Obituary for Elizabeth "Betty" Kerwick
Elizabeth “Betty” (Loftus) Kerwick, of Pottsville, died July 12, a month after celebrating her milestone 100th birthday.
Born in Buck Run on June 14, 1919, she was a daughter of the late Owen and Matilda (Brennan) Loftus and was one of 11 children.
She started Kerwick’s Leather Goods with husband, James, and also sold religious supplies. She was a Certified Public Housing Manager for the Schuylkill Housing Authority.
Betty was proud of her community and her Irish heritage. She was the founder and first President of the Ladies Auxiliary, Order of Hibernians. She was President of the Ladies of Charity in the Dioceses of Allentown. For more than twenty years, she was a Board member and volunteer teacher’s aide at St. Joseph Center For Special Learning. A few years ago, the school honored her years of service by planting a tree on the grounds of the school.
More than anything, Betty loved her church, St. Patrick R.C.C., and come rain or shine walked to daily 6:30 a.m. Mass. Even at the age of 99 she enjoyed going to Sunday Mass and taking up the communion with her grandson, Patrick Kerwick.
She deeply loved her family, and treasured her 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren who affectionately called her Betty.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Kerwick; grandson, Benjamin; and brothers and sisters.
Betty is survived by children: Elizabeth Jane Lohr (widow of Robert Lohr) Johnstown; Judith Yupcavage (Jan) Hershey; James S. (Pat) Cressona; and Linda Eckenrode (Jack) Madison, CT; grandchildren: Jeff and Christian Tarman; James Yupcavage, Bridget Yupcavage Farley; Kaitlin and Patrick Kerwick; Laura Eckenrode Leon, John, James and Thomas Eckenrode; great grandchildren Meghan, Lennon and Kate Tarman, Kyran and Aidan Khindri, Benjamin, John and Anna Farley, and Henry Leon; and youngest sister, Joan O’Connor, Princeton, NJ.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 16th, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville with Msgr. Edward J. O’Connor. A visitation will be held in the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Interment will follow in Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
The family request contributions in Betty’s memory be sent to: the Ben Yupcavage Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 502 Hershey, PA 17033.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com.
Read More
Born in Buck Run on June 14, 1919, she was a daughter of the late Owen and Matilda (Brennan) Loftus and was one of 11 children.
She started Kerwick’s Leather Goods with husband, James, and also sold religious supplies. She was a Certified Public Housing Manager for the Schuylkill Housing Authority.
Betty was proud of her community and her Irish heritage. She was the founder and first President of the Ladies Auxiliary, Order of Hibernians. She was President of the Ladies of Charity in the Dioceses of Allentown. For more than twenty years, she was a Board member and volunteer teacher’s aide at St. Joseph Center For Special Learning. A few years ago, the school honored her years of service by planting a tree on the grounds of the school.
More than anything, Betty loved her church, St. Patrick R.C.C., and come rain or shine walked to daily 6:30 a.m. Mass. Even at the age of 99 she enjoyed going to Sunday Mass and taking up the communion with her grandson, Patrick Kerwick.
She deeply loved her family, and treasured her 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren who affectionately called her Betty.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, James E. Kerwick; grandson, Benjamin; and brothers and sisters.
Betty is survived by children: Elizabeth Jane Lohr (widow of Robert Lohr) Johnstown; Judith Yupcavage (Jan) Hershey; James S. (Pat) Cressona; and Linda Eckenrode (Jack) Madison, CT; grandchildren: Jeff and Christian Tarman; James Yupcavage, Bridget Yupcavage Farley; Kaitlin and Patrick Kerwick; Laura Eckenrode Leon, John, James and Thomas Eckenrode; great grandchildren Meghan, Lennon and Kate Tarman, Kyran and Aidan Khindri, Benjamin, John and Anna Farley, and Henry Leon; and youngest sister, Joan O’Connor, Princeton, NJ.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 16th, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville with Msgr. Edward J. O’Connor. A visitation will be held in the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
Interment will follow in Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
The family request contributions in Betty’s memory be sent to: the Ben Yupcavage Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 502 Hershey, PA 17033.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com.
To plant a tree in memory of Elizabeth "Betty" Kerwick, visit the Tribute Store.
Loading...