Obituary of Leatrice Kushnerick

Leatrice (Letty) Kushnerick June 22, 1928 – December 1, 2023

Letty Kushnerick passed peacefully on December 1, 2023, at age 95. She was a 67 year resident of Middletown Township, Delaware County, PA, where she and her husband raised their family.

Letty was born in Aliquippa, PA, and at age 6 moved with her family to Freeland, PA when her father was appointed headmaster of a private school, the Mining and Mechanical Institute (now MMI Prep).  She met her future husband there attending Foster Township High School.  She attended both Ursinus College and East Stroudsburg State College, graduating from the latter, and subsequently taught first grade in Dallas, PA.

In 1950 in Freeland, Letty married high school sweetheart John Peter Kushnerick, who had become a Naval Aviator stationed in Pensacola, Florida.  They located in Pensacola while he was in training and on active carrier duty, and then briefly in Pittston, PA, finally settling in the new subdivision of Riddlewood near Media in Middletown Township, PA in 1956.

There Letty became involved in community activities, joining Lima Methodist Church, and the new Riddlewood Swim Club and neighborhood association.  In the 1960’s, she began a 48 year membership in the new Riddle Memorial Hospital Women’s Auxillary, which provided local engagement and fund raising to support this new community hospital.  She particularly enjoyed working at the pizza booth at the annual hospital fair, the annual fashion show, and the Thrift Shop.  She and her family relocated elsewhere in the township in the 1970’s, and she was most recently a 14 year resident of Riddle Village.

Letty enjoyed playing piano on her baby grand.  She had played since childhood, serving as the pianist for Sunday School starting at age 12.  She was also an animal person, with pet dogs and cats throughout her life - often simultaneously.

Letty is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years John Peter Kushnerick (a publishing executive at Chilton), and her sister Carol Broad Foster.   Letty is survived by her two children John Douglas Kushnerick (retired senior scientist with ExxonMobil, wife Bonita), Susan Powell (a local landscaper, husband David), and two grandchildren Victoria Powell and Elizabeth Powell, all of whom are Delaware County residents. 

Visitation: Thursday, December 7th after 10:00AM at the Minshall Shropshire-Bleyler Funeral Home, Middletown (Rte. #352) & Knowlton Rds., Middletown Twp., Media, PA 19063.

Funeral Service: Thursday, December 7th at 11:00AM at the funeral home.

Interment: Media Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Lima United Methodist Church, 209 N. Middletown Rd., Media, PA 19063.