Cecilia "Sadie" Bilder

Cecilia L. “Sadie” Bilder, the best Mom and Nana in the world, entered eternal life on November 15, 2018 at the Mount Carmel Senior Living Community. She was 97 years old, a woman of strength and beauty.

Born in Atlas on August 21, 1921, Cecilia was the daughter of Raymond A. and Josephine (Stancavage) Hall. A teenager during the Great Depression, she left school in the ninth grade to help support her family. She was employed as a domestic through the WPA. Hard times notwithstanding, she always enjoyed a good time, and managed to gain a reputation as a jitterbug queen.

On July 18, 1942, she married William L. Bilder, Jr. She and “Mooney” raised three children and celebrated 45 years of marriage before his death in March 1987.

A member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Sadie was a devout Catholic. She loved her Faith and her parish. She was particularly devoted to the Blessed Mother, and prayed the Rosary daily.

Known for her kindness, generosity and hospitality, Sadie loved company and always welcomed visitors. Anyone who rang her doorbell found a seat at her kitchen table. She kept an immaculate home. She was a fabulous baker and an even better cook. (Too bad we never wrote down the cucumber recipe).

Sadie delighted in small things…the songs of the birds, picnics at Ideal Park, Sunday drives through the countryside, watching the snow fall, and Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. She especially enjoyed reading aloud to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She had a gift for finding goodness in everyone.

Surviving family members include her daughter, Margaret and her son, William both of Mt. Carmel; five grandchildren, Joseph Begis (Pam), Leonard Begis, Michael Begis (Marsha), Joy Marlow (Ken) and Mathew Bilder. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Dorothy Schultz of Garfield, NJ; her brother, Joseph Hall of Langhorne and nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Jean Begis, her son-in-law, Joseph Begis and by siblings Sylvia Visintainer, Regina Hummel and Leonard Hall.

You worked hard all your life, Mom and Nana…enjoy eternal rest. We love you and miss you.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 11:00 am in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church with the Rev. Francis J. Karwacki, Pastor as the celebrant. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery, Bear Gap. There will be no visitation or services from the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, 47 S. Market St., Mt. Carmel, PA 17851.

Joseph J. Stutz, Inc. Funeral Home, 40 S. Market St., Mt. Carmel, Joseph J. Stutz, III Supervisor is in charge of the arrangements. To leave a condolence for the family, please sign the guestbook at www.stutzfuneralhome.com.