A Faithful and Generous Heart

Born on New Year’s Day, Roseanne Beidler is 87 years young and goes by the nickname “Penny.” A current resident at Moravian Village in Bethlehem, Penny entertains her fellow residents with her jokes and quick wit. “No matter what you are going through in life,” says Penny with a smile, “no one can take away your sense of humor.”

Penny’s people skills clearly played a major role in her successful career. She started her career path working for First Valley Bank of Bethlehem (currently Bank of America). Following several promotions within the bank, she was asked to formally organize a human resources department and served as the vice president of human resources from 1980 until she retired. During that time, she was a founding member of the local chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management and also the first woman to hold the position of president. She served on the board of the national chapter, as well. Penny was also the recipient of two prestigious awards during her career: Outstanding Individual Contribution to the Profession and National Top Ten Business Women of the Year. With few, if any, female role models, Penny was truly a woman before her time.

Over the years, Penny and her husband, Joe, traveled the world—visiting 102 countries on all continents except Antarctica. But Bethlehem was always home. Having no children of their own, Penny and Joe selected several local charities to include in their estate plan. According to Penny: “We chose St. Luke’s to be a beneficiary because we felt it was the kind of organization that would be worthy of our support. Several family members, including Joe, battled cancer, so we’ve been supporting St. Luke’s Circle of Hope—a giving circle for donors who support cancer—for several years now. It was important to us that St. Luke’s continue to receive our support when we are no longer around so they can continue to do the good work they do every day.”

Penny’s charitable heart has been guided by her faith. “Too many people worship the almighty dollar instead of Almighty God,” Penny said. “Helping others in whatever way we can should be a priority for all of us. My legacy is not what I accomplished during my career or the number of countries I visited—it is the difference I made in the lives of others. I am humbled and honored that I am able to help St. Luke’s and other charities through my estate plan.”

“My legacy is not what I accomplished during my career or the number of countries I visited—it is the difference I made in the lives of others. I am humbled and honored that I am able to help St. Luke’s and other charities though my estate plan.”
—Roseanne “Penny” Beidler