Edith "DeDe" Gresham Laver

Edith "DeDe" Gresham Laver, 81, of Bethlehem, passed away on September 11th, 2025, at Arden Courts Old Orchard. Born on December 2nd, 1943 in Washington, DC, DeDe was the daughter of Emmet and Rebecca (Spaatz) Gresham, and the granddaughter of her adored grandfather, General Carl A. Spaatz.

DeDe was a proud graduate of Swarthmore College, and received her JD from the University of Pennsylvania. She was a lawyer for Bethlehem Steel Corporation for decades, and when she retired, she spent her time volunteering for many local organizations and babysitting her beloved grandchildren. She was a board member for both the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and New Bethany, and an enthusiastic volunteer with the yearly AAUW book fair. DeDe never shelved a book until she had read it, and the thousands of books in her bookcases are a testament to how much she loved to read. A founding member of Young Atheists and Agnostics in high school, DeDe was a lifelong atheist, and her belief that this was the only life she would have showed in how much she gave of herself to her community and her family.

She is survived and will be so missed by her daughters and sons-in-law, Rachel and Peter Sierk, and Rebecca and Jason Farrell; her grandsons, Jacob and Jameson Farrell; her sisters, Katharine and Rebecca Gresham; and her large extended family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Bethany, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, or the Alzheimer's Association. A Celebration of Life will be held on October 25th.