Erna L. Fritz, 94, formerly of Bethlehem, passed away Thursday, February 25, 2021, in Naperville, Illinois.  She rejoins her husband of 59 years, Robert E. Fritz, who passed away in 2008.

Born in Bethlehem on August 3, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Bertha (Dieterich) Lutz.  Erna attended liberty High School and earned a B.A. (cum laude) in German from the University of Pennsylvania.  She was proud to be the first person in her family to attend college.  She started her career as an office worker at Western Electric in Allentown and was later promoted to a job previously occupied only by men.  She was proud of that, too.  After five years she left the job to begin a family.  Eventually, she took a job teaching German at Moravian College, where she remained for the rest of her career.  Erna was active in AAUW and the Bethlehem Lioness Club, serving as president of the latter.  Erna played the piano and organ in church when she was young and never lost her love of music.  She enjoyed traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Survivors: Son, Barrett Fritz (Kathy Hirsh) of Batavia, Illinois; two grandchildren, Mary and Andrew Fritz; a sister, Gertrude (Philip) Howlett, and two nieces, Laura Maniatis and Lisa Howlett.

Services: The family will hold a private memorial service when pandemic conditions permit.  Arrangements, Pearson Funeral Home, Bethlehem.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 2700 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Online condolences may be sent to www.pearsonfh.com.