Lois Bartlett

June 2, 1936 – August 31, 2025

Lois Ann Sherburne Bartlett entered into eternal life August 31, 2025. She leaves behind three children: MaryEllen Beltracchi of Parker, CO, married to Todd Beltracchi, and mother of grandchildren Ronan and Philip; Sara Schmehl of Enola, PA, married to Mike Schmehl and mother of grandchild Meredith; and Chuck Bartlett of Sinking Spring, PA, married to Jeanne DeFilippis Bartlett and father of grandchildren Sam (father of great grandchild, Austin) and Mia.

She was pre-deceased by husband Gordon Bartlett and siblings Sara Sherburne Eckl and Bud Sherburne, and is survived by siblings John Sherburne, Mary Sherburne Ezell, Sue Sherburne Doell (Terry) and Nan Sherburne Heath (Robert), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Lois was born in Potsdam, NY on June 2, 1936, the third child of Frank Wright Sherburne and Dorothy Steinburg Sherburne. Lois graduated from Potsdam High School in 1954 and while a student there was active in Girl Scouting, as well as music – playing the violin and French horn and singing in the choir. She then graduated from SUNY Potsdam in 1958, earning a BS in Elementary Education with a specialization in early childhood education and a minor in music. While a student there, she sang in the Crane School of Music choir, was a member of the Phi Kappa Pi sorority, and participated in ice pageant skating shows.

While at SUNY, Lois met her husband to be - Gordon Bartlett, an Engineering student at Clarkson College. They married on September 14, 1957 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Potsdam, NY and celebrated over 56 years of marriage prior to Gordon's death in 2014.

After graduation from college, Lois and Gordon settled in Rochester, NY. Lois began her career teaching 1 st grade in West Irondequoit, NY and left this position after several years to raise her family. While a stay-at-home mother to her three children, she sang in the Rochester Oratorio Society, volunteered in the Sunday school programs at Church of the Epiphany, volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, and worked as substitute teacher at Paul Road Elementary.

In 1974, the family moved to the Reading, PA area and settled in Spring Township. There Lois continued to be active in scouting, adding Cub Scout leader to her roles. She sang with Reading Choral Society, and with the choir at Christ Episcopal Church. She founded the Christian Preschool at Atonement Lutheran Church in 1977 and served as a director and teacher there until 1988. Additionally, she continued to be an active volunteer and spectator at her children's many activities: scouting, church activities, and the Wilson HS band, chorus, musicals, swim team and water polo team.

Lois had a strong faith and church activities were an important part of her life. After many years of dedicated service to the church in the realms of music and Christian Education, Lois felt called to further ministry. She began her studies at Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1988 and then attended and graduated from General Theological Seminary in New York, New York in 1991. She was ordained as a deacon and then a priest in the Episcopal Church, Diocese of Bethlehem in 1991.

From 1991-1996 she was the rector of the North Parish where she served four churches in four small towns north of Pottsville, PA: Ashland, Frackville, Minersville, and St. Clair. She served as interim rector at St. Michael's Episcopal, Birdsboro from 1996-1998; and was Rector of St. George's in Hellertown from 1998 until her official retirement in 2001. In 2002 she fulfilled an additional post-retirement placement as interim rector at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Lebanon, PA. After retirement from the priesthood, Lois continued to serve as a visitation pastor for Christ Episcopal Church, Reading from 2002-2007, and led healing services at Phoebe Berks (her place of residence from summer 2014 until February 2025 when she moved to the Mechanicsburg area). Additionally, Lois had the honor of baptizing most of her grandchildren!

In addition to her work in individual churches, Lois played a wider leadership role in the diocese through her advocacy for Christian Education, especially for the youngest of learners. She developed a curriculum centered on making liturgy meaningful for young children and led Christian Education workshops at regional and national gatherings.

When not busy working and volunteering, Lois enjoyed traveling with her young family, and later as the "Bartlett Pair" with Gordon when their family was grown. She loved to tell everyone that she had visited all 50 states and all the provinces of Canada, as well as many European countries! She was also an avid watercolor painter, and a member of the Mayflower Society.

As a family member, teacher, pastor, and friend, Lois Bartlett touched many lives, and she will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held on October 25, 2025 at 11AM at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 2848 St. Alban's Drive Sinking Spring, PA 19608. Lois's final resting place will be Bayside Cemetery, Potsdam, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made at episcopalrelief.org/ or The American Lung Association at lung.org.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bartlett family. Condolences may be written online at KuhnFuneralHomes.com.