Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Berger, Josephine M. (Jo) October 27, 2008
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Sharon S. Miller shabodeho@aol.com November 12, 2008, 1:14 am
  
  Published in the Lebanon Daily News on 10/29/2008  
  Berger, Josephine M. (Jo)   
   
  Business Leader, Community and Church Volunteer Josephine (Jo) M. Berger, age 
  95, died peacefully within the circle of her family in her home in Elysburg on 
  Monday, October 27, 2008. Born on November 10, 1912, in Frazee, Minnesota, to 
  the late John and Kathryn (Perszyk) Heiser, she, with her parents, two sisters, 
  and one brother, moved to Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania in 1922. Jo was preceded in 
  death by her husband of 50 years, George Francis Berger. Together she and her 
  husband established Berger's Religious Shop in Mt. Carmel in 1953, which she 
  later moved to Elysburg, renaming it the Trinity Peace Religious Shop. She was 
  a life-long member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, where she served as an 
  active and hard-working volunteer. She loved volunteer-work, and so she was 
  ever ready to contribute. For many years, she used her talented sewing skills 
  to dress dolls for the church's annual parish bazaar, which led to her interest 
  in creating artistically engaging vestments for statues of the Infant of 
  Prague. She was known never to refuse a request to create liturgical garments 
  to honor her God represented by the statue. A life-long member of the Parish 
  Council of Catholic Women, the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, 
  Mrs. Berger also served as grand regent of the Catholic Daughters of America. 
  In the secular, Jo was past president of the Mt. Carmel Business Association 
  and the Chamber of Commerce, first chairperson of the first Mt. Carmel Adult 
  Festival of the Arts, and a 10-year volunteer of the Heart Fund Drive. Since 
  1963, she held various volunteer positions with the American Cancer Board, 
  receiving public recognition for her special work. She was president of the 
  Soroptimist Club, 19681970; Mt. Carmel Women's Club president, 1987-1989; 
  Elysburg Women's Club treasurer, 1989-1992; and a member of the Board of Elder 
  Council with Project HEAD, and served for many years as historian. Her 
  leadership, particularly in Catholic organizations, influences some present-day 
  agendas such as the annual Priests and Religious Appreciation Day, which she 
  began during her presidency of the Northern District of Catholic Women. It 
  flourishes to this day here, and in other parts of the Harrisburg Diocese. Mrs. 
  Berger is survived by four children, the Reverend Robert F. Berger, pastor, 
  Mary Gate of Heaven Church of Myerstown, Kathleen Ferdock and husband Ronald of 
  Bloomsburg, Sister Patricia Ann Berger, IHM, Francis X. Berger and wife Sue of 
  Elysburg, and her younger sister, Loretta Heiser of Cincinnati, Ohio. She was 
  favored with seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren, Dr. Gregory 
  Ferdock of Reno, Nev., Matthew Ferdock and wife Dr. Lori of Douglassville, and 
  their three children, Andrew, Madelyn, Vincent, David Ferdock and his wife, Dr. 
  Amy of Mifflinville, and their four children, Christina, Joseph B., Anastasia 
  and Elise, Candice (Berger) Parent and husband Mark of Oakland, Maine, and 
  their four children, Emily, Matthew, Daniel and Ryan, Scott Berger and Jason 
  Berger, both of Boise, Idaho. There are several nieces and nephews. In addition 
  to her husband, preceding her in death were her brother, Clarence Heiser; 
  sister Margaret (Heiser) Dalton; and her grandson, Robert Christian Berger. 
  Friends will be received at the C.J. Lucas Funeral Home, 27 N. Vine Street, Mt. 
  Carmel, from 6 to 9 p.m. October 30, with recitation of the rosary at 8 p.m., 
  and on the morning of the 31st from 9:45 to 10:45. The Mass of Christian Burial 
  offered by her son, the Rev. Robert F. Berger, is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Our 
  Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 47 South Market Street in Mt. Carmel. Burial is to 
  be in All Saints Cemetery, Bear Gap. The family asks in lieu of flowers, please 
  donate to the assisted living home for Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart 
  of Mary. Make donations to IHM Sisters, Camilla Hall Infirmary, PO Box 23, 
  Elysburg, PA 17824. C.J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc., 27 North Vine Street, Mount 
  Carmel, C.J. Lucas IV, supervisor, is assisting the family with arrangements  
  Published in the Lebanon Daily News on 10/29/2008  
  
  
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