Jean (Welliver) Arner

Jean Welliver Arner, 90 of Berwick, passed away Monday, July 21, 2014, under the care of Commonwealth Hospice at Berwick Retirement Village, where she was a resident. She was born July 12, 1924 in Tunkhannock, a daughter to the late Ralph and Bessie (Ace) Sherwood. Jean worked for 35 years as a packer at Wise Snack Foods before retiring. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Berwick, where she served as a deaconess, helped with Easter egg sales, funeral dinners and various other church functions. Jean also volunteered for years at the Berwick Hospital Gift Shop. She was a kind and loving mother, sister and friend to all, and she will be greatly missed. Surviving Jean are her daughter, Bonnie DeFranco and her husband, Bernard of Hunlock Creek, son, Ralph H. Welliver and his wife, Eleanor of Bloomsburg, sister, Doris Stang of Meshoppen, three grandsons: B. Brent and Bradley DeFranco of Hunlock Creek and Richard "Bill" Dent of Berwick, two great-granddaughters, the loves of her life; Avery DeFranco and Anna DeFranco, and sister-in-law, Delores Sherwood of NJ. As well as her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, George William Welliver, two sisters: Arlene Sickler and Marjorie Lamoreax, and a brother, Donald Sherwood. A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, July 26 at the First Baptist Church of Berwick, 224 W. Front St, Berwick. Her close friend, Leila Martin will serve as the officiant. Burial is private and at the convenience of the family. Contributions in Jean's memory can be sent to the First Baptist Church of Berwick Memorial Fund, 224 W. Front St, Berwick, PA 18603.