The heart of our home is gone.

It is with both tears in our eyes and a smile in our heart that we announce the passing of Lena Kitch, "Lee" 96. A long, full life of hard rewarding work she passed surrounded by her family. The tears are for our loss, the smile is for the memory of her.

Lee was born and raised in Lancaster, father Jacob Yeager and mother Margaret Reinfried and for 69 years was married to David H. Kitch who passed away in 2016. She was also preceded in death by a son Donald in 1991.

Faced with daunting obstacles early in life, with hard work she was able to overcome and succeed. She worked at Hamilton Watch and RCA. Additionally, she took in babies for Catholic Charities and worked for Easter Seals, all while raising five children.

60 years ago, she joined her husband in a big decision to buy some land and start a business, Starlite Camping Resort. With no prior experience she ran the office and store for years. Specials at Starlite had Lee cooking for several hundred campers from a standard small kitchen. People from the middle Atlantic region, Canada, and beyond raved about her cooking. While it may be known that everyone's mother was the best cook, it is mere hearsay, because Lee Kitch was in fact, the BEST COOK.

Lee's ability to "size people up" proved useful in dealing with the public. Her can-do attitude was infectious. Complaining just wasn't her style even when the business was experiencing hard times.

There are so many anecdotes' quips and quotes it would be impossible to recount them but here are a few: An irate customer came into the office and demanded to know "lady, who owns this place?" Her reply, "the bank, is there something you wanted me to tell them?" After loading her car with groceries, she mistakenly opened the back passenger door, sat down, and saw there was no steering wheel. Undeterred she said, "Whoever stole my steering wheel is going to pay!!"

From the grandchildren: She was a loving grandmother that could make anything feel like it would be okay. She was comforting, fun, trustworthy and had good advice about people. We loved her and will miss her.

Thus, we say goodbye to our matriarch, with a smile in our heart.

A special thanks to the caregivers at StoneRidge Towne Centre Myerstown, they were mom's family and our connection with mom thru Covid and ever since.

Lee will be missed by her children, Kathleen, Eileen, Douglas and David Jr. (Sue Zell). Grandchildren Erin (Martell) Castellon, Andrea Daniel (Justin), Derringer, Sarah (Nick Cove), Rose, Dawn Coblentz (Chad), Rock, and David C. (Kate). Great-grandchildren, Piper, Maebry, Sawyer, Layton, Ellie, Emma and David J.

Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions in Lee's name to Alzheimer's Association, alz.org .