Mary "Lucinda" Heiser

Mary “Lucinda” (Kiner) Heiser, 72, passed away peacefully on February 23, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born on July 10, 1952, Lucinda was the daughter of Kenneth and Velva Kiner and Harold and Mable Louise Barclay Brown, all of whom preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her beloved sister, Vicki (Kiner) Bear, her best friend throughout her life, and her in-laws, William and Erma Heiser, who considered her the daughter they never had.

Lucinda is survived by her devoted husband of 53 years, Kenneth W. Heiser. She is also survived by her siblings: Lillian Hoffman of Carlisle; Harold “Jim” Brown (Sue) of Mt. Holly Springs; Wes Brown (Eunice) of Shippensburg; Rita Cline of Fort Myers, Florida; William “Brownie” Brown of Carlisle; and Joan Dorman of Fort Myers, Florida, along with ten nieces and nephews. She shared a special bond with her nephews Todd, Chad, and Neil Bear, the sons of her sister Vicki, and took great pride in each of them.

A lifelong resident of the Carlisle area, Lucinda was a graduate of Carlisle High School and Shippensburg University. She was a faithful, lifelong member of the Carlisle Church of Christ. Ken and Lucinda were childhood friends and students at North Dickenson Elementary School, and both their families attended the same church. Their relationship deepened in high school and blossomed while they attended Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. They married in August 1972.

Lucinda was an excellent cook and found joy in feeding others. She enjoyed canning and preserving corn, pickles, applesauce, jams and jellies. She was also an enthusiastic sports fan—an avid NASCAR follower who first cheered for Rusty Wallace and later for whichever driver was the underdog. She was a devoted Penn State and Pittsburgh Penguins fan.

Following college, Lucinda worked for Farmers Trust Company, advancing from teller to branch manager, before leaving banking in 1990 to serve as business manager of the cabinet and furniture business she owned with her husband, a role she fulfilled with dedication until her passing.

The family wishes to offer special and heartfelt gratitude to Carolyn Witmer and Janet Baty for their exceptional care, compassion, and generous hospitality throughout Lucinda’s illness.

The family also extends sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses at Penn State Medical Center for their outstanding care, kindness, and professionalism.

Lucinda will be remembered for her devotion to family, her quiet strength, and the steady presence she brought to the lives of those around her. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held at the Carlisle Church of Christ on Saturday, March 14, at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until time of service.