Fern Hess

Fern A. (Bair) Hess, 79, Bern Township, passed away Wednesday morning, Sept. 8, 2010, in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Sept. 3.

She was the widow of John J. Hess, who died on Jan. 1, 2009.

Born in Penn Township, she was a daughter of the late D. John and Stella Zerbe Bair.

Fern had worked for 35 years as a technician for the former Western Electric/AT&T.

She was a member of Bern Lutheran Church, where she was a chair lady of the altar guild. She also had been on the church's interior design and landscape committees.

Fern was a member of Bern's Women of the ELC. She was a 1948 graduate of Muhlenberg High School.

Fern was a beloved mother, sister and grandmother.

She is survived by two daughters, Cynthia, wife of James Baer, Charlotte, N.C.; and Robin, wife of Michael Levan, Lower Heidelberg Township.

Other survivors include a brother, Ronald Bair, Lancaster; and two sisters, Barbara, wife of David Braucher, Bern Township; and Joan, wife of William Carpenter, Hamburg.

There are also four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. in Bern Lutheran Church, 820 W. Leesport Road, Leesport, PA 19533, with her pastor the Rev. David Roper officiating. Burial will follow in Bern Cemetery. There will be a viewing on Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Kirkhoff Funeral Home, 206 N. Main St., Bernville, and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until service time in the church.

The family requests contributions be made to the memorial fund of her church at the above address. Online condolences may be expressed at www.kirkhofffuneralhome.com.