Barbara Fehnel

Barbara Anne Luff Fehnel died from cancer May 1 as bright morning sun shined through her bedroom window. She died at home, as was her wish, thanks to heroic hospice care and the steady loving care of her granddaughter Heather Kirkwood and family.  Born near Richboro, PA, September 7, 1934, to her parents, Louise Traub Luff and Charles Titus Luff, she was “most athletic” at Council Rock High School, class of 1952, Newtown, PA. She was later inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.  Her dream of college and a career as a physical education teacher was interrupted by family responsibilities. Nevertheless, she stayed active all her life. She was an avid downhill skier and hiked, in segments, 1900 miles of the Appalachian Trail with her sister Doris and family until her knees gave out at age 70. She gave her gift of an active life to her sons, grandchildren, and great-children, taking them skiing and hiking. They received from her the blessing of lives focused on the great outdoors, and the blessing of her abiding love through many trials. She gave her faith to her sons by raising them at Addisville Reformed Church, Richboro.  She was also a consummate homemaker, flower gardener, pie baker, and quilter. As she raised her four sons and granddaughter Heather, she and her second husband Linford Fehnel (d. 2001) moved from Richboro to Haycock Township, PA, where they transferred their membership to Richlandtown United Church of Christ. After retirement as a cashier at Acme Markets, Newtown, she and Lin traveled with their RV to 49 of the 50 state capitols.

With her first husband, Davis Caldwell (d. 1978), and later with Lin, she raised four boys: Robert (children Kylie and Drew), Donald (d. 2019) (children Donald Jr. and Carleen), Andrew  (d. 2009) (daughter Heather), and Michael (children Marrisa, Johanna, and Noah). She is also survived by twelve great-grandchildren: Maeve and Keira (daughters of Carleen and Owen), Margot and Stella (family of Don and Candus), Katelyn, Ryan, and Alivia (family of Heather and Matt), Alex, Rowen, Pierson, Robert and Will (family of Marrisa and Ben).  She is also survived by two sisters and their families, Doris Foster, of New Hope, and Janet Baringer, of Perkasie, and one brother-in-law, John Reilley, of Doylestown. Two sisters, Charlene Reilley (d. 2016), and Cynthia Leck (d. 1970), predeceased her.  She is also survived by two step-daughters and their families, Carol Fehnel Maciezezyk and husband John, of Easton, PA, and Jane Fehnel Nixon and husband Joe, of Easton.

Barbara’s extended family of nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends grieve with the immediate family the loss of an unforgettable, loving, and energetic mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, neighbor, and good friend.  The family extends its deep thanks to the St. Luke’s Hospice team, to the caregivers of Visiting Angels, to Naugle Funeral Home, to Pastor Steve Myren and the congregation of Richlandtown UCC, and to everyone who helped Barbara this last year.

The Church will host, on Thursday, May 5, an open casket viewing at 10 AM, closed casket funeral service at 11, committal in adjacent cemetery immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, contributions could be made to Richlandtown UCC or St. Luke’s Hospice.