Arlene Smith (Bachman) Fernsler

Mrs. Arlene B. Fernsler, 91, died peacefully at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Hershey Medical Center. Arlene was born on March 9, 1922 in Fontana, PA, the sixth of seven children to Simon and Salome Smith Bachman, and was a 1940 graduate of the Hershey Consolidated School. Upon graduation, Arlene worked at the Hershey Department Store, where she sold Mr. Hershey's short-lived soap detergent creation, Hershey's Granules; garnering her the nickname "Bubbles" to close friends. She married the late Paul Hackman Fernsler in 1942 and moved with him to Denver, CO during his WWII enlistment. The couple returned to her hometown of Campbelltown in 1945, where she and Paul raised their two boys while Arlene worked over 30 years at the Hershey Chocolate Factory. Arlene was a member of the Campbelltown United Methodist Church, and through the years enjoyed numerous creative endeavors such as ceramics, crochet, cross stitch, traveling, and puzzles. She drew her final breath in the same peaceful, quiet and unassuming manner in which she lived her life. Arlene is survived by her sister, Vivian Bordlemay, loving sons, Larry of Palmyra, Dean and wife Barbara of Palmyra, four grandchildren: Julie Fernsler Cheyney of Palmyra, Heather Fernsler Paterno of Hershey, Meghan Fernsler Johnson of Wayne, PA, Jeremy Fernsler of Wynnewood, PA, and 10 great grandchildren. The family will hold a private memorial on Friday, April 19. Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg 17110.