Marian R. Kurtz

Marian Ruth (Bucher) Kurtz passed away peacefully on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Cornwall Manor Retirement Community, at the age of 96. She was born on April 26, 1929, to the late Richard B. and Helen Weierbach Bucher on the Bucher Farm in South Lebanon Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Marian graduated from Cornwall High School in 1947 and shortly thereafter married her beloved husband, Earl A. Kurtz, on September 28, 1947. Together, they shared 56 wonderful years of marriage before Earl’s passing in 2003. Following graduation, Marian completed her studies at Kendall Cosmetology School and went on to serve countless individuals through the skilled work of her hands. For 35 years, she was a devoted beautician at Cornwall Manor, while also operating a beauty shop from her home. A gifted seamstress, Marian found great joy in needlework, canning, and cooking. She especially loved hosting holiday meals and took great pride in creating warm, lasting memories with family and friends gathered around her table. A lifelong member of Quentin United Church of Christ—and its oldest living member at the time of her passing—Marian faithfully served the church in many capacities, including consistory and various committees. Her deep appreciation for history and heritage was reflected in her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and her life membership in the Lebanon County Historical Society. Marian possessed a remarkable knowledge of Cornwall’s history and greatly enjoyed sharing stories, memories, and local history with others. Her devotion to preserving family and local history was further evident in her involvement in the restoration of the Bucher Cemetery in Rexmont, a place deeply tied to her roots. Though Marian never lived more than two miles from where she was born, she cherished the opportunity to travel to Switzerland in the late 1990s, where she delighted in learning more about her ancestors and her family’s genealogy. She will be remembered for her sharp mind, quick wit, remarkable memory, and unapologetic honesty—her loved ones never had to question the sincerity of her words. Marian was a devoted Jeopardy! watcher and took her viewing time seriously. Nurses at Cornwall Manor and visitors alike learned to plan accordingly, knowing that Jeopardy! was rarely to be interrupted. Marian is survived by her daughter, Susan Kurtz Pierce, wife of Thomas D. Pierce; her granddaughter, Olivia Pierce Laurence, wife of Gabriel E. Laurence; her great-granddaughters, Avery, Paige, and Addisen Laurence; her great-great-granddaughter, Carsen Grace; and her sister, Sara Ann Seibert. She was preceded in death by her sister, Gladys B. Sowers. A public visitation will be held on Saturday, January 3, from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. at Quentin United Church of Christ. The funeral service will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m., with a time of fellowship beginning at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Marian’s honor may be made to Quentin United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 1138, Quentin, PA 17083, or to the Lebanon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, c/o Brynn McCurdy, 1728 Old Forge Road, Annville, PA 17003-9124.