Eileen M. Beckner

"And God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness."  -Genesis 1:4

‍Eileen Beckner, age 102, of Warfordsburg, PA, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2024.  She was born (blind) on April 25, 1922, in New York.  She was a devoted wife and mother, raising six children while managing a newspaper stand in Manhattan.

In 1972, Eileen relocated to Pennsylvania where she sought a second career in chair caning and became a faithful member of the Pleasant Ridge Church of the Brethren.  Most recently, she donated a complete braille set of the King James version of the Bible to the Fulton County Historical Society.

Despite her disability, she was enthusiastic about education.  She attended Missouri Valley College and, later in life, taught at her Church.  She loved music, gardening, studying the Bible and was an avid reader.

Eileen was preceded in death by her parents, William and Cecelia (Kenna) O'Brien, six siblings, her husband, Charles Beckner, and her son, William Manzo.

Eileen is survived by five children: Patricia Escribano (husband Manny Escribano), Linda Mignolia (husband Ralph Mignolia), Marion Manzo (husband Cezar Borkowski), Cecelia Coffey (husband James Coffey), Cynthia Manzo-Decker (husband Walter "Buddy" Decker).  Nine grandchildren: Patricia Praino, Joseph Escribano, Veronica Mauro, Cynthia Westenberger, Jim Coffey, Marc Manzo, Vincent Manzo, Marion Shanholtz and Miranda Peterson.  Eighteen great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren.  Along with close family friends, Richard Eader and Kay Anderson.

The family extends special gratitude to the staff at CRI (Community Resources for Independence) and their aides, who cared for Eileen for the past 10 years as if she were one of their own.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 12:00 PM at the Pleasant Ridge Church of the Brethren, Needmore, PA with Rev. Roger Truax officiating. There will be one hour of visitation held prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Pleasant Ridge Church of the Brethren Cemetery.

Arrangements were made by the Howard L. Sipes Funeral Home Inc., McConnellsburg, PA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.howardlsipes.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Eileen's memory may be made to Pleasant Ridge Church of the Brethren.