Lucille R. Duerr

Lucille (Lucy) Rennoll Duerr, 96 years old, passed away on Sunday January 10, 2026. She passed peacefully and quietly from her Earthly body to her Heavenly one amongst a houseful of loved ones, as her pastor, Pastor Brian Biery of Christ Lutheran Church, read from the “Commendation of the Dying.” She went onto Heaven as the pastor finished his reading with these words: “May you rest in peace and dwell forever in the paradise of God.” It was a beautiful moment and anyone that knew her and her love of her family and God would say it was just as she wanted — to be lifted up on prayers for a peaceful passing, to have loved ones nearby (physically and by phone) and to leave this earth on the word of the Lord.

Lucille was born on November 11, 1929 in Shrewsbury, PA. Her husband, James Clinton Duerr, her parents, Elma Attig and Stewart Rennoll, and her sister, Jeanelle Jones, passed away before her. Her three surviving daughters are Cindy Bech of Feasterville, Kathy Day (Larry) from Fremont, California, and Aimee Gochnauer (David) residing in York. She deeply loved her seven grandchildren, Lindsey Gardner (Michael), Rachel Adams (Nick), Tim Bech (Amanda), Matthew Day, Allison Day, Morgan Gochnauer and Zachary Gochnauer. She was delighted to get to meet and know her three great-grandchildren, Jackson Adams, Waverly Bech and Victoria Gardner. 

If there was only one word allowed to describe her, it would be the word “fun.” She had a twinkle in her eye; she laughed easily and her smile was contagious. We are fortunate that she had her personality up until the end. She lived her life with no regrets and was sure to tell people to not cry for her — she had a blessed life. She knew for certain that she was going to Heaven.

She was a graduate of New Freedom High School and briefly attended the Maryland Institute College of Art. She owned a gift shop in New Freedom, had a ceramic business in her home called Ja-Lu and retired from the Shrewsbury Lutheran Home as a nursing assistant. 

She had many different interests: she made a variety of crafts, she liked to read and listened to music, had an unhinged love for Shania Twain, watched Hallmark Movies and Dancing with the Stars, went to shows, did jigsaw puzzles and later worked on sticker-by-number books. She loved to go shopping and out to eat. She had a blast with dear friends, and she loved a good cup of coffee and breakfast. She enjoyed going to Christ Lutheran Church and enjoyed fellowshipping with everyone there. She was always up for a Sunday afternoon drive and especially enjoyed the ice cream stop that was part of the trip. 

Nothing brought her more joy than her family. She was always game to do whatever anyone asked her to do. She went on many adventures with her family and friends who became family. 

The family deeply appreciates the care that she received in her last year to help not only her but also her family as they cared for her. (Dr. Douglas Prince, the staff at WellSpan and Inners Creek Rehabilitation Center, Bayada Home Health Care, and most importantly, the hospice team from Amedisys Home Health — we thank you for helping her across that finish line.)

Since she loved a party and made sure to tell us that we were to have a party when she died, we will have an informal Celebration of Life for family and friends on Sunday, February 15th from 1-5pm in the Parish Hall at Christ Lutheran Church at 105 S. Main St., Shrewsbury, PA. Please join us for fellowship, food and laughter as we celebrate the life that she greatly enjoyed.

Remember, Lucille would want you to be cheerful, joyful, content, positive, blessed with your life, to never say no to ice cream and to be sure you know where you are going when you pass from this life to the next. Know that she loved YOU, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request donations to Operation Smile (OperationSmile.org), an organization that provides care for children with cleft conditions.