I'll be missing you...BOTH of you, Aunt Janet and Erma
So it seems that all of the good women die in April...or just the ones that I know. Yesterday, April 15th, was the five year anniversary of my great-aunt Janet's passing. As if that weren't bad enough, my mom just told me that Erma Pike (the woman I used to work with in the Good Samaritan Gift Shop who influenced me greatly) died on April 4th. Her funeral was April 9th and we didn't even know.
It wouldn't have really mattered because I couldn't have gotten home for it, but still. Erma was fantastic...I had a great time volunteering with her and I looked up to her a lot. Anyone that knows about my book from last year read a lot about her, because she made my experience at the Good Sam what it was. Although she was in a home these past few years, she led a long and full life.
Here is her obituary from the Lebanon Daily News:
Emma R. Pike
Emma R. Pike LEBANON Emma R. Pike, 86, of Cedar Haven, formerly of South Fifth Street, Lebanon, died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, in Cedar Haven. She was born October 19, 1920, in Lebanon, a daughter of the late John H. and Verdie V. Hartman Matthew. She was a member of St. Mark's United Church of Christ, 426 N. Eighth Street, Lebanon, PA 17046. She was a former Sunday school teacher at her church and had volunteered at The Good Samaritan Hospital for over 30 years. Surviving are daughter Nancy R., spouse of James F. Campbell of Lebanon; and son Charles V. Pike; brother Ray Matthew of Reading; sister Betty Richard of Lebanon; grandchildren Christopher Campbell and Lisa Campbell; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband Charles L. Pike on June 2, 1977. Viewing is scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2007, from 9-10 a.m. at St. Mark's United Church of Christ followed by services at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. Memorials can be sent to her church or Cedar Haven, 590 S. Fifth Avenue, Lebanon, PA 17042. Christman's Funeral Home Inc. has been entrusted to handle arrangements.
Published in the Lebanon Daily News on 4/6/2007.
Erma, we will miss you very much. Thank you for being in my life during the time that you were, I will treasure it always.
Aunt Janet, I miss you too, as I always will. Hopefully I'm making you both proud with the work I continue to do...but I get the feeling that you're both looking down happily.
Sorry this isn't up to my usual standard of writing...but it's...it's hard to put into words. I wish I could do better, but I think this is as good a tribute as I can get out now.
It wouldn't have really mattered because I couldn't have gotten home for it, but still. Erma was fantastic...I had a great time volunteering with her and I looked up to her a lot. Anyone that knows about my book from last year read a lot about her, because she made my experience at the Good Sam what it was. Although she was in a home these past few years, she led a long and full life.
Here is her obituary from the Lebanon Daily News:
Emma R. Pike
Emma R. Pike LEBANON Emma R. Pike, 86, of Cedar Haven, formerly of South Fifth Street, Lebanon, died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, in Cedar Haven. She was born October 19, 1920, in Lebanon, a daughter of the late John H. and Verdie V. Hartman Matthew. She was a member of St. Mark's United Church of Christ, 426 N. Eighth Street, Lebanon, PA 17046. She was a former Sunday school teacher at her church and had volunteered at The Good Samaritan Hospital for over 30 years. Surviving are daughter Nancy R., spouse of James F. Campbell of Lebanon; and son Charles V. Pike; brother Ray Matthew of Reading; sister Betty Richard of Lebanon; grandchildren Christopher Campbell and Lisa Campbell; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband Charles L. Pike on June 2, 1977. Viewing is scheduled for Monday, April 9, 2007, from 9-10 a.m. at St. Mark's United Church of Christ followed by services at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. Memorials can be sent to her church or Cedar Haven, 590 S. Fifth Avenue, Lebanon, PA 17042. Christman's Funeral Home Inc. has been entrusted to handle arrangements.
Published in the Lebanon Daily News on 4/6/2007.
Erma, we will miss you very much. Thank you for being in my life during the time that you were, I will treasure it always.
Aunt Janet, I miss you too, as I always will. Hopefully I'm making you both proud with the work I continue to do...but I get the feeling that you're both looking down happily.
Sorry this isn't up to my usual standard of writing...but it's...it's hard to put into words. I wish I could do better, but I think this is as good a tribute as I can get out now.