Angela Leigh Zahniser

Angela “Angie” Leigh Zahniser, 37, of Wayne, PA passed away peacefully on Monday August 26, 2013. Angie was the beloved daughter of Gary and Patricia (nee Anderson) Zahniser. Angie was a 1994 graduate of North Allegheny HS in Wexford, PA; a 1998 graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology; and, a 2005 graduate of the University of Indiana School of Public & Environmental Affairs, earning a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs. Among Angela’s many accomplishments in her short life was her journey to Ghana, West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer. She loved & became loved by the people of her village of Agbenoxoe. To improve village healthcare, Angela personally raised the money to open a new maternity home that the village named in her honor - “The Angela Zahniser Maternity Home” - which is still proudly operating today. When she returned to the U.S., Angela earned her MPA degree and set out to improve the world’s environment. She was selected as a U.S. Presidential Management Fellow and started her career serving the U.S. Government writing environmental public policy for the Bureau of Land Management. After several years of living in Washington, D.C., Angela’s burning desire to return out west took her to the Colorado State Department of Air Quality. Angie is survived by 2 siblings: Melissa (Lane) Wiggers & Dr. James Zahniser. Also surviving are twin niece and nephew; Maura & Chase Wiggers as well as many Aunts, Uncles & Cousins. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate her life Wed, Sept. 4 at Alleva Funeral Home, Inc.: 1724 E. Lancaster Ave., Paoli, PA 6-8PM & on Fri. Sept. 6 at George Thoma Funeral Home, Inc.: 10418 Perry HWY, Wexford, PA 6-9PM. A Memorial Mass will be held Sat. Sept. 7 10AM at St. Alphonsus Church: 201 Church Rd. Wexford, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Angela’s honor to: The Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia http://www.cancersupport-phila.org/ OR to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation under Giving at www.vanderbiltneuroendocrine.com account code: R12967. Arrangements are with Alleva Funeral Home, Inc. & George Thoma Funeral Home, Inc.