Joanne Virginia Smith

Joanne Virginia Smith, 78 of Schaefferstown, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 30, 2015 in the Hershey Medical Center. She was the wife of the late Harry Smith, Jr. She was born in Lebanon on June 3, 1937, a daughter of the late Franklin and Luella Leonard Long. Joanne was a retired employee of the Good Samaritan Hospital with 28 years of service and after retiring, she worked at the Lantern Lodge in Myerstown as a night desk clerk and auditor. She attended the St. Luke Lutheran Church in Schaefferstown. Joanne is survived by sons, Jeffrey H. Bender and wife Darlene of Newmanstown; Michael A. Bender and wife Anita of Williamstown; daughter, Debra Jo Soto and companion, Efrain Esquilin-Lebron of Myerstown; companion, Harvey “Bud” Hissner; grandchildren, Jeff, Jason, Brian, Nicholas Bender; Samantha Fox, Anthony Allwein, Se’Anna Soto, Sydney Soto, and Guiliana Esquilin-Lebron; step grandchild, Jose Asencin; eight great grandchildren; sisters, Beatrice Gernert and husband Steve of Mifflintown; Joyce Reese and husband Thomas of Cottonwood, AZ; several nieces and nephews. Memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 10:30 AM in the Clauser Funeral Home, N. Carpenter St., Schaefferstown with a visitation beginning on Saturday at 9:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033 or Penn State Heart/Vascular Institute, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033. Clauser Funeral Home, Inc. is handling her arrangements.