Betty June Manwell

Betty June Hamm Manwell, 88, a current resident of Heritage Hills Senior Community assisted living center, Weatherly, Pa, died of natural causes on Wednesday December 18, 2019, and was of the Unitarian faith. Born on June 3, 1931 in Hazleton State Hospital, Hazleton, Pa, on a beautiful summer day in Luzerne County. Predeceased by her parents John Werley Hamm & Ruth Lucetta Leininger Hamm, her brothers Allen and David Hamm, her sister Doris Hamm, and her former husband Robert Manwell. Survived by her sister Carol R Lesser, her nieces Jeanne C Rugh (husband David), Laura J Smith (husband Keith), and sister-in-law Barbara Hamm; nieces Susan Hamm & Sarah Hamm, and her nephew Donald Hamm; great-niece Kayla M Rugh, and great-nephews Coleman and William Smith. Betty grew up on her family owned poultry farm just west of Weatherly, PA, graduating from the Schwab School in 1949. She then attended Indiana State Teachers College for 2 years. Graduated from the Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in 1954. Graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in March 1961.  Graduated from New York University in Jan 1964 with a Master in Arts degree in Community Mental Health and Education.  She was a RN licensed to practice nursing in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Iowa and California.  She worked as a staff nurse at Saint Joseph Hospital in Hazleton, PA; Philadelphia State Hospital in Phila, PA; Holzer Hospital in Gallipolis, OH; and Camden Community Hospital in Camden, NJ.  Taught nursing at St Mary’s School of Nursing, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Director of Nursing at Psychopathic Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa.  Professor of Nursing at California University Hospital, San Francisco, CA.  She was a private consultant and a researcher in the areas of Mental Health, Emergency Medicine, and Health Planning, as well as a grant writer for training funds and other services.  In her later years, she worked for Santa Clara County, CA as a health consultant with the services for the aging populations, and started a self-help group for families needing help caring for elderly family members in their homes. In addition to Mrs. Manwell’s professional work in the health field, she also became an accomplished artist and teacher in the fields of porcelain, stoneware, clay and miniatures; she was involved in teaching doll making, and eventually did many oil paintings & water colors of many types of scenes.  She was also an expert on her family genealogical history, having researched the Hamm line back to the Revolutionary War period, thus qualifying her as a member of DAR (Daughters of American Revolution). Upon retirement in 2000, Mrs. Manwell returned to Pennsylvania to be closer to her family, after living on the west coast in San Jose, CA for over 35 years braving their many earthquakes.  Once back east she built her dream home in the retirement community of Golden Oaks Village, White Haven Pa. She was also an active member on the retirement community board of directors for several years. Funeral arrangement's have been entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services of 211 First Street Weatherly, Pennsylvania 18255. (570) 427-4231 Funeral services will be held from the funeral home on Saturday December 28, 2019 at 11 o'clock A.M., Rev. Sharon Frye to officiate.  Friends may call from 9:30 A.M. until time of services. Interment Union Cemetery of Weatherly, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to: White Haven Area Community Library, 121 Towanda St. White Haven, Pa 18661;  White Haven Presbyterian Church, 305 Berwick St. White Haven, Pa 18661;  White Haven United Methodist Church, 900 Buffalo St. White Haven, Pa 18661, or to any health services program or medical center for continuing of Nursing Education. online registry and condolences may be expressed by visiting, www.griffithsfuneralhomes.com