Rev. Edith M. (Hertzog) Gettis

       Rev. Edith “Edy” Mary (Hertzog) Gettis, 88, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 16, at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown with her family by her side. Born on February 8, 1936, on Arlington Street in Laureldale, PA, she was a daughter of the late Lewis Hertzog, Sr. and Sarah (Wenrich) Hertzog. Edy was predeceased by her late husband Robert B. Gettis who passed away January 1, 2011. They had celebrated 52 years of marriage prior to his passing and had lived 52 years in the house that she and Bob built on Petsch Road, Lower Alsace Township. Edy later lived with her daughter Dawn and son-in-law Jamie in their Alsace Township home for seven years. From there she transitioned to Keystone Villa at Fleetwood, Blandon, for the next two years. For the past year, Edy had resided at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown.

        Edy is survived by her daughters, Rosalie A., wife of John C. Coble, Reading, and Dawn A., wife of James T. Cambria, Alsace Township; son Matthew A. Gettis, husband of Kathy C. (Kunkel), Winter Garden, Florida; and daughter-in-law, Kimberly A. (DeFrancisco) Gettis, Muhlenberg, wife of the late Mark A. Gettis, Sr. who passed away August 27, 2017.

        She is survived by her six grandchildren: Elizabeth A. “Betsy” (Gettis), wife of Andrew J. “AJ” Fick, Sinking Spring; Matthew J. Cambria, husband of Chelsea L. (Walter), Enola; Mitchell J. Gettis, husband of Renée C. Gagné, New York City; Mark A. Gettis, Jr., husband of Natalie J. (Hagen), Lancaster; Zachary J. Fick-Cambria, husband of Amanda R. (Fick), Lancaster; and Logan W. Gettis boyfriend of Shannon M. Simpson, Orlando, Florida.

        Edy is also survived by her six great-grandchildren: Charlotte “Charlie”, Lincoln, Penn, Theodore, Margot, and Calvin. Additionally, she is survived by her brother Lewis R. “Luke” Hertzog, Jr., husband of Ann M. (Boulanger), Willow Street, PA; sisters-in-law Doris E. (Gettis), wife of Richard A. Plucker, Newark, Delaware; Regina C. “Reggie” (Cieplinski) Hertzog, Scranton; Nancy K. (Davidheiser) Hertzog, Reading; N. Kay (Shade) Hertzog, Bern Township. Lastly, she is survived by a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews living throughout the United States.

        In addition to her husband, son, and parents, Edy was predeceased by her sisters Louise R., wife of the late Harold W. Strause; Marjorie E., wife of the late Ernest E. Gauby; brothers Robert C. Hertzog and Paul A. Hertzog; brothers-in-law Frank D. Moore and Byron H. “Mike” Ohlsen; In-laws Clinton H. Gettis husband of Ruth E. (Bagenstose) and Marie (Kniffen).

        Edy was a graduate of Mt. Penn High School in 1954. She attended Albright College and the Reading Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1958 as a Registered Nurse. Her nursing career started in 1958 at the Reading Hospital’s emergency room. During the 1970s Edy was the Director of Disaster Nursing for the Berks County American Red Cross as well as a registered nurse for the Berks County overnight school camps at Camp Shikellamy, Bethel. She assisted local doctors in establishing the first free clinics in the City of Reading. Edy continued utilizing her nursing skills at Caron Treatment Center, Wernersville.

        While a member of Zion-Spies Evangelical and Reformed Church, Alsace Township, Edy was an elder and the president of their consistory in 1975. After becoming a member of Trinity UCC, she served as an elder and deacon.

        She furthered her education at Lancaster Theological Seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity in 1981. Edy was ordained by the PA Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ on June 29, 1980 and installed as Assistant Pastor at Trinity UCC, Mt. Penn, on February 8, 1981. In 1983 Edy was chaplain of Leader Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers in both West Reading and Laureldale. From 1984 until her retirement, she served as an appointed supply pastor by the PA Southeast Conference of the UCC for the following churches: Friedens UCC, Oley; St. Luke’s UCC, Shoemakersville; Good Shepherd UCC, Temple; Epler’s UCC, Leesport; St. Paul’s UCC, New Shaefferstown; the former Christ Church UCC, Temple; the former Grace Alsace UCC, Reading; and the former Salem Shalters UCC, Fleetwood. Edy had the honor of being a delegate to the General Synod of the United Church of Christ – 1975, Minneapolis, MN; 1977, Washington, DC; 1997, Columbus, Ohio; 1999, Providence, RI. She was also a Girl Scout Brownie Troop Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother.

        Edy’s family wishes to thank the staff of the Masonic Village of Elizabethtown Evergreen Hospice unit for their comforting, dedicated care, and support during Edy’s final days.

        Viewing will be held at the Klee Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., One East Lancaster Avenue, Shillington, PA on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. An additional viewing will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 4:00 pm, followed by her funeral service at 5:00 pm at Trinity UCC, 2449 Cumberland Avenue, Mt. Penn, 19606 with the Rev. Dr. Robert Stewart officiating. Internment at Laureldale Cemetery, Tuckerton, will be private.

        In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary or food donation to “In His Name” Food Pantry – Trinity UCC at the above address.

        The Klee Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Shillington is assisting the Gettis family. www.kleefuneralhome.com  

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