Louella B. Kessler

Louella B. Kessler, age 92, 1 Lenox Drive, Selinsgrove, died at 3:10 p. m. Wednesday, March 13, 2013 in the emergency room of the Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg. She was in ill health for the past month.

Born in Mt. Carmel on April 11, 1920, she was a daughter of the late Lewis G. and Anna (Stefanski) Barnes. She resided in Selinsgrove for the past 27 years and previously in Bloomsburg from 1946 to 1985. She attended the former Ralpho Township Schools, Elysburg.

Louella was employed at the former Columbia Silk Mill, Bloomsburg from 1946 until she retired in 1982

She served with the Women’s Army Corps during World War II and was a member of the Catawissa American Legion Post..

Louella served as a foster parent at the former Jackson-Penn Elementary School, Selinsgrove for 20 years. She enjoyed reading Mary Higgins Clark books, doing crossword puzzles and playing cards.

She was preceded in death by three brothers: Lewis Barnes in 1943; Thomas Barnes in 1992; Harry Barnes in 2000; by three sisters: Alice Barnes in 1925; Rita Barnes in 1931; Margaret Girton in 2008; and by a son-in-law, John Bratton in February, 2008.

Surviving are two daughters: Glenda L. Bratton, Bloomsburg (Espy) and Debra A. Kessler, with whom she resided in Selinsgrove; two grandsons: Curtis A. Bratton and Michael J. Bratton, both of Bloomsburg; four brothers: Charles Barnes, and his wife Charmaine, Hegins; Raymond E. Barnes, and his wife Debra and Ralph J. Barnes, Catawissa; Alvin J. Barnes, and his wife Patricia, Dover, Del; three sisters: Jean M. Steward, Berwick; Nancy, wife of Ronald Long, Catawissa; and Mary K., wife of Walter Makowski, Elysburg.

Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11 a. m. in the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg, with the Rev. Gordon E. Smith, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Espy, officiating. Interment with full military honors by the Catawissa VFW group in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy. The family will receive friends from 10 - 11 a. m.