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Ernestine Loeb Hammel Urken passed away in the early morning hours of Jan. 13. She was born Oct. 24, 1925, in Reading. Ernie was a daughter of Rena Ehrlich Loeb Goodman and Milton S. Loeb. Ernie was a daughter, a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, a great friend and human being. She was the loving wife of two wonderful husbands, Simon E. Hammel and Karl Urken, both of whom predeceased her. She raised her family in Pottsville, and, after marrying Karl in 1978, she moved to Ewing Township, N.J. As the mother of four sons, she was busy with the activities of raising them, such as education, sports, scouting and providing for a traditional Jewish family life. She was active in many areas of civic and religious life. Ernie referred to herself as a professional volunteer. She was active with organizations related to her religion in both Pottsville and New Jersey. She was president of Sisterhood of Oheb Zedeck Synagogue and national vice president of the Synagogue's Women's League. She was on the board of her New Jersey Synagogue, Adath Israel, where she had various leadership roles. Ernie was the first president of Pottsville Religious Council and was also president of Pottsville Rotary Club auxiliary, Torray Club. After moving to New Jersey, she continued her civic activities. This included American Red Cross, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Mercer County Child Development Center, reading to children at Head Start and others. Ernie was so active in these and other organizations that she was the recipient of the Jefferson Award, a national award for outstanding community and public service, sponsored by The Times, Trenton. She served as a role model and passed her trait of being civic minded and helping to repair the world along to her family. Ernestine's son, Lee, predeceased her. Surviving from both families are her three sons, Victor (Dena), Robert (Bonnie), Steven (Renee), and daughter-in-law, Martha. Also surviving are two stepdaughters, Suzi (Richard) Troll, Patty (Adolf) Herst; a stepson, Paul Urken; 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. A virtual memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17. Visit the online obituary page of Lord-Bixler Funeral home www.LordBixler.com for a Zoom link to view the service. Her burial will be in Oheb Zedeck Synagogue Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to Adath Israel, 1958 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, or a . Lord-Bixler Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com.
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