Thelma S. Broadhecker

1931 - 2026

Thelma S. Broadhecker, age 94, passed away peacefully with the love of her family embedded in her heart on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at the St. Luke's Hospital - Upper Bucks Campus. Thelma was born on July 2, 1931, at home in Shelly, PA, to the late Ralph Skagen and Frances Skagen Chervenak. She was the wife of Donald Broadhecker, her high school sweetheart, for 51 years before his passing on February 11, 2001.  Thelma grew up on her grandparents’ farm in Coopersburg, attending one-room schoolhouses throughout the area, including Passer School. She attended Springfield High School (Now Springfield Elementary School), where she met the love of her life, Donald. During some of her high school years, she moved to Connecticut to live with her father and worked as an Au Pair for 3 young children, but she missed Donald too much and moved back to Coopersburg. Shortly after Graduation, they married and Thelma became very busy raising their 6 children in Springtown. 

Thelma was a fan of the Phillies and Eagles. She was involved in Donnie’s football pool, known as “Goose”, and she was the Grand Champion last year with her winning picks…she will always remain our champ. She was elated when the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Her favorite trips were to Disney World and visiting Diane in upstate New York. Above all, her greatest love in life was her family and spending time with them, whether at the dinner table, picnics, celebrating birthdays, or simply talking on the phone. 

She was a member of Christ Lutheran church in Springtown, where she was very well known both there and throughout the Community for contributing her baked goods to every bake sale that was held. She was the queen of making her famous cream puffs, fruit pies and cookies. Customers would wait in line for them to arrive from her kitchen. Her love for cooking and baking was evident in everything she made, including her favorite Norwegian Christmas bars and cake honoring her ancestry. Along with baking, her hobbies included crocheting doilies and quilts, putting puzzles together, floral and vegetable gardening and admiring her birds from her kitchen window as they fluttered around the bird feeder. 

Thelma affectionately known as Nana, was a woman of strength and compassion. From sunup to sundown, she worked tirelessly as a homemaker, raising her children and being the best wife, mother and grandmother. Her love was always in abundance and never-ending. 

Thelma is survived by her children: Diane Strock (Scott) of Honeoye Falls, NY; Thomas (Gloria) of Williams Township; Donald (Gwen) of High Bridge, NJ; Marie Bandi (Alex Jr.) of Williams Township; and Lee (Colleen) of Long Valley, NJ; nine grandchildren; Matt (Michele), Nicole (Andy), Jaime (Brian), Carrie (Jim), Jason (Kim), Christa, Ashley, Torey (Jay), and Chelsea; and fourteen Great-Grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her loving son, Jeff in 2017 and her 95-year-old sister, Dolores, who passed in October 2025. 

The Family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Butch Helm for his daily visits and welfare checks with Mom and for being her personal mailman. We are also grateful and appreciative of the loving and compassionate care that our mother and family received from the doctors and staff at St. Lukes Upper Bucks Campus. 

Family and friends are invited to call 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc. 326 Main Street – Hellertown followed by the service at 11:00 a.m.  The interment will conclude services at Springtown Cemetery, Springfield Twp.  A funeral repast will be held at the Carriage House at Heintzelmans, immediately following the interment. To share an expression of sympathy with this family, please visit www.heintzelmancares.com.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, PO Box 216, Springtown, PA 18081.