Marie S. Morman

Marie S. Morman, 102, of Lititz, and formerly of Allentown, died peacefully on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Moravian Manor Community, Lititz. Born December 7, 1923 to Oswill and Mary A. Loch Bittner, Marie graduated from Whitehall High School and served as organist and choir director at Jordan U.C.C. Church while attending Cedar Crest College. After graduation she taught high school Home Economics for one year.

She was married to the late Rev. John F. Morman in 1946 and served as organist and choir director at John's first pastorate in Uhrichsville, Ohio.

Marie served as organist and/or choir director and participated in women's fellowship groups at each of John's subsequent pastorates. They were next called to First Moravian Church in South Bethlehem, then back to Ohio to Gnadenhutten Moravian Church. Here her hobbies included arrowhead hunting with a group of close friends.

When they received a call to Linden Hall School, Lititz, it was back to Pennsylvania, where John was to become headmaster and Marie planned the meals and ordered food. Here they were "affectionately" known as Papa John and Mama Marie by some. Marie was active in Lititz Moravian Church.

John and Marie left Linden Hall with a grand Moravian send-off when he accepted a call to Antigua, West Indies for a three-year term at Cana and Gracehill Moravian Churches. In addition to her usual responsibilities Marie also taught organ. She was thrilled to meet Queen Elizabeth on her Jubilee visit but it was the generous and fun-loving Antiguan people who captured their hearts.

Next they accepted the call to Trinity Moravian Church in Lanham, Maryland. They continued to enjoy each new group of friends as they built community together in their own unique way, and it was this group with whom they later spent winters in Florida.

Their last call was to Coopersburg Moravian Church where they stayed until retirement, after serving for 42 years. It was while living here that they enjoyed visits from their new grandchildren. They bought their first home in Coopersburg where they lived for 17 years. Here they began a tradition that Marie held dear--sharing every Thanksgiving and Christmas for more than 30 years together with Dale and June Shelley's family and with Shelleys' daughter-in-law Sandy's parents.

After retiring in 1987 they were thrilled to volunteer in the West Indies during four winters, filling in on Antigua, St. Croix and Barbados.

They bought a mobile home in Ellenton, Florida to be with Trinity friends, with whom they shared many seafood fund-raisers and practical jokes. They began a 12-year tradition of holding Easter dawn services at the Manatee River, with Marie playing keyboard and recruiting a choir, and also held a Christmas lovefeast and candlelight service, teaching attendees how to trim their own candles.

Deciding it was time to "retire" again, they moved to Lititz in 2002, again becoming active members of church and their neighborhood. Marie expanded her usual musical activities to include volunteering along with John at the church Museum and Archives as well as with Meals On Wheels. She remained in their home after John passed away in 2012 where she continued her many hobbies. She was an avid seamstress and a prolific reader, preferring non-fiction, especially biographies. She played piano well into her late 90's and was a life-long learner--studying cello later in life. Weekly meals with her family were followed by a game of Bananagrams.

Marie remained in their home with the help of family, thoughtful neighbors, "old" friends and "new" homecare friends until almost age 102, when she moved to Moravian Manor in November 2025. She greatly appreciated all her visitors, and the highlights of these days were family parties and visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren who believed in her, and who were instrumental in helping her accomplish her goals, mentally and physically. Marie passed away on March 7, 2026.

Most notably, Marie and John were a true team in each place they lived. Marie remained in touch with close friends from all times of their life, from as near as Linden Hall to as far as Antigua. Perhaps this is the most tangible indication of the impact of her life of service and love.

Surviving is a daughter, Ruth Ellen wife of Michael Shelley of Lititz, a grandson Ryan A. Shelley of Baltimore, partner of Dr. Brynn Wajda, a granddaughter Kate M. Yeager wife of Jonathan Yeager of Lancaster, a great grandson Jasper Lee Yeager and great granddaughter Etta Marie Yeager.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Marie's Memorial service at Lititz Moravian Church, 8 Church Square, Lititz, on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Friends may visit with the family in Eschbach Parlor at the church on Saturday morning from 10:30 AM until the time of the service. Interment will be private in Lititz Moravian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in Marie's memory to: Lititz Moravian Music Program or Lititz Moravian Museum and Archives, 8 Church Square, Lititz, PA 17543, or to Moravian Music Foundation, 457 South Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.