Elsie Landis Lehman, 92, died at Landis Homes, Lancaster County, on January 13, 2011. She was known for her love and affection for family and friends, an ability to connect with people of all ages, and her delight in good conversation. To the end of her life she retained a keen intelligence, a level sense of practicality, and equanimity and poise even in the face of life’s hardships.
Born on a farm near Elizabethtown on July 7, 1918, Elsie was the youngest of Simon Bossler Landis and Alice Ebersole Landis’ nine children. She graduated from Elizabethtown High School, attended Messiah College, took practical nurse’s training, Faith at Work training, and, in later years, attended Lancaster Theological Seminary, under care of the Donegal Presbytery.
Elsie was a licensed practical nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lancaster, from 1958 to 1979; an Instructor of Home Health Nursing courses at Willow Street Vocational Technical School; President of the Lancaster County Association of Licensed Practical Nurses; a speaker at conventions for licensed practical nurses; and workshop leader for the PA Association of LPNs. Moving to Landis Homes in 1991, she worked as a part-time nursing assistant and then volunteered her services after “retirement.”
In addition, Elsie was a staff member and field representative for Faith at Work (S.E. Pa.); served as a chaplain at Wilmington (Del.) Medical Center from 1980 to 1984; was a visitation minister for Highland Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, from 1984 to 1986; and, from 1986 to 1991, assisted her nephew, Rev. Eugene Herr, at the Hermitage pastoral retreat center in Three Rivers, Michigan.
Elsie is survived by her sister Alice Schellenberg and a sister-in-law, Getrude Steudler Landis, both at Calvary Homes, Lancaster; and by six children: Harold Lehman and his partner Bonnie Eisenfeld, Philadelphia; David Lehman and his wife, Gwen, Harrisburg; Peter Lehman and his wife, Tjitske, Kimberton; James Lehman and his wife, Frances, of Claremont, CA.; Cynthia Lehman and her husband, Dan Heacock, of Marysville; and Timothy Lehman, of Szentes, Hungary. Surviving grandchildren are Scott, Karin, Ben, Ezra, Tamme, Max, and Sophie Lehman, and Fintje Lehman Carpenter. Great-grandchildren are Odette, Kieran, Emily, Charlize, Loic, Sienna Rose, and Isaac Lehman, and Milo Carpenter. Elsie’s husband from 1938-1968, Harold R. Lehman, Sr., died in 1997, and their daughter Mary died in 1986.
A memorial service in Elsie’s memory and in celebration of her life will be held at her church, Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 East Roseville Road, Lancaster, on Saturday, February 12, 2011, at 11:00 A.M. The family will greet friends following the service. The family requests that donations in her memory be made to the Caring Fund of Landis Homes, 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA 17543.
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