Rachael J. Long

Rachael J. Long, 94, of Bethlehem, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2011, at St. Luke's Hospice surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Rudolph H. Long who died July 4, 2005.

Born February 2, 1917, in Kempton, MD, she was the daughter of the late William E. and Edith M. Purgit Junkins. She was a long time member of Fritz Memorial Methodist Church, Bethlehem.

She grew up in Bayard, WV and graduated from Bayard High School in May 1935 and Capital City School of Nursing, Washington, DC in Oct. 1938. She worked in several Washington, DC hospitals before joining the US Army as a nurse in May 1943.

She spent 21 months in the European Theater of Operation with the 95th General Army Hospital in England and France. She received the American Theater Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, the European, African, Meddle Eastern Campaign Medal and two battle stars for the Northern France and the Rhineland campaigns. Upon return to the U.S. she served at Indiantown Gap, PA where she met her husband. She was released from duty as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corp in June 1946 and wed in Oct. 1946. She spent the majority of her married life in Bethlehem having also lived in Atlanta, GA for a period.

She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed doing needlework and crafts, playing bridge, dancing and traveling. She was an active volunteer at her church and at the Historic Bethlehem Goundie House and Southside Ministries Thrift Store for many years.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan of Bethlehem, son, David and wife Mary of Bethlehem; grandchildren, Jennifer Beaver and husband Donald of Pittsburgh, David Long Jr. and wife Nina of Trevose, and Kristin Kessler and husband Duane of Downingtown; great-grandchildren, Rachael, Morgan and Kyle Beaver, and Lindsay and Lola Long. She is pre-deceased by her husband; daughter, Sarah; sisters, Vivian Parker and Ina Best; and brother, Ralph Junkins.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St. Bethlehem, where an 12 p.m. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday January 7th. Call one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Disease Research, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106.