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Lebra Mary Bartle

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Lebra Mary Bartle, born in Brooklyn, NY on February 25, 1921, passed away at home on April 17, 2021 after a long and fruitful life. Lee, as she was known to numerous friends and parishioners at St. Anthony’s, was a warm, generous and extremely social woman. She and her late husband, Franklin, built a unique home near Yulan, NY after WWII and enjoyed it until their deaths. They raised three children there: Howard Bartle and partner Linda Hjortshoj of Sterling, NY; April Bidwell and husband Bruce of Narrowsburg, NY; and Thomas Bartle and partner Karen San Marten of San Pablo, CA. Now senior citizens themselves, these “children” will deeply miss Lee, a long-time “rock” in their lives. Howard’s two children, and their children, have also benefited from Lebra’s largesse.

Lee was known as a grand cook, baker, friend and confidante. She worked at clerical jobs, both before her marriage and after her children’s graduations. She had been a steadfast member of the church and the local community. She and Franklin loved music—particularly Broadway musicals; they saw many seminal shows. Once, she inadvertently laundered two prized tickets to “My Fair Lady,” intended to be a surprise, and the couple had to wait right up to curtain time to assume the only unoccupied seats. Their careful financial ways also made it possible for them to visit many of the world’s most famous cities and sights.

A humble person, Lee wanted no memorial or fancy funeral; a Mass will be said in her honor at St. Anthony’s Church in Yulan on Friday, April 23 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan County, 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550. She would ask us all to better value our friends and hold our families a little closer.

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