Erna M. Piersol, 88, of Oak Leaf Manor North, died peacefully in her sleep Saturday, February 1, 2014, at Lancaster General Hospital of complications resulting from a fall. She was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to the late William J. and Maria Elizabeth Berghoff van Heel.

She graduated from hotel management school at the Hotel de la Paix in Lausanne, Switzerland, in August of 1946, and came to the United States in 1950. A homemaker and longtime resident of Lancaster, she lived 10 years of her retirement in Mesa, Arizona. Erna enjoyed sewing, knitting and bridge club, and loved to go square dancing.

Surviving Erna are her daughter Karen Galiano, wife of the late John Galiano, of Lancaster, her son Brian Piersol, husband of Carol, of Manheim; four grandchildren, Kelly Gehman, Jessica Waldheim, Laura Burkholder and Rachel Miller; six great-grandchildren and her sister Freddy Bovard of Bellevue, WA.

Following Erna's wishes, services and interment will be private. Please omit flowers.