Johanna F. Bees was born in Shimersville, PA. in 1923. She died in Bethlehem while a resident at the King’s Daughters Home on July 1, 2023. In January of 2022 she celebrated 100 years of life! She is survived by two siblings: Helen Woodbridge of Bethlehem and William Faust of Tucson, AZ. She was married to Fred T. Bees [deceased] and they had three children: Elizabeth Anyfantis [Athens, Greece], Deborah King [deceased] and Rev. Timothy Bees [Dubuque, IA]. She was blessed with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She moved to Wall Street in 1923 where she would live the majority of her life. She loved the historic area and everything she needed was within walking distance: grocery, the library, Central Moravian Church. Johanna never learned to drive, nor did she need to. She walked everywhere and she especially enjoyed walking the tow path or along the Monocacy with her children and dogs.

She was quoted in a Morning Call article a number of years ago about her approach to life: “I think my main prayer has always been, whatever I have to face, give me strength. I don’t look back, I have no regrets, I look to tomorrow.”

Her three children could not have asked for a better mother. Johanna was loving, loyal, determined, opinionated, committed to the Republican Party, and to Central Moravian Church. She loved horses, she loved to read, garden and laugh. She was not a passive traveler in this life. She chose to work; she chose to move into a nursing home, and she chose to go into hospice. Her faith allowed her to face death knowing that it was not the end. She was a wonderfully refreshing woman to know. We will miss her, and we are blessed for having known her.

Johanna chose to have a graveside service only.