Marguerite L. Longacre

July 14, 1930 - December 27, 2013

A mother holds her children’s hands for a little while and their hearts forever.....our loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend Marguerite L. Longacre, 83, of Battle Creek Road, Athens, Pa passed away on Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Elderwood Health Care Facility in Waverly. Marguerite was born on July 14, 1930 in Reading, Pa a daughter of the late Roland R. and Kate Helen (Dierolf) Leister. She was a graduate of Boyertown High School and the Reading Hospital School of Nursing. On May 2, 1952 she married The Rev. Jacob A. Longacre, and together they shared nearly 58 years of marriage until his passing on April 18, 2011. In 2001, following Jacob’s retirement from the ministry, they moved to Windham Township to be near family and enjoy retirement. Together Jacob and Marguerite opened their home and hearts to thirty-seven foster children. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Sayre, Pa. Marguerite treasured her family, enjoyed camping, traveling and transcribing books into Braille. She will be greatly missed by her children: Suzanne Perry Bachman; Greta (Bob) Larkin; Barbara (Jeff) Wiseman; Helene Longacre (Andrew) Price; Jacob (Elizabeth) Longacre; Mark Longacre; twenty grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; her brother Donald and May Leister; her sister Pauline Kline; several nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Marguerite was predeceased by her husband Jacob; her parents; sons-in-law: Scott Bachman and Thomas Price; grandson Steven James Wiseman; and a great great granddaughter Kamiyah. Family and friends are invited to attend a period of visitation on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 from 4 to 6 pm at the Sutfin Funeral Chapel, 273 S. Main St., Nichols. Funeral services and a celebration of Marguerite’s life will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2014 at 10 at the funeral chapel with Pastor Lexa Liepe, officiating. Interment and prayers of committal will be in The Union Cemetery, Slatington, PA on January 2 at 3 pm. Memories, condolences and photos may be shared by visiting our website at www.sutfinfuneralchapel.com Those who wish may kindly consider a memorial contribution to Lutheran World Relief (www.lwr.org) in loving memory of Marguerite L. Longacre.