May F. Warmkessel

May F. Warmkessel, 95, died peacefully on 3 January 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. May and Harold raised a family of seven children. Following Harold’s death, his dear friend, Walter G. Knappenberger, continued to visit May and provide companionship. In July 2002, Walter and May married and spent nearly nine happy years together before Walter died in June 2011. Born in Lanark, May was the daughter of the late Marcus and Eva (Stortz) Reith. She was one of twelve children. She graduated from the Limeport School after the eighth grade. Before starting her family, she worked as a sewing machine operator in the pajama factory building of the Emaus Shirt Company in 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 in Topton, then went to work at Dorney Printing in East Texas. She retired in 1984. The most important thing in May’s 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 shoefly 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 Harold’s large family, May 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, FL, 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. Also surviving her are many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren along with the many staff members of Fellowship Community who came to love her as one of their own. Besides her son and daughter, May was predeceased by a great-grandson, great-granddaughter, 3 sisters and 8 brothers. Services: 11:00 AM, Friday, January 10, at Church of the Good Shepherd, 135 Quarry Rd # 1, Alburtis. Calling hour will begin at 10:00 AM. Burial to follow at Lehigh Zion Cemetery, Alburtis. Memorials can be considered to Fellowship Community, c/o Schmoyer Funeral Home, PO Box 190, Breinigsville, PA 18031.

May F. Warmkessel

January 3, 2025