Gayle Sandra Heller was born June 26, 1937 to Doris and P. Wesley Heller in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. She died in Sarasota, Florida on December 23, 2025.
Gayle grew up in Pottsville, active in Trinity Lutheran Church, Girl Scouts as a Mariner Scout, Rainbow Girls, and was an original bagpiper in the Highland Lassie Corps of Pottsville High School. She graduated from Pottsville High School in 1955 and studied education in Kutztown State Teachers’ College, where she graduated in 3 1/2 years. She started her career by teaching history in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.She met Jim Freed in Trinity Lutheran Church, and they were married there December 26, 1959. They lived in Emmaus, although she continued teaching in Fleetwood. Their first daughter, Gretchen, was born in January 1961, and Jennifer was born in September 1964. When Jim‘s job changed, they moved to Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where she became a stay at home mom with substituting as a teacher whenever necessary. She was actively involved with her children and all their activities and very close with her family. Christmas was very meaningful to her and family always gathered for this holiday as well as many other holidays. Her home was always open to family.Gayle continued her education and in 1984 received her M. Ed. degree with certification in K-12 School Counseling.When Jim passed away in 1986 she moved to Lancaster, securing a position as an elementary school counselor for Penn Manor school district in Millersville, where she worked until she retired at age 62. In the meantime, Gretchen wed Michael Whalen, and two grandchildren were born. Jennifer wed Gregg Caplan, and three more grandchildren followed. Gayle was actively involved in all the activities of her grandchildren. She also cared for her Aunt Marian and Uncle Phil who were in assisted living nearby.For herself, Gayle became active in the Sweet Adeline’s in Lancaster, singing in the chorus, as well as in a Quartet. They traveled to competitions around the country and sang as a group in Europe.Her sister, Karen, moved to Montana in 1990, and Gayle enjoyed visiting almost every year. They traveled extensively, often to Glacier National Park, also enjoying a three week trip to Alaska, and many trips to Disney World with her grandchildren.In about 2002, Gayle reconnected with Bill Hartstein, a Pottsville friend, and they were wed in Millersville in 2004. Bill had a home in Florida and they traveled between both homes until the decision was made to move permanently to Englewood, Florida. They enjoyed traveling, many cruises, and many Christmases in Montana. Gayle joined the “Spirit of the Gulf” Sweet Adeline’s chorus. They competed internationally and traveled to shows in Denver, Seattle, Baltimore, and at one point placed second in the world competition.Gayle was fascinated with family history and traced her roots back to Germany, doing much work on the family tree. She completed the complicated paperwork necessary to become a Daughter of the American Revolution. Her father‘s mother was a Ream, of the family who settled Reamstown, Pennsylvania in the early 1700’s. She posted most of her work including many pictures on ancestry.com.In her early 80’s it became more difficult to memorize the music for her singing and other subtle changes were noted leading eventually to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. For many years, she remained at home until her husband’s health in 2020 caused her to enter Cadbury Memory Care at Jacaranda Trace in Venice, Florida. Bill visited daily for several years and her caregivers were wonderful to both of them. In December, 2024, she was transferred for more skilled nursing care to the Inn at Sarasota Bay Club. Family visited as often as possible. She passed away peacefully December 23, 2025. We are sure she is applying now for a singing position in the Heavenly Angels’ Chorus.Gayle was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Jim, and her daughter Gretchen. She leaves behind her husband, Bill Hartstein, who is in assisted living in Venice, Florida, her sister, Karen Heller, and a daughter, Jennifer Caplan (Gregg), grandchildren Geremy Whalen, Mitchell Whalen (McKenna), Jordan McGuigan (Colin), Gillian Roque Perdomo (Bryan), Jacey Caplan, and five great-grandchildren, Wesson, Lincoln, Layla, Oliver, and Sonny.If you wish, in lieu of flowers, you may donate in her memory to a charity of your choice.