Gloria Elizabeth Haefner

May 12, 2019

Gloria Elizabeth (Horner) Haefner passed away after a brief illness on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2019, surrounded by her loving family on the final leg of her love-filled journey. Born in Lancaster on Valentine’s Day, 1945, she was the first-born daughter of Gloria Horner and the late Richard Horner, Sr. Gloria was the wife of Francis Haefner, Sr. of Lancaster. Francis and Gloria had been married for 56 blessed years after having met while working in the Lancaster General kitchen, where Dad worked in the kitchen and Mom was a tray girl. Dad knew Mom was the girl for him right from the start.

Gloria’s life was a testament to her faith and the love she had for God and for her family. A devoted Catholic, she was a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Lancaster, having moved to that parish to be with several of her children and their families. Previously, Gloria and Francis had been members of Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Leo the Great Catholic churches.

Gloria was called to a life of serving others. She earned her LPN license in 1969 and later graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse in 1976. She absolutely loved her work as a nurse as it allowed her to devote her life to helping others. She spent the last 24 years of her career as a labor and delivery nurse at Women’s & Babies Health Center on the LGH campus. It was her passion and it brought her great joy to help new mothers bring their babies into this world.

Gloria also had a tremendous love of family and for her family. She provided love and guidance to every heart she touched. And she was very proud of the legacy she and Francis had created; a legacy measured in terms of her loving family. Every chance we had to gather as a family, we took it, whether it was at a Christmas party, sporting event, birthday, family poker night, a meal out, or any other possible reason just to spend time with each other.

Gloria was an avid supporter of her children and grandchildren; providing an unfaltering flow of love, wisdom, and guidance; giving endlessly and selflessly; just being there for them in every facet of their lives. In recent years, she was a huge supporter of the boys and girls basketball teams of St. Anne as well as the Lancaster Catholic girls basketball team. And, true to her nature, Gloria continued her passion to help others, even after her passing, through the organ and tissue donation process with the Gift of Life program. Mom’s donation will benefit 70 individuals.

In addition to her family and nursing, Gloria possessed an amazing ability and desire to create and her talents seemed to know no boundaries. She enjoyed continually learning new things and teaching herself how to do all kinds of home improvement projects, whether it was redoing her mother’s bedroom, fixing up her daughter’s house or even rewiring an old lamp. Gloria also loved flowers and gardening, sewing for her family and vacations at the shore, with her favorite destinations being Cape May, NJ and Bethany Beach, DE. Gloria was also gifted with an angelic singing voice and the ability to play piano beautifully and her voice will live on in our hearts. Her children loved to hear her sing them songs before bedtime, with “Edelweiss” becoming a favorite! (Mom, that tradition has been passed from your children to your grandchildren).

In addition to her husband Francis, and their dog, Chloe, Gloria is survived by her three sons and daughter: Francis, Jr. and his wife Lisa of Lancaster, David and his fiancée Cheryl of Honeybrook, James and his wife Stacey of Lancaster, and Mary Catherine of Lancaster; an R.N. following in her mother’s path of loving service to others.

Gloria’s family also includes seven grandchildren: Andrew Haefner, Kathleen Kane and husband Jason, Stephen Haefner, Sarah Haefner, Amanda Haefner and her fiancé Ryan, Katie Haefner and Ryan Haefner. She is also survived by her mother, Gloria, her sister, Anita Long and husband Terry, and her brother Richard Horner, Jr. and his wife Donna and their families.

Gloria was preceded in death by her father, Richard, her daughter-in-law Victoria (David), and her two precious babies who at long-last are getting to know her loving embrace in heaven.

Mom was a blessing to us all and to every heart she has touched. She will be missed more than the stars in the sky, but her legacy of love will be carried forth in her name and will fill our hearts forever.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 6PM-8PM at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, 414 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. Funeral Services will be held at 11AM on Friday, May 24, 2019 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 929 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. Friends and family will be received from 10AM until the time of service. Interment will follow at St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, Lancaster, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, or Four Diamonds, www.fourdiamonds.org.