Elsie Skvir Nierle, Trustee Emerita who served on the Board of Trustees of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY from 1994 through 2005 and founding member of Holy Cross Church here, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, July 17, 2016, just two weeks after her 89th birthday.
Born on July 2, 1927 in Ganister, PA, she was the daughter of the late John Skvir and Paraskeva Skvir. After graduating from Williamsburg High School, Williamsburg, PA, and the Jefferson University School of Nursing, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Temple University and a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, both in Philadelphia. She taught nursing for many years in the Philadelphia area, then at Bloomsburg University.
A founder of Holy Cross Church, she served as council president when the parish’s new church was constructed. She was honored for her leadership at the community’s 20th anniversary celebration in November 1997. In recognition of her work for the Church both locally and nationally, she received the Order of Saint Innocent from the Orthodox Church in America.
“Elsie was an exceptionally generous woman who understood that every ‘house’ needs a firm foundation,” said Theodore Bazil, Senior Advisor for Advancement at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. “She funded numerous programs and projects for the Orthodox Church in America and its seminaries.”
In 2002, she founded the John and Paraskeva Skvir Chair in Practical Theology at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, an Academic Chair established in honor of her parents. The Chair was held by Archpriest Paul Lazor until his retirement, and currently is held by Archpriest Dr. Alexander Rentel. In 1986, she established the Mary Skvir Memorial Scholarship Fund, named in honor of her departed sister, to aid students at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA. The same year, she also established the Father John Skvir Memorial Pastoral Fellowship Endowment of the Orthodox Church in America. Additionally, she served on the Ganister Orthodox Foundation Committee of the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, a charitable organization that supports the special projects of many Orthodox Christian non-profits.
She was predeceased by her sister, Mary; brothers, Michael, Joseph and Archpriest John Skvir; and her husband, Dr. Richard H. Nierle. She is survived by eight nieces and nephews.
Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, at Holy Cross Church, 1725 Holy Cross Lane, Williamsport, PA. A Memorial will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral service will be celebrated at the church at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday morning, July 21, followed by a luncheon in the parish social hall. Interment will be at Saint Mary’s Holy Assumption Cemetery, Ganister, PA at 5:00 p.m. Thursday evening.
May Elsie’s memory be eternal!
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