Helen E. Reaser

Helen E. Reaser, 93, a resident of Muncy Valley Hospital Skilled Nursing Unit for the past year, and formerly of Muncy and Montgomery, died Saturday, May 19, 2012, at the nursing unit.

Born Sept. 3, 1918, in Deerfield, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Paul G. and Eliza (Cattell) Baitinger. Her husband, A. Franklin Reaser, preceded her in death on Jan. 29, 1970.

A graduate of Bridgeton, N.J., High School, she continued her education at the Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia, where she received her R.N. degree in 1939. Helen then worked at Norristown State Hospital, where she met her husband. In 1940, they moved to Carbondale and then to Montgomery, and Helen later lived in Muncy. She was employed at the Muncy Valley Hospital for a short time before accepting a position at Muncy State Correctional Institution, where she worked for 21 years and retired in 1979 as head nurse.

Helen was a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Montgomery. She was also a member of PA Assoc. of Retired State Employees (PARSE). In her spare time, she volunteered at Red Cross bloodmobiles. Helen spent lots of time in her flower garden where she enjoyed observing the many birds who visited there. When she was younger, she did a lot of sewing and made much of her own clothing.

Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Frank and Carolyn Reaser of Cedar Grove, N.J., and Jim and Janice Reaser of Sinking Spring; two brothers, Paul Baitinger Jr. of Upper Deerfield Twp., N.J., and John (Maryellen) Baitinger of Alloway, N.J.; two sisters, Marian Dwyer of Charlestown, Md., and Jean VanVleit of Wilmington, Del.; one sister-in-law, Arlene Opp of Muncy; four grandchildren, Amy (Eric) Diggan, Michael (Allison) Reaser, Brian (Maria) Reaser and Lauren (Christopher) DeLaura; and four great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Lauren and Lindsey Diggan and Lillian Reaser.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by two sisters, Harriet Rector and Anna Gubbine.

A graveside service will be held today at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, at St. John Lutheran “Brick” Church Cemetery, Route 405, Montgomery. Officiating will be Rev. David K. Fishel, Chaplain at Susquehanna Health System.

The family will provide the flowers and suggests memorial contributions be made to Muncy Valley Hospital Skilled Nursing Unit, 215 E. Water St., Muncy, PA 17756.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grenoblefuneralhome.com.