Ernesteen P. Ecker

Ida Ernesteen P. (Miller) Ecker, age 97, of Camp Hill, PA, passed away at home, surrounded by her loving family, at The Woods at Cedar Run, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016. She was born on December 19, 1918 in Hayfield Township PA to Ida Anna Hites and John Ernest Pardee. She is pre-deceased by her husband and soulmate Leonard J. Ecker. They were married on November 1, 2005 in their Bonita Springs Citrus Park community where they lived for 22 years. Ernesteen and Leonard enjoyed park activities; led a gourmet cooking club, happy hour entertainment, and were Citrus Park Mardi Gras Grand Marshalls. They also loved traveling and cruising all over the world.

Ernesteen was a devoted teacher in Silver Spring, MD and N.W. PA.; a career she considered “getting paid for having fun.” She held a B.A. in Education from Edinboro University and a University of Maryland Masters of Ed. She was forced to withdraw from the UMD doctoral program and retire at age 52, when she fell and broke her back. Following her recovery, she devoted herself to her large family and many friends while exemplifying her life values. Ernesteen inspired all with her contagious optimism and insurmountable courage.

Traveling and adventure were her loves. She visited all but one continent (Antarctica); two trips that thrilled her were to the world’s ancient religious places and most recently, at age 90, a trip with her daughter Ann to the Galapagos Islands.

During her 8-year residence at The Woods, Ernesteen served as an Ambassador, greeting and acclimating new residents, and volunteering her time to many activities. She was named Volunteer of the Year for her work in the “Memory Care” unit, and the annual Salvation Army’s Christmas “Battle of the Bells”. She strongly believed in a healthy mind and body, and promoted that to all her fellow residents.

As a long time and devoted member of the Silver Spring, MD, Colesville United Presbyterian Church, she shared her deep spirituality as a Sunday school teacher.

She is survived by her children: James. S. Miller, Ann Miller Hofmann, Laura (Lee) Beller, Paul (Marcia) Ecker, Lynne Ecker, Kenneth (Julie) Ecker, and Lisa (Brian) Foley; grandchildren: Jennifer (Chad) Pines, Eric (Melanie) Hofmann, Elizabeth (Harry) Verrochi, Gerald (Karen) Engel, Emily (Eric) Schubert, Ethan Ecker, Kory and Kaylee Ecker, Alyssa and Caitlyn Foley; great-grandchildren: Ashley Pines, Natalie and Elizabeth Engel, Briar and Bailey Nelson, and Emma Schubert. She is also survived by her sister Bessie Schlosser and many nieces and nephews including David Fletcher, who was her loving and attentive care giver during her final days.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, James S. Miller, her brothers, Howard Pardee, John Pardee, F. Ernest Pardee, and her son, Patrick Ecker.

In keeping with her devotion to education, Ernesteen has donated her body to the Pennsylvania Humanities Gift Registry.


A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, December 18, 2016 at The Woods At Cedar Run, 824 Lisburn Road, Camp Hill, with the Rev. Ann Myers, Chaplain of Homeland Hospice, and Julie Seifried officiating. A social hour will be held 12:30 – 1:30 PM.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to The Salvation Army (www.salvationarmy.org), 1122 Green St, Harrisburg, PA 17102, or Homeland Hospice of Harrisburg (www.homelandhospice.org), 2300 Vartan Way, #205, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

For more information or to send messages of condolence, please visit www.parthemore.com.