Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
With a wave of her hand
June Wenrich brought joy to passersby by simply waving to them from her front porch
Who knew how much of a positive impact a smile and a wave can have on the disposition of another?
For 62 years, June Wenrich sent good vibes to motorists and anyone else who passed by her home along Penn Avenue in the heart of Sinking Spring, Berks County. Unbeknownst to even her closest relatives until very recently, she touched a whole lot of people.
When the 92-year-old widow’s home in the 3800 block of Penn Avenue went up for sale several weeks ago, people noticed. Some expressed concern about her well-being because they hadn’t seen her waving to passersby from her porch.
When Wencrich’s granddaughter, Jessica Wagner, heard through the grapevine that people were concerned, she took to social media to let everyone know that her grandmother was fine, that it was just time for her to move in with her daughter and son-in-law in Womelsdorf.
She first asked her parents, James and Lois Potts, for their blessing. Her mother is Wenrich’s daughter.
The idea emerged to have Wenrich do one last wave from the porch of her home.
The reaction was beyond what they expected.
“My parents didn’t know, nobody knew, how much she was loved,” Wagner said. “So when we decided to make it the ‘last wave’ everyone was saying we can’t wait to drive by and wave.”
Members of the public were invited to drive by between 5 and 7 p .m. Tuesday to get a warm smile and one final wave from Wenrich, and of course reciprocate. Some family members sat with her on the porch.
Gratitude poured in through the comments on the Facebook post.
A number of people gave nicknames to the lady on Penn Avenue.
One wrote: “Wait a minute … this is my Betty? !!!!!
I named her that years and years and years ago …. I loved her soooo much !!!!! We have moved away …. And I said one of the things I will miss the most is Betty.”
Bus drivers, for Wilson School District and BARTA, were among those who appreciated her the most.
A Wilson school bus driver, upon retirement as a gift to Wenrich, sent her a dye-cast bus. The bus driver’s arm was waving out the window. A photo of BARTA bus drivers is among the gifts she’s received over the years.
“A woman and her daughter would always stop and drop flowers,” Wagner said.
Wagner said her grandmother is touched by the expressions of gratitude and well-wishes.
“We’ve read her every single comment, and she’s in tears,” she said.
Anyone who would still like to send Wenrich a card may address them to: June Wenrich, 621 William Penn Blvd., Womelsdorf PA 19567