Name: Calling hours for Gwendolyn Follweiler
Start: 2015-03-26T13:00:00.000Z
End: 2015-03-26T14:00:00.000Z
Location: Schoeneck Moravian Church

Follweiler, Gwendolyn Gwendolyn H. (Beil) Follweiler, 79, of Easton, formerly of Grove City and Nazareth, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 19, 2015 in her home after a long battle with cancer. She was the loving wife of the late Robert G. Follweiler who passed away in 2009. While together they shared 53 years of marriage. Born October 5, 1935, in Nazareth, she was the daughter of the late Lester and Anna (Kolb) Beil. In her youth, local residents knew Gwen as the "Nazareth Nightingale" from her live singing appearances on local radio in the 50's. She was a graduate of Moravian Preparatory School (1953) and a Practical Nurse graduate from the Bryan School of Nursing (1956). Gwen was not only a loving wife and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, but also worked throughout her life at Orr's, Gracedale, Magnetic Windings, H&R Plastics, and retired from Binney & Smith after 10 years of service. She also found time to volunteer at Head Start. Gwen enjoyed spending time with her family and her English Springer, Daisy, bowling, vacationing at Shawnee-on-the-Delaware, and cooking. She was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Dale Earnhart, Jr. NASCAR fan. Gwen was a member of Schoeneck Moravian Church in Nazareth where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She was also a former member of St. John's United Church of Christ. Survivors: Gwen is survived by two sons, Dent R. and his wife Cindy of Wind Gap, and Keith G. and his wife Karen of Allentown. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Dent II, Dana, Kristy (Hoadley), Kathleen (Mashintonio), Keith and Kolten; five great-grandchildren, Brett, Andrew, Mia Bella, Kaeloni, Oliviah and Donovan; four step-grandchildren, Amy, Nicki, Bruce, and Joy; and seven step-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, Robert, she was predeceased by a grandson, Brett, and a brother, Winburt Beil. Services: Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, March 26, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Schoeneck Moravian Church, 316 North Broad St. Ext., Nazareth. A Memorial Service will follow at 10:00 a.m. in the church, with the Rev. Terry Folk presiding. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery, Hecktown. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Schmidt Funeral Home, 407 Belvidere Street, Nazareth. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Gwen's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3893 Adler Place, Suite 170, Bethlehem PA, 18017; the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA, 18042; or to the charity of one's choice. Please visit a tribute page in honor of Gwen at www.schmidtfuneralhomepc.com.

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Published by Morning Call on Mar. 22, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Gwendolyn Follweiler

Sponsored by Schmidt Funeral Home, P.C. - Nazareth.

14 Entries

March 27, 2015

To the Follweiler Family--Our sincere condolences on the passing of your Mother,Gwen. She was a dear friend to my Mother (Mildred Weidlick) while she was her roommate at SBMC (Room 206). Mother has many fond memories of Gwen. Our sincere deep sympathy is extended to your family.

Dent & Keith Follweiler

March 27, 2015

Dent & Keith's Talk with Mom at her Celebration of Life Service at Schoeneck Moravian Church-Thursday, March 26th, 2015

{DENT}

Good Morning! On Behalf of Keith, I and our Families we would like to thank all of you for sharing in Mom's, Nana's and Gwendolyn's Celebration of Life. Thank You and may you all be Blessed today and always. Now Keith and I would like to share our Talk with Mom with all of You.
Mom, all that we are and could ever hope to be, we owe to you our Angel Mom. We owe so much to youfrom taking care of us when we were younger to always being there for us over the years. There was no way that we could ever repay you for all the sacrifices you made. All we could ever hope and pray for was to be the sons you would always be proud of, just as much as we were proud of you.
You were always there for us, Momand even when you were not feeling well, you still were taking care of us and making sure we were okay. Then again, that was typical of youno matter how sick you might have felt at times, you always thought of others and asked if there was anything you could do.
Mom, we will miss you; and thank you for all of the lessons you bestowed upon us as kids and throughout our lives as we became parents and grandparents ourselves. We always did things together: as young boys we would always ask; Mommy can I help?, and you would always give us something to do. As we grew older this did not change but evolved with age. We always enjoyed our private time together reflecting on our past and family experience, discussing family concerns and in the last few years your life and medical challenges. You always lived life to the fullest and taught us to do so also. Mom no matter how tired, busy or challenged; you still found time to be a loving/devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Thank you.

{KEITH}

And, thank you for the fond memories which we will never forget and will pass along to our children in intricate detail, of course, as we are both lengthy story tellers just like Dad. We will cherish the time we spent and memories we have from Nana & Pappy's cabin, the vacations to the New Jersey shore, Gettysburg, Niagara Falls, Canada, the New England road trip, Fort McHenry, and of course Fort Ticonderoga. And yes mom, for the final and 100th time, it's Fort Ticonderoga, not Tigodgula, Tirungga, or Tigogoga. We shared together many fond laughs and memories about that and other unique ways you had of pronouncing some things.
And to be honest Mom, we spend the entire time as kids during the New England road trip looking through the AAA Tour book ensuring the motel we were going to stay at each night had a pool. And we were disappointed when your white glove inspections of EVERY motel each night didn't meet your approval at those that had a beautiful pool for us to swim. Although we are grateful that you ensured we stayed in clean, top-notch motels. We do share your interest in clams, lobster, steak sandwiches, Canada Dry ginger ale, Kentucky Fried chicken, and especially, Jimmy's Hot Dogs. Just mustard, onions, and a dill pickle wrapped in that special paper, and a small 7-UP. And, unlike Dad, we too savor a good Miller Highlife beer just like you; only from a bottle of course, or as you put it the champagne of bottled beers. But we still don't believe you actually drank 12 Manhattans no matter how many times you tell that story.
And Mom, we forgot to tell you, we have grown up a bit since we were your little boys and no longer fight or tease each other in the back seat over the last McDonald French fry. We were though, so excited, and told the whole neighborhood, the first time you took us to Burger King. We can still taste the first Whopper (with cheese of course). Oh, and those make-your-own-hoagie and make-your-own-sundae nights were our favorites growing up; even though we had to fight with Dad to get any ice cream. And of course, the home made pizzas we actually prepared before you and Dad came home from bowling on Sunday nights. And then we could eat the pizza with you and Dad, staying up late and watching the Smothers Brothers show on TV. Thank you for those and many other fond memories.
Thank you Mom for being such a great Pennsylvania Dutch cook. The apple pies, filling balls, fried chicken and cucumber salad were our favorites; we will never be able to replicate their special taste and love that went into them. Especially the jello with fruit cocktail and chocolate pudding that never seemed to last in the refrigerator. We know that you loved to cook and that if wasn't homemade, then it wasn't good. You would always ask, Did you make it from scratch?
Mom, thanks for making sure we never walked away from a meal still hungry. As Dad would say, Are you cooking for an Army? We were though big eaters, as you would say, and in our teens there were no leftovers as we fought to get that last pork chop.
Thanksgiving and Christmas at the house were so special to us; and the meal was similar to that from a Norman Rockwell painting. Although we won't miss having the left overs warmed up every night for dinner for an entire week or that Florence Hansford's cranberry turkey casserole; What's for dinner Mom? we would ask. We have to eat up the leftovers! you would say.
Oh, and that reminds us, we confess, we did make and eat most of the porterhouse and T-bone steaks from that side of beef you and Dad bought, for our early dinners a couple of times each week after school. Aired out the oven, hid the garbage, and cleaned up all the dishes prior to you coming home from work. And that's why we weren't that hungry every so often. But no one could make chicken like you! Thank you for being such a great cook.
Mom, thanks for sharing with us the story of how you became known as the Nazareth Nightingale. Your singing voice was truly amazing; we remember it's beauty looking up at you as you sang the hymns at the early 8:00am service you dragged us to each Sunday at St. John's UCC. And yes Mom, we tell everyone they should open their mouth wide to sing properly.
Mom, thanks for keeping our house so clean and tidy while we were growing up; you truly made our house a home. You were world renowned as having the Cleanest Home in the World. As many family members and friends would say, Gwen what are doing, cleaning clean? But that never stopped you and no morsel of dust or cobweb ever escaped you! You did the typical semi-annual house cleaning every week. You were, as you put it, immaculate. While we didn't appreciate you leaving the vacuum cleaner running outside our bedrooms at 7:00 in the morning each Saturday to wake us up as when we were growing up, we did appreciate you allowing us to help, or as you put it, Putting us to work. As a result, we both have a strong work ethic that transcends our careers and family life.
Oh, and before we forget, when you talk to Dad in Heaven, be sure to tell him that his sons communicate via texting each other over the phone. Not faxing each other as that would be confusing to him.

{DENT}

Mom, no laundry escaped you and until you moved back to the Lehigh Valley, you would hang your wash out on a daily basis..the dryer, like the Dishwasher a.k.a. the Bread Box, was only used in extreme circumstances. In fact, in our teens sometimes we would hide our clothes from you fearing they would wear out from frequent washing.
As we prepared to go off to college, you taught us to always separate our clothes-whites, colors and miscellaneous and of course towels separately. But honestly since we were paying for each load we actually stuffed as much as we could in each load mixing our whites, colors, etc. sorry Mom.
I also recall, whilst working at Victaulic, that I would awake to find my slacks and dress shirt laundered, pressed and ready to wear from the day before. I chuckled inside and said to you many times that I would really only need one pair of slacks and dress shirt with multiple ties for the office, because you would have everything laundered/pressed/starched and ready to go on a daily basis.
Because of you, our clothes always smelled good clean and fresh-We can still smell it. Mom as far white laundry is concerned; no one could get a tee shirt as white as you could! But we are still not sure what to do with 10 gallons of bleach we still have left from your move from Grove City five years ago from the original 29 gallons you had at the house there.
Mom, thanks for sharing your ceramics with us. It gives us many remembrances of you from something your hands and heart created. You created many beautiful pieces and decorations-never typically for sale but as remembrances, gifts and for our own display over the various holidays in our homes. We will treasure them, and they will be something we can pass down in our families as remembrances of you. We can hear someone saying many years from now, Your great-great-great-great grandmother made this and that's why I am passing it down to you. We are sure you will be looking down from above and will hear it too.

Mom, we too share the same desires in eating out as you and Dad did with our families. Thanks for letting us experience that when we were growing up. We know how you loved to go to Snydersville Diner (Beeseckers), Shady Maple, Cook's Corner, Mivajo's, Jimmy's, Detzi's Tavern, Eat n Park, KFC, Pizza Hut, and especially Beck's. Like you, we too love a good lobster tail. You thought of eating out as an experience and event, and enjoyed eating out.
Mom, thanks for setting such a fine example for us and our families to follow as a devout Christian; reading your devotions, scriptures and saying your prayers on a daily basis. We know how much you enjoyed Sunday and Holiday worship and festivities here at Schoeneck Moravian Church, and how you especially looked forward to the rummage sales. In fact, we even made sure that some of your belongings made it to the rummage sale they are having this Saturday.
Mom I have a question for you: Who am I going to call on a daily basis now? Who am I going to visit? Or even shop for, as you call me in the store to add a few more items? Mom, I will certainly miss you and always love you more than words could ever describe!
A day does not go by that we do not reflect on how truly blessed we were to have an amazing Mom like you. Mom, you were always an Angel to us, and all that we are and ever hope to be we owe to you. You are forever in our heart and we know right now you are looking down upon us and feeling very, very proud that we are your sons.
Mom, we trust you have reconnected in Heaven with Dad, or in your words, your soul mate Bob. We are proud to have been your sons and can only hope that we have lived up to your expectations. Although we may have kidded you many times, we admired and respected your life that was centered on family and especially Dad or your soul mate & husband(Bob)..Cleaning, Cooking and Washing till your heart's content.

{DENT & KEITH}

Mom, we will miss you.
Your loving sons.
Dent, your Big bad son ..
and Keith, your baby.
Til we meet again..

DIANE FILER

March 25, 2015

RIP MY FRIEND -- THANK YOU FOR THE PRECIOUS MEMORIES I WILL CHERISH EVERY ONE OF THEM

Joy (Williams) Marshall

March 24, 2015

Dent, My condolences, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in the loss of your Mother.

Sharon Scrafano

March 23, 2015

I will miss grooming Daisy and driving her home. I enjoyed chatting with Gwen. She was such a lovely woman.

Kristy Follweiler-Hoadley

March 23, 2015

RIP Nana. We may not have seen each other all that much but you were always in my heart. I will miss you and your spunk so much! You can now be with Brett and Pappy, and keep them in line. With love always!

March 23, 2015

To the mother of my best friend in High School and still a close friend todayyou did a wonderful job with your family..forever the "Heyer's"

March 22, 2015

Keith, Karen & family,
Our thoughts & prayers are with you. We are so sorry for your loss.
Lynn Barilla & family

Dent Follweiler

March 22, 2015

To my beloved Nana, I will truly miss you. I'm going miss our lengthy phone conversations, your bright spirit and your Betty White attitude. I know deep down this is what you wanted to be with Pappy and Brett again. I know they say all good things eventually come to an end, and you lived an amazing life. I will be sharing those fond memories with Brett and Andrew. We will never forget you! I am also going to miss your fruit and jello cups. Because you made them and "Nana always makes it the best" I have always said. I love you and will miss you deeply.

RIP My Betty White aka Nana

Jim and Nancy Miller

March 21, 2015

Dent,
So sorry to learn of the passing of your mother. Nancy and I send our condolences.

Melisande Rush

March 21, 2015

Gwen was a wonderful neighbor who always had a smile. I will miss our chats and Daisy too. My sympathies to her family.

Cathy Gonzalez

March 21, 2015

To The Follweiler Family So sorry for your loss prayers to the entire family during this difficult time god will guide you all Gwen durning the small time I knew you you was an amazing woman and I enjoyed all our conversations i will cherish all the memories God has gained another angel R.I.P. Gwen Intil we meet again Gone But Not Forgotton.

Melisande Rush

March 21, 2015

What a wonderful neighbor Gwen was! She always had a smile and loved decorating her home! She fought a brave battle against her illness and amazed me with her strength! I will miss her and Daisy! My sympathies to her family.

dana follweiler

March 21, 2015

Nana , may you R.I.P. I love u and miss u so very much. I know you are no longer in pain and are happy again . You are the best Nana anyone ever could ask for and you will be forever missed love always and forever your chocolate eyes , dana renee, richie, miabella,& kaeloni

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