Jean Ann Hammer

Activist, Generous, Helpful, Organizer, Pro-Life, Religious Jean Ann Hammer, 73, of Erie and formerly of 935 East 28th St., died Wednesday March 31, 2010 at her residence on Florida Avenue after a three year courageous battle with cancer. A lifelong resident of Erie she was born on October 11, 1936 a daughter of the late Edward J. Hammer (1945) and Anna Held Hammer Hymers (1995) and a stepdaughter of the late Charles S. Hymers, Sr. (1958). Jean was a 1950 graduate of Holy Rosary School and a 1954 graduate of St. Benedict's Academy. She worked as a secretary with Copes-Vulcan for over 17 years, a few years in St. Vincent's Medical Records and as a medical coder at the former Dr. Gary Lyons Heart Specialist Group (C.V.T.S) for 25 years, retiring in October 2001. She was a member of St. Joseph Bread of Life Community and the Perpetual Adoration Group and a former member of Holy Rosary Church in which she was a member of the choir and rosary society for over 20 years and was also the co-chairperson for the H.R. 75th Anniversary Dinner and Commemorative Booklet. Jean was Treasurer of People for Life as well as the co-chairperson for the Mother's Day Carnation Project for over 20 years. This long, challenging and time-consuming fundraising project was done at her home. Each year this involved the planning and distribution of about 30,000 carnations to 100 churches and the making of 700-800 corsages. She also helped to organize many of People for Life's activities such as the January Prayer Breakfasts, the Washington D.C. March for Life Bus Trips and many of the political demonstrations and rallies. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation from whom she received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, the National Right to Life Committee, a local coordinator for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation Political Action Committee, and the Shield of Roses Prayer Group. She was also a Republican Committeewoman. Jean cared for her mother for over 20 years, of which Anna was bedridden for about 16 of those years. She proved she was pro-life. Jean, being such a caring person, enjoyed helping different senior citizens who required assistance by taking them various places. Also, for a number of years during the Christmas holiday seasons, she would visit a number of known residents of nursing homes and give them a gift. Jean was extremely generous- during a year she would contribute many times to several worthwhile causes and organizations, especially to her church weekly collections and special appeals. Jean proved many times and in many ways that she was a true Christian and a devout Catholic, she practiced her religion by attending Mass and receiving Communion every day; said a daily rosary and numerous prayers and also attended many other types of religious services, novenas, etc. She was a true witness for Christ by being so caring, helpful, generous and yet, so humble. Very often Jean felt the power of all the prayers offered for her over the years of her many medical problems. Special thanks to the Great Lakes Hospice Team of Sister Colette and Susan Kuhar and the Erie Regional Cancer Center; to dear cousin Patte, nephew, Pat and wife Jo Ellen, dear friend, Peg Mitchell and for all prayers said, visits made and cards sent to Jean. In addition to her parents and step-father, she was preceded in death by one sister, Mary E. Hammer Shickler (1999), one brother, Robert F. Hammer (2005); and two nieces, Margaret "Peg" Shickler and Kathleen Shickler in infancy. Jean was the fourth family member to die from cancer. Survivors include two brothers, John A. "Jack" Hammer and his wife Marjorie of LaMesa, Calif., and Edward L. Hammer of Erie, whom she lived with; a brother-in-law, George O. Shickler of Erie; a step-brother, Lt. Col. Charles S. Hymers, Ret. of Ft. Belvoir, Va.; four nieces and seven nephews, Judith Bagwell, John A. Hammer, Jr. of El Cajon, Calif., Heidi Peterson and her husband James of Florissant, Colo., George "Pat" Shickler and his wife Jo Ellen of Harborcreek, Gerard Shickler and wife Leslie of North East, Brian Shickler and his wife Lynn of Edinboro, Joanne Harof and her husband Edward, Sr. of Williamsville, N.Y., Timothy Shickler of Erie, Mary Grace Wilson and her husband Don of Cranberry, Pa., John Power-Shickler and his wife Amber of Silver Springs, Md., Daniel Hammer and his wife Juanita of Sandy, Utah; a dear cousin, Patricia "Patte" Connolly and her husband Daniel of Erie; and several other cousins; 14 great nephews; 12 great nieces; three great-great nephews; and five great-great nieces. Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Road, on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Tuesday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited to prayer services there on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Bread of Life Community at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Bread of Life Community, 147 West 24th St., Erie, 16502; People for Life, Inc., 1625 W. 26th St., Erie, 16508; or St. Mark's Seminary Auxiliary, 429 E. Grandview Blvd, Erie 16504. Please, please, honor Jean by not sending flowers.