Hannelore Helen Kraus

Born on December 26, 1928 in Schramberg, Germany, daughter of the late German and Ida Rall, she immigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-two. She is pre-deceased by her sister Gertrude Fichtner.

Her first job was at Berkshire Knitting Mills. Later she worked at Whitner’s Department Store and for Reading Hospital.

She met her husband, William Kraus, at the Reading Liederkrantz, where they were both in the chorus. August would have been their 65th wedding anniversary.

A life-long classical music enthusiast, she and her husband sang in four local choirs. They attended St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church for many years.

A woman of many talents, she kept extensive travel diaries, which were shared among her delighted family members during her later years. Her hobbies included keeping an immaculate house, caring for her grandchildren, maintaining an extensive vegetable garden, watching history series on PBS and reading. She was also an avid crossword enthusiast.

Surviving are her husband William, four daughters: Susan Kraus, wife of Jonathan Kaplan, of Malibu California, Barbara LePage, wife of Matthew LePage, of Mercer Island, Washington, Elizabeth Weidner, wife of Scott Weidner of West Lawn Pa.., and Karen Stocker, wife of Wayne Stocker of Sinking Spring Pa., one brother, Gunter Rall of Schramberg Germany and one sister, Gretel Flaig, also of Schramberg. She is survived by seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and Madison, the Country Meadows cat, who rode on her walker and kept guard by the door of her room during her final illness.

We would like to thank the aides from Nightingale, who took such loving care of her throughout her illness.

A family and friends viewing will be held from 5:30 to 7:30pm on Friday, July 28, 2017 in Theo C. Auman Funeral Home, 247 Penn St. Reading PA 19601. Reflections will be shared at 7:30pm in the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:00am on Saturday, July 29, 2017 in St. Ignatius Loyola Church, 2810 St. Albans Drive, Sinking Spring PA 19608. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reading, immediately after the mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163

Online condolences may be sent to www.theocauman.com