Lois C. Siehl

It’s me, Lois Cuppett Siehl.  You sent me to this earth Aug. 5, 1930.  It was 102 degrees  -- -- a record high not broken to this day.  You sent me to a second-floor, three-room apartment over a grocery store in the Moxham section of Johnstown. My mother, Anna Smith Cuppett, had not even a cooling fan when the doctor delivered me.

You sent me in the depression years.  George Cuppett, my dad, sometimes worked three jobs to provide for our family. You sent me to join my older sister, Betty Cuppett Grubb.  You sent my brothers, Dick and Jim, to round out our family.

I am thankful that Mother taught me early in life to serve the church.  Dad taught me to be independent.  Forgive me Lord for not thanking my parents enough.

You sent me the gift of my caring, gentle husband, Jim Siehl.  He always championed my many projects and involvements.  He gave me free reign to be me.  He was the prince of my life.

You sent us beloved and faithful son Doug to expand our lives with his love of music and trust and faith in you.

You sent us our son, joyous Dan, who saw your mighty works scientifically in all of creation.  And, you gave us Dan’s caring wife Corinne.

You gave me a loving and caring extended family in Carol Cuppett, Doris and Ron Siehl, Pat and Matty Siehl, Sondra Cuppett and Bob Grubb.  You gave me spirit sisters Leah Williams, Peg Blough, Jean Huff, Pat Conklin and Betsey Eberle --  -- all with spirit like unto my own.

You gave me the opportunity for community service as librarian at Highland Community Library in Richland Township for 28 years.  Leading weekly Story Time for children was the fun time of my job as well as greeting friendly patrons.

My newspaper husband and I, under your guidance, left a legacy for the Geistown-Richland area.  During its sesqui-centennial year, we collaborated in collecting photos and interviews in the process of preserving a written history that was published in more than 50 weekly installments for more than a year.

I am grateful to those who presented a PTA Life Membership to me in 1971; and then in 1986, the WJAC-TV Jefferson Award for Community Service.

You gave me the sense of roots and family, so I felt an honor to serve on the founding Board of Directors of the National Blackburn Family Association; and was delighted when asked to design the Blackburn Family Medallion.

All the while with my busy life, you prompted something else to be sprouting in my mind -- -- the Johnstown Area Festival of the Nativity.  The sprout took root, and in 1984 you gave me the strength and courage to tackle my most difficult of projects.

You surely showered me with opportunity and blessings.  When we moved from Richland Township to Schellsburg in 1996, I tried not to be so involved but you knew my weakness.  Soon, I was volunteering two days a week at Old Bedford Village as a tour guide. That went on for three years.  I became a mentor at Bedford Elementary School.

`    You led me to serve and promote programs for the preservation of the Old Log Church near Schellsburg.  You prompted citizens in my area to nominate and win for me a National DAR Service Award in 2010.

You gave me a lot to carry in my life, but I always said:

“God if you want me to do this you have to help me.”

And you always did.

(Comment: If you, the reader, thinks this obituary is unusual if not unique, well so was its author.  Lois always listened to a different drummer.  We should all live a life so well.  Lois prepared this obituary before Christmas 2011 in good health, mind and spirit.  She was your typical good scout.  She always believed in being prepared, husband Jim).

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. from the Bedford United Methodist Church in Bedford with the Rev. Jeff Welsch officiating, Burial at New Paris Cemetery.  Friends will be received on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home in Bedford.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in Lois’s name to the Old Log Church Preservation Society c/o Geraldine Egolf, 123 West Ridge Road, Schellsburg, PA 15559, or New Paris Cemetery Assoc. c/o Matthew Boyer, 4116 Cortland Drive, New Paris, PA 15554.  Our online guest book is available at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com.