Dr. Janet A. Sipple, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 9, 2024.

Janet Elspeth Sipple was born on January 28, 1943 to Harold and Edna (nee Wolff) Askew in Wilson, NC.

She began her quest for nursing at West Virginia University where she earned her B.S.N., which lead to her masters at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Janet was determined to pursue more so she followed with her Doctoral in Education at University of South Carolina and finally her Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Missouri.  Upon completion of her graduate studies, Dr. Sipple began her nursing career at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC.

As her experiences progressed, she moved from North Carolina to Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Australia, Missouri and finally Pennsylvania. Dr. Sipple played a significant part of changing and growing the education of nursing professionals here in the United States as well as Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, where she developed the first advanced nursing degree program and the US-Australia Nurse Exchange Program.  Dr. Sipple holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia.

Dr. Sipple came to Bethlehem and St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1995 to transition the 114 year old program to baccalaureate degree program status through an innovative collaboration model with Moravian University.

Janet was an outstanding educator that exemplifies honor, professionalism, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to local and global academic excellence. She always made herself available to offer her pearls of wisdom, words of encouragement and guidance for personal and professional growth to her students, faculty, friends and family.

Janet was a true community leader and championed helping others in need in many avenues throughout her life.  She was a member of the Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Club, Daisy Nursing Award Foundation recipient, Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) and numerous other organizations and charities.

Janet’s most treasured moments were as “Mimi” to her adored grandsons, Lawson and Anders. She loved her friends, traveling and cooking southern foods to share.

Janet is survived by her children Harold Karl (Deanna) Sipple and Elspeth (Thomas) Sipple-Irwin, her grandsons, Lawson Sipple and Anders Heiney. Her niece, Janet (Doug) Mize, Georgette (Russell) Keith, her godson, Peyton (Desi) Keith and Kari Peacon. As well as numerous loving friends, a community of colleagues from the North East, the Carolina’s, the Midwest to across the pond to Australia. She is proceeded in death by her parents, her sister Elizabeth L. Fulghum, brother-in-law, Claude Fulghum and her nephew, Richard Fulghum.

A Celebration of Life with Nursing Honor Guard Nightingale Tribute for Dr. Janet Sipple will be held at Moravian University Foy Hall/Payne Art Gallery on the corner of 346 Main Street and Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 Friday April 5, 2024 2:30pm with Nurse Honor Guard tribute, a reception will follow in the Payne Art Galllery.  Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to specify in memo on donations: The Janet A. Sipple Lecture Endowment Fund of Moravian University 1200 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 and/or Dr. Janet Sipple Nursing Scholarship at Lander University 320 Stanley Ave, Greenwood, SC 29649.

Arrangements by Herron Funeral Home Bethlehem. http://herronfuneralhomes.com/