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Dorothy Kerstetter

Dear Colleagues,

The campus community mourns the passing of Dorothy Kerstetter, who died on Tuesday, August 14.  Dorothy retired from the finance office in 1999 after 18 years of service to Bucknell.

Included below is the complete text of the obituary, as provided by the family.

You are encouraged to visit our In Memoriam Site at bucknell.edu/InMemoriam and share personal notes of sympathy and remembrance with others.

On behalf of our entire University community, I extend our deepest sympathies to Dorothy’s family, as well as to all who knew her at Bucknell.

John C. Bravman
President

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Dorothy F. Kerstetter, 81, of rural Mifflinburg, died early Tuesday morning, Aug. 14, 2018, at her home near New Berlin.

She was born April 19, 1937, and raised in the Penns Creek area of Snyder County, a daughter of the late Irvin L. and Helen E. (Blackford) Kreamer and the granddaughter of Jacob Cramer and Amanda (Hoffman) Weller, and John Franklin Blackford and Clara (Dorman) Blackford.

On Jan. 16, 1954, she married Donald R. Kerstetter who survives. The couple were married for 64 years at the time of her passing. They raised three children, Richard A. Kerstetter of rural Mifflinburg, Sharon K. (Kerstetter) Herbster of Middleburg, and Jeffrey W. Kerstetter of rural Selinsgrove.

Also surviving are her son-in-law, Scott Herbster of Middleburg; five grandchildren whom, above all else, she cherished, Kelly Herbster and her fiance, Doug Martin, of Mechanicsburg, Renee Herbster of Middleburg, Yvonne (Herbster) Cherry and her husband, Steve, of Mechanicsburg, Dr. Trevor Kerstetter of Philadelphia, and Haley Kerstetter of Hattiesburg, Miss.; sister-in-law, Ruth Wert of Mifflinburg; sister-in-law, Delores Kerstetter of rural Lewisburg; sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Mardean Napp of Penns Creek; sister and brother-in- law, Pat and Jim Unger of Mifflinburg; sister-in-law, Lucille Kreamer of Troxelville; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friends, and former co-workers.

Dorothy was preceded in death by a son, Clair Irvin Kerstetter in infancy; and her brothers and sisters, Betty Kreamer, John Kreamer, Isabelle Walter, Christabell Keister, Lloyd Kreamer, Paul Kreamer, and Kenneth Kreamer.

Dorothy attended Penns Creek area schools and Middleburg Joint High School.

She worked at Walnut Acres in Penns Creek in the accounts receivable department for 13 1/2 years, and at Bucknell University in Lewisburg in the payroll department for 18 1/2 years, retiring in 1999. But her life’s work was her family and her kitchen. No one ever left her home hungry or in any way needy.

Dorothy was a woman of great faith and earlier in her life was affiliated with St. Paul’s United Methodist (formerly Evangelical United Brethren) Church in Penns Creek.

Although orphaned in early childhood, she grew to embody motherhood and was a loving and devoted grandmother. After her parents died, Dorothy lived with her older sisters and with several Penns Creek area families, for whom she performed domestic work. That experience profoundly shaped her personality and outlook, helping to develop her great empathy for those who also have suffered pain and loss.

The last two years of her life were eased markedly by the compassionate and professional care provided by Geisinger Home Health nurses and therapists, and by Evangelical Home Hospice, for which the family will be forever grateful.

In accordance with her wishes, a graveside service for the family will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Thomas Cemetery, Covered Bridge Road, Mount Pleasant Mills, with the Rev. Barry Rowe officiating.

Memorial gifts may be made in loving memory of Dorothy to the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, 100 N. Academy Ave., Danville, PA 17822.

The George P. Garman Funeral Homes Inc., 9366 Route 35, Mount Pleasant Mills have been entrusted with the arrangements.

 

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