Eleanor Marie Schaefer Sobers passed away peacefully Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at the Valley View Nursing Center where she had been a resident since September.
Eleanor was born at South Williamsport on July 20, 1917, to Harry J. and Sarah R. (Kopp) Schaefer. She was a graduate of the South Williamsport Junior Senior High School.
As well as her parents, she was predeceased by her loving husband of 66 years, Kester T. Sobers, II; three brothers, Harry Jr., Robert and Raymond; and a grandson, Robert D. Curry.
Eleanor is survived by two children, Susan S. Curry of Montoursville and her husband Robert L.; and her son, The Rev. Kester T. Sobers, pastor emeritus of Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Harrisburg, and his wife Judith. Beloved grandchildren include Michael Sobers and Timothy (Sabrina) Sobers and Mary (Scott) Cordner of Harrisburg, Pa., and Jessica (Brian) Kavanagh of Baltimore, Md. Eleanor was blessed with seven great-grandchildren, Ashley (Shaun) Norwood, Christorpher and Kimberlee Sobers, Samantha and Alex Cordner, Carter Sobers, and Meryn Kavanagh, and one great-great-grandchild, Chase Norwood.
Eleanor was a gracious and loving daughter, wife and mother. Nothing pleased her more than to have one of the grand or great grand babies in her arms, and those for whom she cared returned the love and affection. From the time she learned to type, and even when she was a young mother, she helped her father who was the parish clerk for St. Mark's Lutheran Church, then an almost 2000 member congregation, to type and mail quarterly statements to each giving unit.
Eleanor's mother, Sarah, was the founder of an organization for young women of the church honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Marian Guild was a service organization with responsibility for caring for the altar. Eleanor was a charter member of the Guild and considered its work one of primary obligation.
While being a wife and mother was Eleanor's highest calling, she did spend 10 years, while her children were in college and graduate school, working as secretary to the principal of the South Williamsport Area Junior Senior High School. Teachers and students with whom she came in contact found her always to be courteous and polite with a smile for everyone. In her spare time, Eleanor was an avid card player. Over the years she was involved with a variety of card playing groups, but her first love was a group of like minded classmates who formed a "five hundred" club whose core group met bi-weekly from high school years to present. Eleanor's participation stopped only after her eyesight and physical condition mitigated against car travel and participation in a fast paced card game.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation at the chapel of St. Mark's Lutheran Church from 1 p.m. until the time of service.
The liturgy of the Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 142 N. Market St., Williamsport, on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at 2 p.m. Her pastor, Rev. Kenneth Elkin, will be officiating. Inurnment will be in the columbarium at St. Mark's Lutheran Church at the convenience of the family.
The family kindly declines floral tributes and requests that contributions in memory of Eleanor Marie Sobers be made, if so desired, to St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 142 N. Market St., Williamsport, PA 17701.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Charles M. Noll Funeral Home, 1 E. Central Ave., South Williamsport, PA 17702.
