Elissa S. Sauer, 81, of Exeter Twp., died March 29, 2016, in her home with her children at her side. She was the beloved wife of the late Raymond J. Sauer. Together they shared 44 years of marriage before his death in 2008. Born in Williamsport, PA, she was a daughter of the late Oliver and Emily (Gehron) Swisher. She received a BS degree in Nursing from Albright College in 1958 and later her MSN degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965. She also attended Temple Univ.in Phila. and Columbia Univ. in NY. She taught for over 30 years at Reading Area Community College retiring in 2001 as the Director of Nursing. Upon retirement she was awarded the Emerita Rank from RACC and continued to teach until 2015. She was also instrumental in the development of their nursing program and development of the online /distance learning program. During her career, she authored instructor guides and the procedures manual for Fundamentals of Nursing: Human Health and Function. She also received the Nursing Administration Award from the PA Nurses Association, District 2 in 1992. Her teaching influenced thousands of students including her own hospice nurse and a care nurse who were her former students.

She is survived by her children, Sabina Sauer of Herndon, VA; Kurt Sauer of Allentown; sisters, Lynne Kimura (Ken) of Riverwoods, IL; Kay Bekefi of Medford, OR; 2 step grandchildren Meghan and Jacob; Nieces and nephews, also her beloved dog, Rambo and granddogs Bear and Maya.

A celebration of Elissa's life will be held on Saturday, April 9th from 2-5:00 p.m. in the first floor auditorium of Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Rd., Reading, PA 19611. Arrangements are entrusted to the JAMES FUNERAL HOME, Bethlehem, PA. Condolences may be left at www.jamesfuneralhome.org.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 4 Park Plaza, Park Rd. North, Suite 105A, Wyomissing, PA 19610