The Life of Mrs. Doris P. Hartdagen
Doris (Perrie) Hartdagen, 86, died Thursday, December 20, 2023, at SpiriTrust Lutheran Village at Utz Terrace in Hanover. She was the wife of the late Dr. Gerald Hartdagen.
Doris is survived by 2 daughters and their families. Sande Hartdagen and wife Donna Johnson from Connecticut and Kamakshi Hart and Will Friday and granddaughter Sierra from California. She is also survived by her York family including Joan & Ron Witmer, Sharon & John Carroll, Joe & Jan Orendorff, Joanne & Joe Valenti and family, Chris Hammond and family, Greg & Mary Witmer and family, Brian & Christie Witmer and family, and Maryanne Witmer and family. She is also survived by 2 brothers, Benson Perrie of Cryer Cove, MD and Jim Perrie (Joyce) of South Carolina and sister-in-law, Judy Ritter of Fallbrook, CA.
Doris was born October 15, 1937, in Washington, D.C., the daughter of the late Preston and Naomi (Lusby) Perrie of Camp Springs, MD. She and Jerry married on August 3, 1957, and embarked on their journey together: first to Illinois, then back to Pennsylvania, then Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania again, and Ohio. In 1994 they moved to York which allowed them almost 30 years of living close to extended family.
Doris was a great believer in education for women and her daughters remember well being urged to go to college from a young age. She herself received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University and an M.S. in Education from Wilkes College and taught at the elementary level as well as an Adjunct Professor at Misericordia College. She also worked in several retail establishments, including Christian Light Bookstore, and she put her all into it. She was a wonderful role model who actively continued to learn and study throughout her life. In the last year she read book after book on past (primarily Democrat) presidents, including those by Doris Kearns Goodwin. She was in the middle of reading about Theodore Roosevelt when she entered hospice.
Doris lived her values in many aspects of her life of service including many years as a member of the League of Women Voters. She also took an active role in the Christian Women’s Club of York and the Welcome Wagon of York. She was a member of the York County Heritage Trust and its Auxiliary, serving on the Board and as President of the latter. She also served on the Board and as President of the Women’s Club of York.
Raised in the Methodist Church, Doris moved to the Lutheran Church (ELCA) after her marriage. She was an active member in all the congregations she was a member of until the pandemic and declining health resulted in isolation from her church community. She was a dedicated teacher within the church teaching Sunday School for almost forty years, taught and served as Director of Vacation Bible School, as Children’s Choir Director, and as a choir member. She served on the Church Council and many committees, including the Christian Education Committee at Advent Lutheran Church in York. She held leadership positions in the Lutheran Church Women (WELCA), including District Assembly Chairman of the Williamsport District, LCA Church Women’s President in Indianapolis, and President of the Lutheran Church Women at Advent.
As her daughters, we extend heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff at SpiriTrust Lutheran at Utz Terrace in Hanover. Doris arrived there in November of 2022 and by January had been cared for so well that she entered a wonderful period in her later life. She was very happy, not the least because of the warmth and dedication and what she would say was friendship from the staff, from P.T. to O.T. to Nursing and Nursing assistants to the front desk, the entire cleaning and dining staff, the Activities folks and the Administrator. We would like to name you all! In her last weeks we know you were dedicated to comforting her in every way you possibly could. We met many of you but not all of you. It is impossible to express what you have done, love in action for sure.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at a future date at Heffner Funeral Chapel, 1551 Kenneth Road, York. Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to SpiriTrust Lutheran at Utz Terrace, 2100 Utz Terrace, Hanover, PA 17331 and Advent Lutheran Church, 1775 E. Market Street, York, PA 17402.