Obituaries
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planted in memory of Joan L. Dorner
Obituary for Joan L. Dorner
Joan L. Dorner died peacefully on February 16, 2021, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, in the company of her sons while Danny Boy and other favorite songs were played, and prayers were said. She was born in Coplay on October 23, 1938, to Joseph and Emma (Becks) Wechsler, the middle child of five.
She was a faithful and lifelong member of St. Peter’s Church and a member of their Altar & Rosary Society. Joan graduated from Central Catholic High School and worked briefly at Household Finance, Allentown, and the Coplay Discount Department Store before devoting herself to her family full time.
Joan was the wife of Julius Dorner, who passed away July 15, 2015. They were married 58 years at the time of his death. They hosted weekly volleyball games in their backyard in the 80’s as friends and family will fondly remember. Her social highlights each year were St. Peter’s Church Picnic and Coplay Community Days. Joan loved reading, doing word puzzles, writing poetry and was a fanatical Jeopardy fan. You did not want to interrupt her when it was time for final jeopardy! In her later years she fully indulged in her love of sweets, sometimes replacing meals with goodies.
More than anything she loved being with family and friends. Everyone who knew her knew they could find the entire family at “mom and dad’s house” each Sunday. Julius and Joan raised their children in a house full of love and our best tribute to them both is to continue that with our own families. Joan babysat for all her grandchildren at one time or another and they all have many funny stories and priceless memories of the times spent with Grammy and Pop Pop. Joan was the kind of person who never had a harsh word to say about anyone. She would want each and every one of her friends and relatives to know how precious you have been to her and how much she valued your love and friendship.
Joan is survived by her loving family, children, Monica (David) Unangst of Slatington, Lisa (Terry) Rex of Newark DE, Mark (Patie) of Whitehall, Lydia (Gerald) Carl of Walnutport, and Matthew (Sangeeta) of Whitehall; grandchildren, Jared (Sara) & Kiel (Delaina) Unangst, T.J. (Jess), Travis (Ashley), & Christopher (Nora) Rex, Alyssa (Hunter) Tarburton, Alexandra & Ava Dorner, Derek & Mitchell Carl, Timothy & Shalini Dorner, great-grandchildren, Julius, Augie, Leo, Ellis, Camdyn and Ayden, brother Joseph Wechsler of Albuquerque NM, sisters Judith Reckmack of Coplay and Agnes Nickles (Joseph) of Bethlehem and many dearly-loved brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and close friends. She was pre-deceased by a brother Robert Wechsler.
As much as Joan loved this life, we know she’s going to love her new life in Christ even more!
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 10 AM at St. Peter’s R.C.C., 4 S. 5th St., Coplay, PA 18037. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery. A visitation will be held from 9-10 AM in the church. Due to current restrictions, we kindly ask that all attendees wear a mask and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Brubaker Funeral Home, Inc., Coplay, is entrusted with arrangements.
If family and friends so desire, donations in Joan’s name may be made to St. Peter’s Church or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, c/o Brubaker Funeral Home, Inc. 327 Chestnut Street, Coplay, PA. 18037.
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She was a faithful and lifelong member of St. Peter’s Church and a member of their Altar & Rosary Society. Joan graduated from Central Catholic High School and worked briefly at Household Finance, Allentown, and the Coplay Discount Department Store before devoting herself to her family full time.
Joan was the wife of Julius Dorner, who passed away July 15, 2015. They were married 58 years at the time of his death. They hosted weekly volleyball games in their backyard in the 80’s as friends and family will fondly remember. Her social highlights each year were St. Peter’s Church Picnic and Coplay Community Days. Joan loved reading, doing word puzzles, writing poetry and was a fanatical Jeopardy fan. You did not want to interrupt her when it was time for final jeopardy! In her later years she fully indulged in her love of sweets, sometimes replacing meals with goodies.
More than anything she loved being with family and friends. Everyone who knew her knew they could find the entire family at “mom and dad’s house” each Sunday. Julius and Joan raised their children in a house full of love and our best tribute to them both is to continue that with our own families. Joan babysat for all her grandchildren at one time or another and they all have many funny stories and priceless memories of the times spent with Grammy and Pop Pop. Joan was the kind of person who never had a harsh word to say about anyone. She would want each and every one of her friends and relatives to know how precious you have been to her and how much she valued your love and friendship.
Joan is survived by her loving family, children, Monica (David) Unangst of Slatington, Lisa (Terry) Rex of Newark DE, Mark (Patie) of Whitehall, Lydia (Gerald) Carl of Walnutport, and Matthew (Sangeeta) of Whitehall; grandchildren, Jared (Sara) & Kiel (Delaina) Unangst, T.J. (Jess), Travis (Ashley), & Christopher (Nora) Rex, Alyssa (Hunter) Tarburton, Alexandra & Ava Dorner, Derek & Mitchell Carl, Timothy & Shalini Dorner, great-grandchildren, Julius, Augie, Leo, Ellis, Camdyn and Ayden, brother Joseph Wechsler of Albuquerque NM, sisters Judith Reckmack of Coplay and Agnes Nickles (Joseph) of Bethlehem and many dearly-loved brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and close friends. She was pre-deceased by a brother Robert Wechsler.
As much as Joan loved this life, we know she’s going to love her new life in Christ even more!
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 10 AM at St. Peter’s R.C.C., 4 S. 5th St., Coplay, PA 18037. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery. A visitation will be held from 9-10 AM in the church. Due to current restrictions, we kindly ask that all attendees wear a mask and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Brubaker Funeral Home, Inc., Coplay, is entrusted with arrangements.
If family and friends so desire, donations in Joan’s name may be made to St. Peter’s Church or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, c/o Brubaker Funeral Home, Inc. 327 Chestnut Street, Coplay, PA. 18037.
To plant a tree in memory of Joan L. Dorner, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Saturday
13
Mar
9:00 AM
- 10:00 AM
St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church
4 S. 5th Street
Coplay, PA 18037
Service
Saturday
13
Mar
10:00 AM
St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church
4 S. 5th Street
Coplay, PA 18037
Cemetery Details
Location
St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery
Hokendauqua St. and St, Peters
Whitehall, PA 18052
Memorial Contribution
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