Erla Jane Gehman Farrell, 94

January 10, 2018

Erla Jane Gehman Farrell, 94, of Lancaster, died peacefully Wednesday January 10, 2018 at 1:15PM at St. Anne’s Retirement Community.
Erla was born on October 29th, 1923 at Lancaster General Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Emma Ruth Abele Wolpert and the late William A. Gehman. She was the beloved step-daughter of the late Harry Wolpert.
Her Husband, John Barton Farrell Jr., died in 1990 after 48 years of marriage. She is also predeceased by her sister Patsy Shelling, who died in 2005.
She is survived by her children: Colleen (Rev. Ronald Jaynes), Jackeline Farrell McCarthy (Larry McCarthy), Maureen (Jerry Curtin) Kathleen, (Douglas Rothfus) Jonathan, (Mary Beth Cassidy Farrell) seventeen grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.
Erla was a 1941 graduate of JP McCaskey High School.
She excelled in book-keeping and was an excellent seamstress, making all of her own clothes at age 12 and earned spending money sewing for her friends.
She loved sports, enjoyed skating, swimming and playing basketball as a young girl.
She adored the Villanova Wildcats. She loved to dance, especially to the Big Band sounds at Hershey with her Husband.
Reading mysteries and going to the movies was a favorite pastime, as she took her own jar of pickles as a snack.
When her husband joined the Navy, she worked at Armstrong, riveting airplane wings until her husband came home on leave and the two went off to Elkton, MD to marry in 1942.
Having raised her family to young adulthood, Erla took a job at the switchboard at St. Joseph’s Hospital and then as a registrar. As a member of St. Anthony’s Parish, and always giving of her time, while raising five children she volunteered several times a week at St. Anthony’s cafeteria, was president of The Mothers Club, hosted card parties and bake sales to raise funds for the school.
In her 80’s, while working at Wilbur’s Chocolate as her retirement job, she also volunteered driving patients to chemo and doctor’s appointments.
With her family spread all over the country, Erla enjoyed traveling to be with each of her five children, especially to the beach. We rejoice that now she has found “an Erla” in front of the Pearly Gates.
The celebration of her life, A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church 440 St. Joseph St., Lancaster, PA 17603 on Saturday, January 27th at 1pm with The Rev Allan Wolfe as Celebrant. The family will receive guests from 12noon-1PM prior to Mass at the church. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in memory of Erla may be sent to St. Anne’s Retirement Community, 3952 Columbia Ave, Columbia, PA 17512.