Mary Amanda Wintersteen, 92, formerly of Hobbie, went home with her Lord on Thursday morning, November 19, 2015 at Smith Health Care, Mountaintop, where she resided for the past 4 years.
Born in Hazleton, PA on December 18, 1922, she was one of 13 children, of the late Ruth E. (Howland) and Freas Smith. She graduated from Newport High School, class of 1941. During WWII, Mary worked in radio communications in Newark, NJ. She was also employed at Mt. Top School for Exceptional Boys, and the American Auto Store. She later worked at the former WT Grant store, Berwick, which became K Mart, where she worked for 10 years before retiring.
Mary was a former member of St. Peter’s UCC, Hobbie, for over 40 years, where she held many offices in the church and was the junior choir director for 27 years. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Penn Northeast Conference of the UCC. Most recently she was a member of Mount Zion UCC, Slocum, where she had grown up, was confirmed and married. Mary was a Girl Scout leader in the 1960’s when her daughters were members. In her younger years, Mary played softball and was known to be an excellent pitcher. She enjoyed making ceramics, and over many years had created many ornaments and gifts. Mary enjoyed life, and loved spending time with her family.
She will be greatly missed by her loving children: Ralph Wintersteen and wife Sandra, Hobbie; Marla Conklin and husband Timothy, Hobbie; Patti Fife and husband Michael, Harrisburg; Keith Wintersteen and wife Tammy, Hobbie; 7 grandchildren; 5 step grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters; Ellen Betz, Berwick; Ruth Miller, Lancaster; Dorothy Readler, Lebanon; Sylvia Hess, Wapwallopen; and many nieces and nephews.
She will be reunited with her husband, Charles Frank Wintersteen who died on April 7, 1991, after 41 years of marriage; as well as a grandson, Michael Charles Fife. She was also preceded by sisters, Magdalen Whitebread, Edith Badman, Mable Rinehimer, Beatrice Moyer, Loretta Rinehimer, Marian Miller, Faith Conrad; and brother, Millard Smith.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at Mt. Zion UCC, 162 Lily Lake Road, Wapwallopen, with her pastor, Rev. Robert Thomas, and Rev. Dr. M. Jane Hess officiating. Family will receive friends at the church from 11:00 AM until the time of the service. She will be buried alongside her husband in Silver Maple Cemetery, Hobbie.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mount Zion United Church of Christ, 106 Lily Lake Road, Wapwallopen, PA 18660, or the National Breast Cancer Foundation, online at nationalbreastcancer.org. Arrangements are entrusted to Heller Funeral Home, LLC, Nescopeck.