My mother is gone

Dancing with Mom in early 2009

Mom died just shy of three weeks ago. I can't really write about this yet, but here is a copy of the obituary we placed in the Lancaster paper.

Jean L. Myers, 84, of Elizabethtown died Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at the Masonic Village Health Care Center, after a brief illness. She was the loving companion of the late Dr. Zeb Bell, the widow of Dr. Carl Myers, and the former wife of Jerry Callen.

Jean was born in Nanty Glo, PA and grew up in nearby Roaring Spring, the daughter of the late Clarence and Ethel (Lape) Lauer. She received her R.N. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1947 and began a lifelong nursing career. Newlyweds Jean and Jerry settled in Jerry's hometown of Windber, PA, where Jean combined mothering her three children with nursing at the Windber hospital and serving as school nurse at the high school. The family moved to Satellite Beach, FL in 1968, where Jean first worked as a nurse for Melbourne Hospital, and later for Dr. Frederick Remark in his private practice. After she and Jerry parted in 1986, Jean moved to McMurray, PA, near Pittsburgh, where she married Carl Myers and worked at McMurray Hills Manor. When Carl became ill, Jean cared for him at home until his death in 1992. Her subsequent deep friendship with Zeb Bell lasted until Zeb's death in 2002.

Jean moved to the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown in 2008. In addition to her nursing career, Jean was an active, lifelong Lutheran. She taught Sunday school in Windber and played piano for the choir. Most recently, she attended Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in McMurray and Trinity Lutheran Church in Mount Joy. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chartiers Chapter, #97, of Canonsburg.

Jean leaves behind two daughters and a son: Jean A. Ulmer, the wife of Robert Ulmer, of Elizabethtown; Cyndi L. Callen of Bethel Park, PA; and Jerry L. Callen, husband of Katy Petersen, of Cambridge, MA. She remained close to her brother, Jerry Lauer, and his wife, Anne, of Orlando, FL. Visits with her six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren brought her great joy.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Jean's life at the John S. Sell Memorial Chapel at Masonic Village on Friday, December 9, at 10:30 AM. There will be a time of visitation with the family from 9:30 AM until the time of the service. Another celebration is planned for next spring in McMurray, PA.

Contributions in Jean's memory may be sent to either the Bleiler Caring Cottage at Masonic Village, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown PA 17022 or Trinity Lutheran Church, 47 W. Main St., Mount Joy, PA 17552.