly lived life to its fullest through simple pleasures, like cooking. She was well-known for her Chicken Corn Soup, Chicken Pot Pie, Halupki and Whoopie Pies, which were family favorites. She enjoyed camping and traveling throughout the United States with her favorite place being Orlando, Fl. to visit Disney, Epcot, etc. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas with decorations going up in Nov. and coming down in Feb.

She was a long-time member of the New Providence UCC and was deeply involved in her community. She was a founding member and officer of the Lancaster Co. Mothers of Twins Club; a Girl Scout leader, a director and treasurer of Willow Street Midget Cheerleading, a treasurer for the Lancaster County Cruisers, a member of the L-S Band Parent Booster Club, Flossie's Floozies (Red Hat Club) and the Guys and Dolls, to name a few.

Bertha is survived by her beloved husband, Fred W. Wilds II, and her children, Margaret-Ann Hess (Brian) of Conestoga, Melissa-Ann Kolessar (Andrew Guthrie) of Ephrata, and Michelle L. Hahn (David) of Manheim. She was a cherished grandmother to Kayleena L. Hess, Brianna N. Lehman, Tyler B. Hess, Abigail M. Shaub, Gabrielle N. Hahn, and Zachary L. Hahn, and a loving great-grandmother to five, with one more on the way. Bertha was preceded in death by her first husband, Ivan Kolessar, a brother, Walter Gaul, and sister, Diane Boozer.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. this Monday, November 4, 2024, at the Charles F. Snyder III Funeral Home and Crematory, 2421 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street, PA 17584. Family and friends will be received from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will follow at Boehms United Methodist Cemetery.

To commemorate Bertha's love of children and Christmas, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Toys for Tots .

Bertha's legacy lives on in her love for family, community, and the joy she brought to those around her.