Bernadette J. (Lander) Etzel

      Bernadette J. (Lander) Etzel, formerly of Seneca, died on May 14, 2026. 

      Born on March 23, 1926, in Lucinda, she recently celebrated her 100th birthday with her family in Florida.  

      She was a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Lucinda and worked at Stranford’s Dry Cleaning and the Seneca Post Office for many years before her retirement. 

     Bernie, as she was best known, was the last surviving sibling of the 12 children of Jacob and Elizabeth Lander.  She married Wayne L. Etzel in 1947, and they celebrated their 73rd anniversary before he died in 2021.  After their marriage, they eventually relocated to the Seneca area where they built their house and remained for over 50 years. 

     It was there that they raised their 4 children: Linda, Ron, Tom (Alicia) and Annette (Kevin). She is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Joel (Annette) Fye, Tracy (Mark) Murgash,  Jason (Heidi) Fye, Megan (Tyler) Foister, Amy Etzel, Justin (Sara) Bailey and Josh (Hannah) Bailey; 10 great grandchildren: Corey (Lindsey) Fye, Emily (Devin) Crandall, Cameron Murgash, Amanda Murgash, Maddie Fye, Caraline Fye, Nolan Fye, Josie Foister, Jace Bailey, Cora Bailey, and 3 great-great grandchildren: McKinley Fye, Hudson Fye and Greyson Fye.

    Bernie enjoyed working in her flowerbeds and garden, as well as traveling and playing cards with family and friends.  While traveling, she loved to stop and play the “one-armed bandits” at the casinos. 

    She was known for her beautiful quilts and crochet tablecloths/doilies. Her family will also always cherish the memories of their get togethers where she would always say “if everybody just takes one more bite”.

    Bernie was preceded in death by her parents; 5 sisters: Mary, Elizabeth, Dorthy, Kathryn, and Virginia, and 6 brothers: Alfred, Dennis, Richard, Mickey, Raymond, and Joseph.

    The family will recite the rosary at 5:45 in the funeral home and welcome family and friends to join them.   

    Family and friends will be received from 6-8 p.m., Friday, June 12, 2026, at the Faller/Rupert Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 19200 Route 208, Fryburg.

    A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the St. Joseph Church, 112 Rectory Lane, Lucinda

    Memorial contributions may be given in the name of Bernadette J. Etzel to the St. Joseph Church, 112, Rectory Lane, Lucinda, PA 16235.

    Online condolences may be sent to Bernie’s family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com