Nancy Lee (Schmidt) Whalen

Nancy Lee Whalen

Wild Flowers & Yellow Tulips –

Nancy Lee Whalen, 72, of Mechanicsburg died Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at home and surrounded by her loving family after her brutal battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). She was born on Sunday, October 9, 1938 in Shamokin the daughter of the late Charles and Pauline Biddinger Schmidt.

Nancy reserved the most special place in her heart for her grandchildren: Shane, Brendan and “Gram’s little girl” Megan. She cherished the time she spent with Shane and Brendan at their sporting events and cooking with Megan. Her grandsons are her special treasures and she could not wait for the arrival of her first and only granddaughter.

Nancy loved gardening, yellow tulips, hydrangeas, wild flowers and mowing grass. She enjoyed Hershey Bear’s Games, gambling (slots in particular) and all kinds of computer games. She could not get enough of Elvis and John Wayne. Nancy worked for Bell Telephone Company, Shamokin where she met her future husband who were then married on October 8, 1960; she worked enormously hard at Book of the Month Club, Mechanicsburg; and she worked and retired from Blue Shield, Camp Hill.

Nancy is survived by her caring husband: Alfred L. Whalen; one son: Robert C. Whalen and his wife Yvonne and their sons Shane & Brendan all of Dillsburg; one daughter: Carol A. Diller and her husband Roy and their daughter Megan all of Dillsburg; and one sister: Pauline Layton of Mechanicsburg. She was preceded in death by one sister Barbara Saliaris.

All are welcome to join Nancy’s family at a Gathering of Family & Friends on Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 2:00 until time of Memorial Service at 4:00 at the Myers–Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory , 37 East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA, 17055, (717) 766-3421, www.Myers-Buhrig.com . Bob Schellenberg will officiate. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family in Rolling Green Memorial Park, Camp Hill.

The family suggests memorial contributions to: ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA, 19002-2755, 1-877-434-7441, www.ALSPhiladelphia.org .

The Whalen Family sends their most heartfelt thanks to Dr. Zachary Simmons and everyone at Hershey Medical Center who so lovingly cared for Nancy during her illness.

Please share your memories and photos of Nancy and offer your condolences at www.SharingSpecialMemories.com or www.Myers-Buhrig.com .