Obituaries

Susan “Susie” Baer, 88

Susan “Susie” Baer, 88, Lancaster, residing in Olde Hickory Village and, more recently, Country Meadows Retirement Community succumbed to cancer on March 1, 2012 at Hospice of Lancaster County Essa Flory Center.

Born in Vienna, Austria on July 8, 1923 to the late Max and Luise (Rosenfeld) Stein.  Settled here in 1940 via England through the Kindertransport refugee children’s movement.

Susie was the wife of the late Walter N. Baer of Lancaster.

She graduated from Hope High School in Providence, RI.

Susie was a retired licensed practical nurse from Conestoga View Nursing Home and a nursery school teacher.

An active member of the Lancaster Hiking Club and Congregation Shaarai Shomayim where she served as President of the Temple sisterhood and Hadassah.  A volunteer for the Fulton Opera House, Lancaster Walking Tour Guide, Lancaster Opera Company Auxiliary, Lancaster AARP Choir, Meals on Wheels, and the Senior Olympics.

Survived by her children, Peggy Dixon, wife of William, of Foxboro, MA, Peter Baer of Montreal, QC, Pamela Weinberg, wife of Alan, of Harrisburg, PA and Perry Baer, husband of Ann, of Chalfont, PA. Also, survived by five grandchildren, Nathan, David, Mandy, Beth, and Jessie Weinberg.

Funeral Services will be held TODAY Friday, March 2, 2012 at 10AM at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 3110 Lititz Pike Lititz, PA 17543 with Rabbai Jack Paskoff officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30-10AM. Interment will follow in Shaarai Shomayim Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Susie’s memory to the Fulton Opera House, 12 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 or Hospice of Lancaster County, P.O. Box 4125 Lancaster, PA 17604 or Temple Shaarai Shomayim, N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602.

Shiva will be observed Sunday through Tuesday from 2-5PM and from 7-9PM at the home of Alan and Pam Weinberg, Harrisburg, PA with Minyan at 7PM each evening. To send the family an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100.

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I am so sorry for your loss. Susie was a very dear friend. We had many good times together hiking, vacationing and sharing meals. I shall always remember her delicious potato pancakes and the tea we served together at her home with her beautiful teapots. I will cherish the memories.

Jean Schopf

I met your mother this fall on a trip to the Philadelphia Symphony. She told me about her childhoods in Vienna. I admired her and was very glad to know her. I was away in February and was sad to learn today of her passing.

With sympathy,

Molly Milner

To the Children and grandchildren of Susie Baer ….
We have lived here in Millersville just over 33 years — Sandy Fruitman introduced us to Susie — we used to go to the Greek dinners together, and brought them to her house on State Street, and all of us ate together.  She was such a role model — she was involved in so many things, hiking, AARP Chorus, The Fulton, The SVA — she never stood still for a minute, she had energy and grace, kindness and warmth, and I will miss her.  She had such vitality and a good outlook.  If more people could be that way what a wonderful world we’d have.
Please accept our heartfelt condolences, I regret we were unable to pay a Shiva call.  May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion, and may your wonderful memories carry you through this difficult loss.
                        
Sincerely, 
Barney and Evelyn Epstein

My deepest sympathy on the passing of Susie.  I had the pleasure of ushering with Susie at the Fulton Theatre for many years and always appreciated her ready smile and pleasant personality. 
Joan Fyock Norris

Having known Susie since 1960 as "Mrs. Baer", the active mother of my schoolmate Peggy, I then remember meeting Susie so many times in later years while at Central Market or when she was on her regular walks in our State Street neighborhood.  Her cheerful smile beaming on her face, she would bring me up to date with the news of Peggy, Pam, Peter, and Perry.
Susie gave so much joy to so many people.  This world has lost an angel.
My heartfelt sympathy to you all.

Louise Ryan Carpenter

My condolences on the loss of your family matriarch.
I knew Susie as a Fulton Usher. (One night I was attempting to catch up with her to ask for a ride home.  I never caught up with her!)
And as a friend of OperaLancaster.  She was a very dear person.
Bonita Reed

Geehrte Familie Baer,
mit Susie haben auch wir einen liebenswerten Menschen verloren. Auch aus dem oesterreichischen Raum stammend, verband uns eine herzliche Freundschaft, soowhl im Briefwechsel, als auch bei unseren Besuchen in Lancaster, für die wir ihr sehr dankbar sind.
Wir trauern mit Ihnen
Renate und Walther Nimmrichter
Esslingen am Neckar, Germany

My husband Arthur and I sang with Susie in the AARP Chorus, and on occasion I carpooled with her and others to chorus rehearsals.   She also attended many of the Musical Art Society programs, where we had other opportunities to visit with her.  We always enjoyed spending time and sharing activities with Susie, and we send our sympathy to her loved ones.  We were glad to know her, and we send along our prayers at this time.   
Tana Pratt.

Thank you, Susie, for all your years of involvement in the Musical Art Society of Lancaster. Your contribution was valuable and will be missed.

Condolences to your children and family.

Your Friends at the Musical Art Society of Lancaster

I would like to send condolences to the family of Susan Bear. I fondly remember living next door to her and her family on State St. She was a friendly and kind neighbor and I enjoyed talking with her when we lived on State St. and later after moving away when I would see her at a concert or other Lancaster event. My mother also very much enjoyed having her as a neighbor. I am very glad to have had the privilege of knowing such a fine woman.

Janice(Falk)Herman (and Joe(Mike)Herman)

Your mother was a wonderful woman.  She was energetic, always on the go, lived life to the fullest, and yet always found time for all of us.  I am glad she was part of my life these last five years.  I miss her.  JWSchaufert@aol.com

I am so glad I got to know Susie. She was quite a lady!  When my husband, John Knoble, was to begin doing Lancaster Walking Tours, she was the one who took him on a tour to show him what it was like — and I got to go along. Since then we have kept in touch, exchanging Hanukkah and Christmas cards, and I enjoyed a visit with her in her apartment at Olde Hickory Village. I know you, her family, will miss her, but I also know you will have many happy memories to make you smile.

Barbara Knoble

Your mother was one of my dearest friends from the time I moved to Lancaster in 1966 and met her and your father through our mutual friends, Fred and Lore Homburger. We spent many occasions together, at plays, the opera, at dinners at your home on State Street and at my various homes in Lancaster and Millersville. Your mother was so much fun to be with and we hand some wonderful conversations and times together. We also reminisced about our earlier lives, hers in Vienna and mine in Dortmund, Germany. After my move to a retirement home in Florida, I tried to get together with her whenever I came back to Lancaster and was fortunate enough to see her at a luncheon not long ago, at the end of December 2011. My sincere sympathy goes to all of you. I know how deep her ties to you and her love for you were. She will be missed by all who were lucky enough to get to to know her.

REYNOLD (REY) KOPPEL

Our most heartfelt condolences on Susie’s passing.  She was always a joy to be around, and stood out as a shining example of what it means to be a Mensch.  We will both miss her.

Steve and Kate Johnson

We are so sorry that we missed the opportunity to be with your family today. Susie was a wonderful inspiration and a joy to be with. We were members of the Chavarah and knew her from  the Temple. Her smile and positive attitude will be missed by many.
Diane and Stu Fleishman

In the almost 50 years since I moved to Lancaster, Susie Baer has been someone I was very happy to encounter- at F&M or the Fulton Opera House or anywhere in town.  I send my deepest sympathy to her children and grandchildren, who were so fortunate to enjoy her warmth and love for so many years.

Pauline Leet Pittenger

Dear Friends;

I don’t know how Lancaster will do without Susie!  She was a part of almost every worthwhile activity there.  I came to know Susie through the North Museum, where she was a faithful volunteer and where she participated in many North Museum Rambles. I always enjoyed her energy, her humor and her irreplaceable personality.

with deep sympathy,
Sally Jarvis (retired, former Assistant Director of the North Museum)

Dear Baer Family: I will truly miss Susie and send you all my deepest condolences. Every time I saw her at the Fulton and around town, she was always full of cheer and treated me like I was the most special person in her life. I know our patrons felt the same way. On behalf of all of us at the Fulton, please accept our love and thanks for sharing such a special person with us.
Fondly,
Aaron A. Young
Managing Director
Fulton Opera House

I am sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in knowing that God is "near to those that are broken at heart; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves." (Psalm 34;18) With sympathy,

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