Elaine A. Barnako

Mrs. Elaine A. Barnako, 86, of Kirkland Village Circle, Bethlehem, Pa. died Saturday, June 2 in St. Lukes Hospital, Fountain Hill, Pa. She was the wife of Frank R. Barnako. Born in Chicago, Ill., she was the daughter of the late John L. and Helen McElroy Harrison. While attending the St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing in 1941, she married Dr. Francis Franklin Meilicke, a surgeon. After graduation, she was a nursing instructor at Drexel University during World War II. He joined the military and was stationed in the Philippines. At the end of his tour of duty, the couple returned to Bethlehem. Meilicke became chief of surgery at the hospital. Mrs. Barnako was one of Bethlehems finest community leaders. She served on a committee to determine a new structure of government for the city strong mayor, council, or city manager in 1960. The citys first elected woman council member, Mrs. Barnako served on the city council, beginning in 1961, during the administration of Mayor Gordon Payrow. I tried to change things, Mrs. Barnako told an interviewer from the Express-Times earlier this year. She continued her fondness for the hospital, where she was one of the founders of the Oasis snack bar and gift shop and served as chairperson of the St. Lukes Charity Ball for several years. She shared her talents as an active member of the Junior League, helped open the Y.W.C.A. Teen Center and served on the Good Neighbor Panel in 1960, helping to teach about the negatives of discrimination. She was also a board member of several community organizations. As a member of Central Moravian Church, she helped to organize the church bazaar, Lenten service dinners, as well as fund-raising functions. She was a woman of many talents. As a member of the Saucon Valley Country Club, she enjoyed playing golf as well as serving on various club committees. Mrs. Barnako was also known for her skills of entertaining, cooking and bridge playing.

Survivors: Surviving with her husband, Frank, of eight years, are her two daughters, Camie, wife of Sunny Modjadidi, of Bethlehem and Diane, wife of Henry Guerke Jr., of Monroeville, Pa. She is also survived by her stepson, Frank Barnako Jr. of Great Falls, Va.; stepdaughter, Andrea Cain of Minooka, Ill. She will be dearly missed by her five grandchildren, Karima, Henry III, Christopher, Joshua and Lindsay; her three great- grandchildren, Maddelyn, Tyler and Alexander. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Dr. F.F. Meilicke and A.E. Junker and brother, John L. Harrison.

Services: A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 7 at Central Moravian Church Chapel on Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem. Arrangements, Connell Funeral Home Inc., Bethlehem.

Contributions: Memorials may be directed to St. Lukes Hospital School of Nursing, 801 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, Pa. 18015 or to Kirkland Village Foundation, 1 Kirkland Village Circle, Bethlehem, Pa. 18017.