Joanne M. Leiss, formerly of Bethlehem and West Chester

Joanne Mildred Leiss, 87, formerly of Bethlehem, where she lived most of her life, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, in Chandler Hall Assisted Living, Newtown, Pa.

She was the beloved wife of Walter R. Leiss. Together they shared 63 years of marriage.

Born and raised in Lebanon, she was a daughter of the late, Clarence Snyder and Anna Mae (Snyder) Allwein. She graduated from Penn State Univ. in 1949 with a B.S.degree in Home Economics and taught at Broughal and Nitschmann Middle Schools for 30 years before retiring in 1989. She was an active member of Christ Church UCC, Bethlehem and after she and her husband moved to Wellington at Hershey’s Mill in West Chester PA, remained members of Christ Church.

In addition to her husband, Walter, she is survived by daughters, Debbie and her husband Dave Ferry; Karen Leiss Spinner and partner Jim Coyle; Linda and her husband Jeff Anderson; sister, Ellen and her husband Ray Doyle; and grandchildren, Melissa Ferry and Christopher Ferry.

Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral service on Friday, April 10, 2015 at 11 a.m. in Christ Church UCC, 75 E. Market St., Bethlehem, where friends will be received from 10 to 10:50 a.m. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Bethlehem.

A r rangements have been entrusted to James Funeral Home, Bethlehem. Online condolences may be placed at www.jamesfuneralhome.org

In lieu of f lowers, donations to The Alzheimers Association of the Delaware Valley, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106 or to Doxie Rescue of Bucks Co. and NJ, 181 Gilbert Drive, Morrisville, PA 19067