Margaret Reese, 94, an Avid Baker and Chef

The following was provided to Patch:

Margaret Rose (Koomar) Reese of Bethlehem died peacefully in her sleep at home of age-related illness early on the morning of December 30. She turned 94 on Christmas Eve.

Born in Nesquehoning, she was a daughter of the late Michael P. and Anna M. (York) Koomar. She and her devoted husband, Albert Reese, would have celebrated 70 years of marriage on January 6. They met at the Nesquehoning High School junior prom and dated for seven years before marrying.

Margie’s passions in life were cooking, baking and taking care of her large family. Her dream was to work in the Betty Crocker test kitchen. Her community benefitted from her culinary talents for decades as she worked in the cafeteria of Governor Wolf Elementary School in Bethlehem, assisted daughter Mary and son-in-law Paul Hoffert with cooking and baking at the White House country inn in Calais, Vt. and later helped the Hofferts open Jumbar’s restaurant in Bethlehem. Margie often provided home-baked treats for Jumbar’s.

A woman of strong faith, Margie was a founding member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Bethlehem 52 years ago and was a chef for the late Rev. Harry Hynes for about six years.

Margie will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, godmother, sister and aunt.
She was preceded in death by daughter Mary (Reese) Hoffert of Bethlehem; sisters Mary K. Rose of Princeton, N.J. and Helen T. Koomar of Nesquehoning; and brothers Edward M. of Allentown; Michael P. of Cleveland, Ohio; Vincent J. of Nesquehoning; Joseph B. of Peotone, Ill.; and James B. of Audubon, Pa.

Surviving in addition to husband Albert are daughters Anne, at home; Jeanne of Bethlehem; son-in-law Paul Hoffert of Bethlehem; granddaughter Emily Hoffert and wife Jennifer Dize of Phillipsburg, N.J.; grandsons Ben and Harry Hoffert of Bethlehem; son Jim and wife Anne Bean of Bethlehem and Anne’s children Christopher Iezzoni of California, Kate (Iezzoni) Martinez of New York City and Mariel Iezzoni of Bethlehem; grandson Jesse Reese of Fountain Hill; great-granddaughter Madison King of Bethlehem; daughter Joan and husband Jim Finnen of Hellertown and Jim’s children Laurel and Jimmy.

Also surviving are brothers John Koomar, Francis X. Koomar and Stephen T. Koomar, all of Nesquehoning, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5 at James Funeral Home, 527 Center St., Bethlehem and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, 3219 Santee Rd., Bethlehem. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday followed by interment in Holy Savior Cemetery, Linden Street, Bethlehem.

Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, 3221 Santee Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020 or Notre Dame School, 1835 Catasauqua Road, Bethlehem, PA 18018.