Felicia B. Bates

Felicia B. Bates, 60, of Bethlehem, died on Monday November 29, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem from complications of dermatomyositis. Born in Hazleton, PA, on February 13, 1950, she was the daughter of the late George and Louise J. Lichard Bruley.

Felicia was a graduate of Hazleton High School, a cum laude graduate of the Pennsylvania State University Class of 1972 and was awarded a M.A. from the University of Scranton She did post-graduate study in Elementary Counseling at Lehigh University. Felicia first worked at West Hazleton High School as a Spanish language teacher then served as a counselor in several schools of the Bethlehem Area School District from 1985 until her retirement from Clearview Elementary in 2009. She was a member of Advent Moravian Church, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, and a Life Member of the Penn State Alumni Association. She loved sailing and was an avid reader.

She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 28 years, Blair E. Bates, their daughter, Monica Elizabeth Bates, many friends and education colleagues, and thousand of students who she helped throughout her years in public education.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday December 7th at 4 P.M. in the Advent Moravian Church, 3730 Jacksonville Rd. Bethlehem, PA 18017.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are asked for, in Felicia's memory, to the "Room to Grow" children's library expansion of the Bethlehem Area Public Library, 11 West Church St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.