Bertha Louise Light

Bertha (Bert) Louise Light, 101, of New Freedom, and formerly of Camp Hill, passed away on Sunday, June 6, 2021, at Misericordia Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, East York. The daughter of the late Charles B. and Edith C. (Meter) Price, she was born on January 1, 1920 in York.

Bertha made the most of her youth, growing up during the depression and being saddled with responsibility at a young age. She attended school until her family felt it was best for her to work, so she became employed at the local sewing factory. This brief period in her life led her to becoming an extremely talented and ambitious seamstress. She took pride in sewing, and would end up creating a plethora of tablecloths, drapes and clothing throughout her life; most of these creations were shared with her friends, her family, and her community. She took special pride in crafting mommy and daughter dresses, for herself and her little girl, Jan. Bertha always put others first, and she was the consummate hostess – you couldn’t enter her door without being offered something to eat or drink. When she was in her prime, she enjoyed bowling in local leagues, and traveling with her husband, Ralph. They would raise their family in Highland Park; and as devout Catholics, they belonged St. Theresa Catholic Church, New Cumberland. As she and Ralph aged, they moved to New Freedom which afforded them the ability to be with their grandsons and to watch them grow.

She is survived by her daughter, Jan Light Gottschalk of New Freedom; two grandsons, Curt Frederick Gottschalk of Baltimore, MD, and Bradford Francis Gottschalk (wife, Kelly) of Munich, Germany; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph W. Light, Jr.; a sister and five brothers; her son-in-law, Carl Francis Gottschalk; and her in-laws, Ralph and Esther Light.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM on July 6, 2021, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, New Freedom. A visitation will be held from 10-11AM in the church. A private burial will take place in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mechanicsburg.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Bertha’s name to either parish: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 315 N. Constitution Ave., New Freedom, PA 17349, or St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1300 Bridge St., New Cumberland, PA 17070.