Charlotte Wayman Hennen

1928 - 2017

As of the morning of February 18, 2017, Charlotte Hennen is able to sing again with her full soprano voice, she is able to stand up straight again, no longer having multiple compression fractures in her spine, she is able to walk fast again, and she is able to be with her beloved husband again. She is rejoicing, but those left behind grieve their loss of her in this life.

Charlotte was born September 9, 1928 in West Virginia and she left her tired body behind on Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the age of 88.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Donald Hennen in 1991 and her parents, Robert and Anna Wayman.

Charlotte is survived by her son, Rev. Wayne Hennen and his wife Carol, of Albion, one granddaughter, Melissa Hennen Uzzo, her husband Adam Uzzo and her great-grandson, who will be making his appearance any day. She is further survived by her sister, Sylvia Green and her brother, David Wayman (Christine). She is also survived by a dear friend, Gary Blood whose help, along with many others, enabled her to remain living independently in her own home.

Charlotte grew up in the Lincoln Place section of Pittsburgh, Pa., where she graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School and sang in their "A" choir. She traveled by street car on Saturdays into Pittsburgh where she would sing on a radio program. One of her favorite places to work in Pittsburgh was in the Cathedral of Learning for the University of Pittsburgh, where she could watch the Pirates playing at Forbes Field with her binoculars, while listening on the radio. She was an avid Pittsburgh Hornets (now Penguins) fan, watching them practice in the frozen over street car garage, attending their games, visiting players in the hospital when they were injured, and even having a couple of the players to the family home for dinner. She continued to follow the Penguins, Pirates, and Steelers from her hometown throughout her life.

Charlotte met her husband, Donald, while attending Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts, but they did not begin dating until years later when he came to her home church to preach and her family had the young preacher over for Sunday dinner. They married on December 30, 1952 in Pittsburgh. In 1953, he became the pastor of the Albion Church of the Nazarene and they began ministering to the community. Charlotte worked in the office at Northwestern School District prior to returning to college to earn her degree in library science. She then became the librarian at Northwestern Elementary, where she retired in September 1990.

Charlotte accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior as a child and had faithfully served God throughout her life. She and her husband served the Albion Church of the Nazarene together for 38 years and she continued to serve the church as "Pastor's Wife Emeritus" until her health began to limit her ability to get around. She taught the Bible study at the Dovensky Senior Center and sang in the RSVP Chorus in Erie until just a few years ago. Wherever she went around town she was loving the people of Albion, whether it be at the bank, grocery store, drug store, or wherever she went. After she could no longer drive and became homebound, she continued to love and minister to anyone who came to her home, as well as those she spoke with on the phone.

During these last several years many wonderful people returned Charlotte's love by ministering to her as she had done for so many others, by bringing her meals, helping to take care of her house, cleaning, doing her shopping and laundry, and calling to check on her regularly. Because of this, she was able to continue living in her own home beyond what might have been expected.

She lived her faith and loved people. She invested her life into others and has left a legacy of many people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and now are winning others to Christ. She relied on God to meet all of her needs and to protect her. With His help she adjusted to losing her husband and then to losing much of her mobility. She was determined not to complain, even though living in pain in recent years. She remained positive and an encouragement to many. She loved to sing and is now in heaven singing, "Through it all, Through it all, Oh, I've learned to trust in Jesus. I've learned to trust in God! Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word." (Andre Crouch)

Her earthly body will be returned to West Virginia, but her spirit is with God, and her influence will be felt on this earth for many years to come.

Memorials may be made to Albion Church of the Nazarene, PO Box 95, 9578 US Rte. 6N, Albion, PA 16401.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. at the Albion Church of the Nazarene, located four miles west of Albion, Pa., on Route 6N. Refreshments will be available during the calling hours. The Service of Celebration will follow at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be at Oak Forest Cemetery, Hundred, West Virginia, on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. The Mattera Funeral Home, 188 East State Street, Albion, is handling the funeral arrangements. To send flowers, light a memory candle or leave a condolence, please visit www.matterafuneralhome.com.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits