Margaret Moerschbacher Decker, a Bellefonte resident for most of her 93 years, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at The Inn at Brookline in State College, PA.
The daughter of Dr. Richard LeGrande Capers and Emma Wood Capers, Mrs. Moerschbacher Decker was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in Bellefonte where she graduated from Bellefonte High School in 1938. It was during her high school days that Mrs. Moerschbacher Decker acquired the nickname “Frenchie” which remained with her for the rest of her life.
She went on to attend Beaver College in Philadelphia and earned a bachelor's degree from Penn State in 1942 where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. After graduating from Penn State, Margaret Capers married William Joseph Moerschbacher on Valentine's Day 1942. Together they raised six children. Following WWII, Mr. Moersehbacher returned
to Bellefonte where he and his wife purchased and expanded a local business called Hoag's. It was a family affair with all six children working side by side with their father. After 70 years, the business, now known as Hoag's Catering, is still owned and operated in State College by their son Skip. Mr. Moerschbacher passed away in 1981.
In 1991, Mrs Moerschbacher married Elmer Decker of Bellefonte, PA who later died in 1997. “Elmer was a fine gentleman and we all respected him”, said her son Douglas. According to her daughter, Melissa, “My mother was an exceptional bridge player and a respectable golfer. She and Daddy loved nothing more than being together. They played bridge every Friday evening with friends, often revising the rules to suit my father. Frenchie didn't seem to mind! They loved playing golf together at Centre Hills and frequently traveled with friends to Myrtle Beach to play golf.”
Mrs. Moerschbacher Decker belonged to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and St. John's Lutheran Church in Bellefonte. She served as Secretary and President of the Voluntary Action Council. Through
that association, she worked with Rockview prisoners as a literacy volunteer for ten years- She belonged to the Bellefonte Women's Club, Centre Hills Country Club, Nittany Country Club (where she belonged to
the Ladies Golf Association) and the Bridge Club of State College. She and a number of her lifelong friends formed what was called the Bellefonte Bridge Group which she participated in for over 37 years
until her eyesight began to fail. Another daughter, Ginny recalls “Mother was always proud that we ate dinner each night as a family at
the dining room table with a linen tablecloth and napkins, She loved taking her children to Hecla Park to swim and to roller skate and she made confetti angel food cake with pink icing for all of our birthdays.
She loved to watch Jeopardy, take afternoon naps, and most of all eat lots of chocolate!! She always put her family first.”
Mrs. Moerschbacher Decker is survived by three daughters, Melissa Fulton of Ellicott City, MD, Virginia Clickner of Centre Hall. PA and Janet Krone of NYC and two sons, Cyril “Skip” Moerschbacher of Port
Matilda, PA and Douglas Moerschbacher of Pleasant Gap, PA. Also surviving are 12 loving grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, her sister Virginia Curtin, her sisters-in-law Mary Cohn, Agnes Gates, Greta
Moerschbacher, Susan Capers and a daughter-in-law Mel Moerschbacher.
In addition to both her husbands, her beloved eldest son, William J. Moerschbacher, Jr., a dear grandson, Richard Moerschbacher and her brother Richard L. Capers, Jr. predeceased her,
The family will receive friends on Friday, January 17, 2014, from 6:30 till 8:00 pm at Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc. 206 N. Spring St., Bellefonte PA followed by the recital of the Rosary at 8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 9:00 am, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 134 E. Bishop St., Bellefonte, PA. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs. Moerschbacher Decker's memory be made to the Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association, P,O. Box 144, Bellefonte, PA 16823 or the Bellefonte Branch of the Centre County Library and Historical Museum, 203 N. Allegheny Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.wetzlerfuneralhome.com.