May F. Warmkessel, 95, died peacefully Jan. 3, 2025, surrounded by family in Fellowship Manor.

She was blessed with a 53-year marriage to the first love of her life, Harold I. Warmkessel, who died in May 2001.

The couple raised a family of seven children.

Following her husband’s death, his dear friend, Walter G. Knappenberger, continued to visit her and provide companionship.

In July 2002, she and Walter married and spent nearly nine happy years together before he died in June 2011.

Born in Lanark, she was the daughter of the late Marcus and Eva (Stortz) Reith.

One of 12 children, she graduated from Limeport School after the eighth grade.

Before starting her family, she was a sewing machine operator in the pajama factory building of the Emaus Shirt Company, Emmaus.

She rejoined the workforce after the twins, the youngest of her children, were able to care for themselves.

She began by working at General Seating Company, Topton, then at Dorney Printing, East Texas, before retiring in 1984.

The most important thing in her life was her family.

She had a very strong work ethic which she applied when growing large vegetable gardens and canning and freezing the produce.

She had a talent for raising African violets.

She was especially known for her sticky buns, fastnachts and shoofly pies — baking and selling to a multitude of people until the symptoms of old age and dementia started affecting her strength and ability to bake in large quantities.

During the winter months, she was busy crocheting afghans, doilies and baby blankets for everyone dear to her.

In addition, she was involved with the Macungie VFW Ladies Auxiliary, at one point serving as president.

Among her first husband’s large family, she was the last surviving member of that generation of siblings and their spouses.

She also survived her own siblings and in-laws except for one sister-in-law, Annabelle Yeakel Reith.

She is survived by sons Ellis (Marlene) of Spring Hill, Fla., and Leon of Reading; daughters Sharon Werner (Bob) of Macungie, Lynne Peiffer (Dennis) of Allentown, and Marie Fulmer (Brian) of Allentown; daughter-in-law Benedetta (Dottery) Warmkessel of Breinigsville, wife of May’s son, Alvin, who died in November 2009; and son-in-law Merton (Jim) Whitney of Fleetwood, husband of May’s daughter, Debra who died in December 2017; many grandchildren; great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many staff members of Fellowship Community who came to love her as one of their own.

In addition to her son and daughter, she was predeceased by a great-grandson, great-granddaughter, three sisters and eight brothers.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Jan. 10 at Church of the Good Shepherd, 135 Quarry Road No. 1, Alburtis.

Calling hour will begin at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Lehigh Zion Cemetery, Alburtis.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fellowship Community, c/o Schmoyer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 190, Breinigsville, PA 18031.