By ANN WERTMAN

Special to The Press

Elaine Charron, who died Dec. 31, 2022, gently and lovingly touched many lives through her many passions.

Elaine was there when families enjoyed a Pip the Mouse puppet show between 2003 and the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic; when they enjoyed the music in Zion’s UCC or the Cathedral of St. Catherine in Allentown; or stepping back in time, for patrons of Barney’s Diner, Emmaus.

This reporter’s journey with Elaine and the Liberty Bell Museum winds back to 1998 when my life companion, the late Joseph R. Zeller and I were contacted by several staff members to contribute to their “Pennsylvania German Christmas” theme with folk art and the creation of a Pennsylvania German-style Christmas tree.

At that time, the local role in American history, exhibits and special speakers brought visitors to what was then called the Liberty Bell Shrine Museum, the hiding place of the Liberty Bell during the British occupation of the City of Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War.

Working behind the scenes for years before 1998 was a perky, 5-foot tall petite volunteer, recently widowed, who seemed willing and able to tackle all that was presented to her without hesitation. This was Elaine Charron.

How one small lady meticulously maintained the interior and exterior perimeters of the historic Zion’s UCC and Liberty Bell Museum always amazed me but she accomplished this feat for many years.

In addition to her maintenance skills, Elaine would whip up wall curtains to hide what needed to be hidden and she quickly bonded with other church members in leading the Ladies Guild of Zion’s UCC to serve reasonably priced tasty meals for the benefit of both Zion’s UCC and Liberty Bell Museum events and visiting nonprofits, to which I can attest, the Allentown Flag Day Association.

Luscious cookies and candy for fundraising at Easter and Christmas were a must.

When “Pip the Mouse Before Christmas” puppet stage and show finally found a permanent home at the museum in 2003, after ending a multi-year journey from Hess’s through downtown Allentown, Elaine, who had no children of her own, poured her heart into enhancing the show and most importantly by becoming the life size Pip mascot, which is now a symbolic part of this charming annual holiday presentation.

Elaine, delighted in the hugs and smiles received from visitors from near and far.

Each Pip season the displays around the Pip Puppet Stage became bigger and better and there was Elaine back and forth between the storage area and the museum’s bell room with props, running wiring for the autotronic animals and trains, setting up the displays and yet, at the drop of the hat, jumping into the Pip suit, if children arrived to view the museum.

Pip was there each spring as approximately 1,300 third graders from the Allentown School District visited the museum to experience local history.

She transformed into Pip for hundreds of appearances each year at the Museum as well as a Museum ambassador out in the community.

Pip’s wardrobe continually expanded from the original Holiday Mouse to Colonial attire, a tuxedo for receptions and one time as a Boy Scout with merit badge sash and neckerchief to salute the Museum’s special exhibit for the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts in America.

Pip’s repertoire included Colonial dancing and directing The Great Allentown Band.

Each holiday season which followed, this reporter continued to decorate a “Pennsylvania German” Christmas tree and volunteer in other capacities at the Museum.

Without a doubt, each year I became more and more in awe with the contributions Elaine made as a volunteer in both the church and museum.

Elaine, who was one of seven children, born in 1934, graduated from Emmaus High School and went on to music and voice at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio.

Elaine assisted George, her husband of 38 years, as co-owner and operator of the Lincoln Diner in York for five years and Barney’s Diner for 28 years before his death.

She was also a past president of the Allentown Music Club.

Elaine was also dedicated to the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Siena where she is a choir member and choir music co-librarian.

She enjoyed so much - traveling throughout the United States, her rural Coopersburg home’s gardens and wildlife, baking wonderful cakes and pies to treat all around her and being a talented seamstress.

She continued in all her volunteer roles even when the Lehigh Valley began to again return to normal after the COVID-19 shutdown.

Unfortunately, soon after the Museum returned to normal scheduling, Elaine suffered an injury and was unable to operate her vehicle for months during a lengthy recuperation.

This forced her to wean away from her almost daily trips to Zion’s and her joy as the beloved Pip mascot to enjoy the endless hugs of children of all ages.

Elaine’s spirit, inspiration and dedication will long be remembered at the Liberty Bell Museum.