Edna Mae (Soles) Nickle

EDNA MAE (SOLES ) NICKLE
Born in Export, PA on August 19, 1936, a daughter of Esther (Tharp) and David A. Soles of Grapeville, PA. She was known as "SUNNY" to family and friends.
Sunny was a graduate of the fun class of Jeannette High School in 1954.
The love of her Lord and her family were most important to her. She now resides with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sunny was employed for several years with Bell Telephone Accounting in Greensburg. Other employment was as a supervisor for IsaIy Company, Thrift Drug Company, and Westmoreland Hospital in Nutrition Services and as an escort in Patient Needs for Excela Health.
Her most recent employment prior to retirement at age 80 was with GNC.
Sunny was a member of several area churches over the years. She served her Lord as a Greeter and Child Care worker at church. She enjoyed teaching Bible stories and hosted a well-attended backyard children’s Bible School when residing in McCullough, PA. This earned her a plaque from the Nazerene Church that reads "Too soon one’s life will pass, only what is done for Christ will last."
Over the years, she also led adult Bible study groups in churches and nursing homes and hosted an online message group to share inspirational quotes. She also served as a Leader of Brownies and Girl Scouts in Claridge, PA, and assisted with Cub Scouts of the same area.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Richard A. Nickle, a son George Charles Bernhardy, Sr., two sisters Evelyn "Dolly" Susko and infant sister Irma Soles, and four brothers Thomas Briney, George, Raymond and Earl Soles, two grandsons Shawn Bernhardy and Joseph Ginter, and a great-grandson, Jasper Yee.
She is survived by her children Arlene Kasenic, Sher Churchfield, Karolyn Seice (Mike) and step-children Tim Nickle (MaryAnn), Rick Nickle (Donna), Paul Nickle, Terri Yee (Mike), Robert Cook and Terry Lynn Ginter.
Also surviving are 21 grandchildren: Eric Cianelli (Christy), Carla Eppinger (Jeremy) Elizabeth Smith (David), Amanda Bernhardy (Rob), George “Chaz” Bernhardy , Jr., Connor Seice, Ryan Seice , Nicholas Ginter (Jennifer), Jeffrey Cook, Christy Kachmerak (John), Megan Nickle, Drew Nickle, Daniel Iles, Billie Jo Spencer (Larry) and Michael Iles (Catie).
Ryan Yee (Beth), Rachael Totin (Steve), Jesse Yee (Shelby), Grace Bahur (Zac), Ian Frye, and Ethan Frye (Aymme).
There are 37 great-grandchildren: Destiny Knetzer (James), Amelia Cianelli (Zayne), Bailey Cianelli, Faith Cianelli (Aidan), David and Aaliyah Smith, Gabrielle Eppinger, Sydney and Avery Ginter, John, Jr., Ariana, Dominique, and Lily Kachmerak, Ethen, Eli, Ean, Enoch, and Elizabeth Price. Leia, Natalia, Zulayma, and Joshua Totin, Aurora, Olivia, Quinn, Killian, and Ezra Yee, Freya Bahur, Donny, Colt and Chase Wilson, Lilly, Olivia and Everly Iles, Jack and Isaac Spencer, Pierce Frye, and two great-great-grandchildren Charlotte and Melody Knetzer.
Sunny loved the Lord and would take any opportunity to remind the children and grandchildren of the presence of God in their lives, by appreciating the sky, the earth, and daily happenings.
Sunny's love for the children of our families became the happiest part of her life.
She taught many of the children to roller skate, fish, and have fun picnics. Grandma Sunshine turned every little visit into a special day.
Sunny made up many songs for twins Ryan and Connor as she helped in their young years: God Put the Stars in the Sky, Jesus Was Born One Starry Night, Jesus Died on Calvary's Tree, In My Father's House are Many Mansions, Twenty Two Ten Newton Street, Red and Yellow, Orange, Green and Gold, and other songs are written in her Bibles. Most all of her Bibles have side notes for teaching and dates to remember.
She enjoyed Pirate opening games with her grandson Eric, her first Taco Bell visit with Carla, making cookies and playing games with Beth, Amanda, Chaz and Shawn and treating all the grandchildren to Idlewild Park. Most of the children knew to call her first for any problems that needed advice or help. Sunny was an unconditional friend and a good prayer person. God gave her good health and in turn she helped as God guided. The bronze marker on her grave shows her kneeling to help a child. God was always with her and she hoped all the family accepted God into their hearts. Sunshine would say today "Do not grieve for my absence; but be Happy and Celebrate my new home in Heaven, where it is 75 degrees all the time and I’m helping with the children.”
Sunny loved happy hymns and Bluegrass Music. Her father was a railroad engineer, and she always said the “Orange Blossom Special” is her Train in to Heaven. “In My Heart There Rings a Melody”, and Carrol Robertson's "To God Be the Glory” are some of her favorite hymns.
Her Bible verse through tough times was Philippians 4:13—I Can Do all Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me.
Her parting advice is "When you can't sleep, instead of counting sheep, talk to the Shepherd. When all you have is God, you have all you need.”
(Sunshine, herself, wrote most of this obituary.)

Visitation will be held on Friday July 18th from 3-7PM in the Mason-Gelder Funeral Home, Inc. 201 N. First St Jeannette. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11am in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Edna Mae (Soles) Nickle, please visit our floral store.