Menu

Obituary for Carmen T Topper

Carmen T. Topper,  passed away peacefully at Neshaminy Manor with her family by her side on March 7, 2018.  She was 88 years young.

She was the wife of the late Donald B. Lyman, Gary M. Cresta and Linus Benedict Topper.

Born in Johnstown, PA, she was the daughter of the late George and Erlamond Fisher Trexler.

She graduated from Upper Darby High School and Pierce Business School.  She was in the account supervision department at Smith Barney on Wall Street and transferred to the Philadelphia office prior to her to marriage to Donald Lyman in 1950.  In 1965, she accomplished her dream opening Lyman’s Card and Gift Shoppe, until sadly Don passed away in 1969.   She then worked as a secretary at Garrettford Elementry School in Drexel Hill, PA.  In 1974, with her new husband, Gary Cresta, she opened her interior design and gift shop called Nob Hill Collections in Ardmore, PA.  During this time, she was asked to be a designer in the Vassar Design House.  In 1980, they decided to retire to Delray Beach, FL, where she obtained her real estate license and was very successful selling homes in Boca Raton.

They moved back to PA after several years to be with family, and she started working at Fred Beans Ford as a Greeter in Doylestown, PA where she met Ben Topper who passed away in 2004.  She moved to the Manor of Yorktown in Jamison, PA where she met wonderful friends and sang in the manor choir.  She also joined the VIA at Doylestown Hospital, volunteering at the Designer Houses and then decided to become a Doylestown Hospital Volunteer in the gift shop.  She loved the theater, her bridge clubs, all the wonderful staff at Neshaminy Manor who took such loving care of her and all her wonderful friends, spanning from high school into her later years.  

She is survived by her children, Donna and Jim Fonash of Chalfont, PA, Bobbie and Barry Bachman of Marlton, NJ., and Gregory and Wendy Lyman of Marlton, NJ.  She is also survived by her grandchildren: Blake Lyman, wife Karen, Jaime Voels, husband Ryan, Jared Fonash, wife Gina, Brittany Lyman, Ashley Lyman and Courtney Lyman and her great-grandchildren; Caitlyn, Allison, Jackson, Dylan and Eva.  She is also survived by a sister in law Donna Boyce-TrexlerGeertz, niece Keri Trexler, and nephews, Mark Trexler, Todd Korker and Chip Korker and cousin Sally Luther.  She was predeceased by her beloved brothers; K, and Bart Trexler.

Her family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, March 10, 2018 from 9:00AM until her Funeral Service 11:00 AM at the Lenape Valley Presbyterian Church, 321 W. Butler Avenue, New Britain, PA 18901.  Her interment will be held privately in Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, PA. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Lenape Valley Church, 321 W. Butler Avenue, New Britain, PA  18901 or St. Jude Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.


Charities

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105
(800) 822-6344
www.stjude.org
Lenape Valley Church
321 W. Butler Avenue
New Britain, PA 18901
215-345-1099
www.lenapevalleychurch.o