Frances "Gerry" Pepe's Obituary
Frances Geraldine (Gerry) Pepe, nee Purvis, passed away on June 21, 2024, at Preston House, Charlotte, NC.
Known as Gerry to her friends and family, Gerry was the second child of Loyal Arthur Purvis and Edna Frances (Hill) Purvis. Her late siblings were Helen Betty (Purvis) Byron and Loyal Arthur Purvis, Jr. Gerry married the love of her life, the late Arthur Pepe, on May 31, 1952. She is survived by her children Teresa (Terry) Pepe, Los Angeles, CA, Elizabeth (Betty) Pepe Wilkerson, Charlotte, NC, James (Jim) Pepe and wife Dara, New Paris, PA and Frank Pepe, New Paris, PA. Gerry was a proud grandmother to Caitlin Wilkerson Kleineschay, Tara Wilkerson McGinn, Mark Wilkerson, Nicole Foltin, Jason Foltin, Alena Foltin, and Laurel Pepe and a very proud great-grandmother to Benji Kleineschay, Emerson Kleineschay, Henry McGinn, Colin McGinn and Dominic Foltin. She loved and cherished all her numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
Gerry was born on 11/03/1927, in Wilkes-Barre, PA, graduating from Plant High School in Tampa, FL, in 1945 and returned to Pennsylvania to attend the Allegheny Valley Nursing School, graduating in 1948. Gerry returned to school in 1971, attending the Indiana University of Pennsylvania to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Gerry arrived in Bedford County with her new husband Art Pepe in 1952 and moved to Charlotte in 2019 to be near her daughter Betty.
Gerry had numerous roles, her favorite being that of loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. She enjoyed her career as a nurse at the Bedford Memorial Hospital from 1964-1971 (where she worked as an intensive care nurse among other assignments), before becoming a school nurse at the Chestnut Ridge Schools from 1972-1988. Gerry was an active member of the New Paris United Methodist Church, and was a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross blood drive, and many other volunteer activities throughout the community. She loved music, books, animals and kids.
A donation to a favorite animal rescue or child services group or the Bedford Symphony in her memory in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.
A Celebration of Life will be scheduled later.
James Funeral Home is assisting the family, online condolences may be made at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
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