Louisa Christeleit

LOUISA HELMER CHRISTELEIT

Always proud of being a “true Manhattanite”, Louisa was born on November 19, 1933 in New York City, NY to Ludwig and Elizabeth Helmer and passed away after a short illness at her home on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.

She attended William Patterson State Teachers College (now William Patterson University), was a Varsity member of the Woman’s Basketball Team and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.  She also obtained a Master’s Degree in Reading from SUNY Albany.

After teaching elementary school for a few years in New Jersey, she and Richard Christeleit married and moved to Sioux Falls, SD.  It was there that she began her love of teaching students who were disabled. As her husband pastored churches in North Dakota, Indiana and New York, Louisa stayed home with their growing family, returning to the classroom as the children got older.   After moving to Greensburg, PA in 1975 she was an Elementary School Substitute teacher in the Greensburg-Salem School District for many years.  As a Special Education Teacher in the Raleigh County School District, Beckley WV she was named Teacher of the Year in 1992.  A life-long learner and teacher, she continued to share her gift of teaching in many ways.  Louisa’s retirement time was spent traveling with her husband, caring for and attending activities of their grandchildren and through active participation in their church, 1st Baptist Church of Greensburg.

Louisa is survived by her three children Betsy Mowrer (George) of Bethlehem PA, Rich Christeleit (Brenda) of Greensburg PA and Karl Christeleit (Amy) of Harrisburg, PA along with her grandchildren - Rick, Katie, Devon, Maggie, Erika, Richie, Dominick & Derek and her great-grandaughter Louisa.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, 1228 Brinkerton Rd, Greensburg PA at a later date when it is safer to gather in a large group.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to International Ministries ABCUSA (Memo: White Cross-Global Education), c/o the First Baptist Church.