Elizabeth “Betty” Kirchner

Elizabeth “Betty” Helen Wendel Kirchner passed away on Tuesday, November 9, 2010.  She was 91 years old.  She was preceded in death in 1988 by her beloved husband of 46 years, Robert Emmet Kirchner, and her eldest son, Robert Michael, who passed away in 2001.  She was the daughter of the late Philip Emmanuel Jervase Wendel and Martha Elizabeth Lintner Wendel and was one of six children in that family.  She is survived by her sisters, Ruth Wendel, also known as Sister Philip Marie, IHM of Immaculate, PA, and Kathryn “Kitty” Harnish of Lemon Grove, CA; her son, David George Kirchner aka Kirk and his husband, Randy Paul Stopher, both of whom cared for her in her later years; her grandchildren Robert Michael, Jr., Thomas Paul, Jeffrey Patrick and Jennifer Anne Arraya; and her great grandchildren, Brooke Helena and Colin Hayes Kirchner and Stephen Edward Arraya; and her 17-year old cat, Molly.  A lifelong Lancastrian, she was the 8^th great-granddaughter of Hans Herr, an original settler of Lancaster County.

She grew up at 948 Columbia Avenue, raised her family at 524 West James Street, enjoyed her retirement at 421 Surrey Drive in Manheim Township and lived the last two years of her life at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, PA.

She was a 1937 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School.  During WW II, she and her husband were civilian employees of the U.S. Air Force at Hickam Field Air Force Base in Honolulu, HI.  She joined her husband there by traveling on a cattle ship protected by a convoy of war ships.  She and her husband were known for their sense of humor and hospitality.  While living in Hawaii during WWII, many members of the military became their friends and made Betty and Bob’s house their home away from home.  Her first son, Robert Michael, was born in Hawaii.  His cradle was fashioned by military friends from wood scraps and his milk was provided courtesy of the officers’ mess.  Following the war, she was a secretary at Lancaster Press, Inc. and, when her youngest son began high school, she returned to work as a legal secretary and notary public for a Lancaster attorney.

Betty played pinochle throughout her life.  She was a member of a “family” card club, which starred an evolving cast of her sisters, aunts and cousins; and a “ladies” club, comprising her many friends.  The latter ran continuously for 53 years, from 1952 to 2005.  During most of her stay at St. Anne’s, she continued to host monthly card clubs, at which she served the food category known in Lancaster as “pickin’s.”  She also was of the generation that knew the difference between “dinner” and “supper,” “housecleaning” and “spring cleaning.”

She was a member of the Junior and Senior Catholic Daughters of America, the Mother’s Club of Sacred Heart Church, Guys and Dolls, St. Anne Neumann Seniors, AARP Chapter 530, and the AARP Chorus.  As children, Betty and her siblings would sing popular songs while doing their chores.  Betty loved to sing and would burst into song at the drop of a hat or the hint of a lyric.  Her grandchildren fondly recall Betty and Bob’s rendition of “Paper Doll,” recorded by the Mills Brothers in 1942.  And if anyone were to say “Patience is a virtue,” she’d launch into this ditty without fail:

“Patience is a virtue, catch it if you can, seldom found in a woman, never in a man.”

Betty was a cradle Roman Catholic and was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart of Jesus church where she was baptized, attended primary school, was confirmed and married the love of her life.  Her life will be celebrated there at a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, November 13 at 10 a.m.  She will be interred beside her husband at the St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery.

Friends and family are invited to call on Friday, November 12 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home at 414 East King Street Lancaster, PA and again at the church on Saturday from 9-10 a.m.  The burial will be followed by a luncheon for invited family and friends at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square.  Please call 610.792.3329 to receive an invitation.  In lieu of flowers, please make a generous donation to St. Anne’s Retirement Community, StAnnesRetirementCommunity.com.  To send an online condolence or for more information, visit SnyderFuneralHome.com.  Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory 717-393-9661