Lynette Pearl Hempel Pittsford returned to her Heavenly Father on March 23, 2017. She was surrounded by her loving family during her sudden illness. Lynette was born on August 3, 1925 and raised on a ranch near Copperas Cove, Texas. Her holy baptism was celebrated at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Copperas Cove on September 6, 1925. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 2, 1939. She attended school in a one room school house at Immanuel Lutheran School. After graduating from Copperas Cove High School, she moved to Austin in 1945 to attend Nixon Clay business school. While attending Walther League at St. Paul Lutheran Church, she met her husband William (Bill) H. Pittsford, Jr. Bill and Lynette were married on October 23, 1948 at Immanuel in Copperas Cove.
During her lifetime, Lynette was a member of three Lutheran congregations: Immanuel Lutheran in Copperas Cove, St. Paul Lutheran in Austin and Redeemer Lutheran in Austin where she was a charter member from 1954 until the present. She was active in the LWML and quilting for Lutheran World Relief. Her headstone says "God Loves You", a lasting reminder that she was a woman of faith and that she cared about everyone.
While raising her family, Lynette was employed with the Austin School District and the State of Texas. Lovingly known as "Grandmommy", she enjoyed working with her hands and staying busy so she was always working on a quilt or other craft project. She loved her family and wanted to know what each of them were doing and what great things were going on in their lives. Caring and kindness were some of her strongest attributes. Lynette enjoyed giving attention to others more than she wanted attention for herself. And she always sent thank you notes or cards to her family and friends.
Lynette was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, her parents Reinhold A. Hempel and Frieda Ruby Mathias Hempel, sister Nadine, and brother Melvin.
She is survived by her three children, son Glenn Pittsford and wife Wanda from College Station, Texas; daughter Alice Pittsford Childress and husband Gary from Victoria, Texas; and son Gordon Pittsford and wife Linda, from Austin. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Amy Yorek and husband Clay of Anderson, Kelli Miller and husband Todd of Georgetown, Kristen Hendrix and husband Carlton of San Antonio, Stephen Childress and wife Gina of Spring, Bethany Hanson and husband Joe of Austin, Natalie Hudgens and husband Brett from Carlsbad, California, and Halie Beckham and husband Brady from Austin; and twelve great-grandchildren. The thirteenth great-grandchild is expected this September. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Ruby Hein of Olathe, Kansas, LaVerne Hein of Hermantown, Minnesota, and Norine Pittsford of Elgin, Texas.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 27, 2017 with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1500 Anderson Lane, officiated by Pastors Dave Schroder and Kevin Westergren. Interment will be private. Pallbearers will be her grandson and her granddaughters' husbands.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Redeemer Lutheran School or the LWML at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Tributes can be made at www.wcfish.com.
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