Ann Rebecca Merkle, age 93, passed at the Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on February 5th, 2015.
She was the widow of the late Benjamin Merkle.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, to Sarah (Saracheck) and Gimple Markowitz, where she remained most of her life. She also lived in Coral Gables, Florida, for a period of time before returning to her hometown.
She graduated from Reading High School and was involved in the clothing business all of he life. She worked with her mother and sister at Bloom’s Bridal. She also worked at Boscov's as a retail buyer until retiring in 1999.
Ann was a warm, social and charitable woman. She has been a member of Hadassah, Kesher Zion Sisterhood, YR Club and a volunteer at Reading Area Community College where she helped teach immigrants English as a second language. She also provided support to charitable organizations such as the March of Dimes, Easter Seals, Salvation Army and American Diabetes Association. She loved to travel and play bridge.
Survivors include her children, Denise Grossman, wife of Barry Grossman of Columbus, Ohio and Gary Merkle, husband of Karen Merkle, of Los Angeles, California. Ann has 4 grandchildren, Adam, Tracy, Matthew and Andrew and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by siblings, Yetta Bloom, Helen Fine, Abe Markowitz and H. Benny Markowitz.
Services will be held at 9:30 A.M. February 10th, 2015, at the Henninger Funeral Home, 229 North 5th Street, Reading, Pennsylvania. Burial will follow in Kesher Zion Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Kesher Zion Synagogue immediately following the interment.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kesher Zion Synagogue, The Alzheimer’s Association or The American Diabetes Association. She truly was a remarkable woman.
Henninger Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. www.henningerfuneralhome.com
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