Genevieve Nickischer of Lehigh Township died Feb. 13, 2019, in Lehigh Valley Hospital.

A 41-month survivor of non-small cell and small cell lung cancer, she was 68.

She and her husband Daniel A. Nickischer were married 42 years.

Having a wonderful life, she grew up in Aliquippa, the daughter of the late Vincent and Mary Sercel.

She was a dancer and a dance teacher. Voted “The Person Most Fun to Be With,” by her senior class, she kept this title for the rest of her life.

She was a graduate of both Kutztown and Lehigh universities.

She enjoyed a legendary 43-year career in education, starting at age 20 as an English and reading teacher at Parkland High School.

She helped hundreds of children with special needs as an educational consultant in private practice and as a special education administrator in the Allentown School District.

She was also an adjunct professor at various colleges in Pennsylvania.

Her goals were always to be a good mother and grandmother/Yia-Yia, and that is where her superpowers were.

She raised two outstanding children, Kathryn Nickischer Friel (Michael,) and Peter Nickischer (Katie.)

She also helped raise five grandchildren.

Gram/Yia-Yia, was the family’s North Star and Matriarch.

She enjoyed traveling the world, and she loved the beach, especially Rehoboth Beach.

Always glamorous, she loved fashion and clothing.

As she fought fiercely for her life, she once said, “I’m not ready to die. I can’t leave my family behind ... plus I like to shop for clothes, makeup and shoes ... especially shoes.”

Much more than a glamorous woman, she was known for her deep perception and intuition; amazing organization and preparedness, and the ability to make people laugh, especially in tense situations.

She was solution-focused and could rapidly develop plans of action, especially for special needs children.

Her openness regarding her illness and prognosis allowed her to make many friends in the U.S. and abroad in the lung cancer community.

Her advice to survivors was: Keep Fighting.

In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by her grandchildren Kentyn and Kaden Chambers, Landon Nickischer, and James and Eden Zettlemoyer; and a brother William Sercel, of Center Township.

She was predeceased by a brother, Vincent.

Donations in her name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148, and/or read a good book, play with your grandchildren, go to the beach, and most importantly, teach your children well.

Arrangements made by Hunsicker Funeral Home, Orefield.