Stella V. Kessler

Stella V. Kessler

Stella V. Kessler, 87, of Unityville, passed away at Geisinger Medical Center Monday, July 16, 2012.

She was born May 29, 1925, in Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County, a daughter of the late Sherman and Ida E. Swisher Steinruck.

She graduated from Bloomsburg High School. She worked in the silk mills during World War II. She was a member of Lungerville Christian Church where she taught Sunday school for over 18 years, Grange Canusaurago No. 27 of Lairdsville and the 39 plus club of Unityville. She knitted 96 Sweaters for Orphans around the world. She has been a breast cancer survivor since 1960. She was Gram Kessler to a lot of children in the neighborhood.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Kessler, who passed away July 1, 1997; four brothers, Tom, William, Richard and Derl Steinruck; and seven sisters, Beatrice Stauffer, Mamie Wolfe, Kathryn Young, Sylvia Sorber, Erma Kingston, Dorothy Hauntzelman and Elsie Gelnett.

Stella is survived by a son, Dale E. Kessler and his wife, Lorraine, of Menno, S.D.; and five grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, nine stepgreat-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; and a sister, Yvonne M. McLaughlin of Catawissa.

Services were Saturday at 11 a.m. at Lungerville Christian Church, 1700 State Route 239, Unityville, PA 17774, with Pastor James Harvey officiating. Burial was at Lungerville Cemetery. The family received friends Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Friends who were unable to attend may send condolences at bunnellfuneralhome.com.