Mary Josephine (Huegel) Kircher of Honey Brook

Mary Josephine (Huegel) Kircher passed to her Eternal Rest on June 16, 2017. She departed in the presence of loving family members and staff at Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook PA.

Jo was born in White Haven, PA on August 7, 1933, daughter of C. Elwood Huegel and Mary Furler. Her father was a Lutheran minister and Jo and her two brothers grew up in various towns in and around Bloomsburg, PA. Her lifelong love of raptors and all birds was nurtured by many carefree hours spent at what is now Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. She graduated from Orwigsburg High School class of 1951, where she was designated the “class chatterbox”.

Bright and ambitious, Jo attended the School of Nursing at University of Pennsylvania where she met her future husband Theodore Kircher. She enjoyed a long career in both Emergency Room and Geriatric nursing. She was loved by all for whom she cared. She took great pride in her professional skill as a nurse and she also possessed a tremendous ability to listen with compassion and bring a smile to those in pain.

In addition to nursing, Jo’s great loves in life were her family, especially her children, and nature. She was a tremendous birder, lover of her dogs and cats, gardener, and friend to all living things having a disadvantaged or threatened place in this world. She was also passionate about mahjong, quilting, and reading. She was married for 63 years to her husband, Theodore (Ted) Kircher. During their long marriage Jo and Ted were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations around the world where Jo always continued to find joy in observing the natural world. Jo also had a tremendous personal faith and there found strength during her long struggle with ankylosing spondylitis. She was a regular member in attendance at Living God Lutheran Church in Honey Brook.

Jo was predeceased by her two brothers Elwood and Jake Huegel. Jo is survived by her husband Theodore, her four children Tamara, Theodore, Thomas, and Timothy, eight grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Lakeview Personal Care residence at Tel Hai for their loving and attentive care during Jo’s brief stay there. Truly their support allowed Jo to depart this world in peace. In accordance with Jo’s wishes there will be no memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton PA.

Arrangements by Cremation Society of PA, Inc.