Althea M Crouse

Althea M. Crouse 91, of Hellertown Althea M. (Apple) Crouse, 91, of Hellertown, Northampton County, passed away on Thursday, September 4, 2025. She was the loving wife of the late Edward K. Crouse, sharing 43 years of marriage before his passing in 1996. Born in Finesville, NJ, on June 16, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Franklin B. and Ethel M. (Laubach) Apple. She is a 1952 graduate of Phillipsburg High School. Over the years, Althea worked as a bookkeeper for the former Pastore Chevrolet in Milford, NJ; as a cafeteria worker for Holland Township School; and later as a dispatcher for Durnan Brothers in Upper Black Eddy. She lived in Holland Township, NJ for 59 years. Faith and service were central to her life. A dedicated member of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Durham, Althea shared her gifts as a Sunday School and Bible School teacher, a member of the Altar Guild, and with WELCA. She was also active with the Holland Township Seniors and generously gave her time as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels in both Bucks and Hunterdon Counties for more than 10 years. Her love of travel began with an epic road trip to California with husband Eddie in their brand-new 1960 light blue Corvair and continued throughout her lifetime with road trips, camping, cruises, and bus excursions to many states and tropical destinations. Always ready to try a new recipe, she cooked and baked through many decades and was especially celebrated for her charming and perfect Christmas cookies, often baking up to 2,000 cookies each year. She continued baking desserts through her 90th year, graciously sharing them with others. She was a friend to everyone and enjoyed decades-long friendships with coworkers, neighbors, church members, fellow campers, and her wide social circle. She had a knack for befriending new people and extracting their life stories within five minutes of meeting them, often discovering acquaintances they shared. She loved talking about Finesville, Warren Glen, and Riegelsville, where she knew almost everyone from years gone by. Althea was a meticulous bookkeeper and became the family genealogist, collecting and documenting names, dates, and photographs going back multiple generations across several branches of her family tree. She leaves a legacy of vintage photo albums and authentic family documents, all carefully labeled for future generations so they can discover and celebrate their lineage. Throughout her life, she enjoyed flower gardening and feeding the birds and hummingbirds. In her final years, she spent time doing puzzles and word games, watching NASCAR races, and socializing with her senior living friends. She will be lovingly remembered by her children: son Kenneth, daughter Karen, and cherished granddaughter Audrey. She is survived by her sister-in-law Esther Crouse, ten nieces and nephews, and many good friends, all of whom will miss her dearly. She was predeceased by her sister, Ellen Encke, and two nephews Eugene Crouse and Dennis Encke. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Durham, with interment following the service at Durham Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc., Hellertown. Memorial contributions to Durham Cemetery care of the funeral home, 326 Main St. Hellertown, PA 18055