Nana-Marie Gernerd

1938 - 2018

Nana-Marie [Nan] Pessina Gernerd, 80, passed away on Tuesday, August 28th, 2018. Born on February 20, 1938, Nana-Marie entered this world in Allentown, PA. Her parents, Reno and Claire [Peters] Pessina, created her original name by combining parts of their mothers' names. Nan graduated from Allentown High School, but not without making her mark as an athlete, a cheerleader and an avid lover of reading and history. Shortly after high school, Nana-Marie married William J. Gernerd. Bill and Nan lived in Wurzburg, Germany at the beginning of their marriage. Their son, Douglas, was born while they lived in Germany. When they returned to the States, Nan began her long work career, first at PP&L and then at Lehigh Portland Cement. Four years after their son Douglas was born, their daughter, Karen, followed. It was around this time that Nan became a bank teller for Merchants Bank in Fogelsville. Nan's banking career spanned close to 30 years, ending her career as an Assistant Branch Manager for the Fogelsville branch of Wells Fargo Bank. Nan also supported her husband Bill's devotion to the Fogelsville Volunteer Fire Company, serving as a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary. Over the past several years, Nan loved meeting with former classmates from both her class, the 56ers, and Bill's class from Parkland. She and Bill also took many cruises over their 56 years together. Most of all, however, Nan's passions were reading, Turner Classic Movies and her family. Nan would finish several books a week, all with the TCM channel playing in the background. She was a wealth of historical trivia and knowledge. She also loved her family. Functioning as the matriarch over the past 20 years, she was intent on ensuring that we all stayed together, a promise she made to her mother. Survivors: Son, Douglas W. and wife, Cheri of Orefield; daughter, Karen M. Beerer, wife of James Beerer of Durham; grandchildren: Jamie I. Gieraga and husband Kris; Adam Gernerd; Evan Ochs and husband Matt; John Rice, Kelsey and Kendall Beerer; great-grandchildren: Caiden, Dominik, Ava and Camden; sister: Susan Fenstermaker and her husband Tim, brothers, Russell E. Pessina and his wife, Barbara and Michael W. Pessina and his wife, Shelley, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, Reno and Claire Pessina. Services: 11 A.M., Saturday, Sept. 1, at St. John's Lutheran Church, 1028 Church Street, Fogelsville, with the Rev. Nelson Quinones officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 7:30 on Friday, August 31, at Keller Funeral Homes, Inc., 1018 Church St., Fogelsville and Saturday, from 10 to 11 A.M. in the Church. Entombment will be at Grandview Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Online Condolences may be offered to the family at www.KellerFuneralHomes.com Contributions: In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Angela Rene Pessina Foundation Fund, in memory of Nan's loving niece, at Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, 840 W. Hamilton Street, Suite 310, Allentown, PA, 18101 or Fox Chase Cancer Center at www.foxchase.org.