Winnie Joyce Erdman

Winifred "Winnie" Joyce Collins Erdman, 62 of Bethlehem Township, lost a very courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and died on Friday at her home surrounded by her family.

She and her husband Ed celebrated their 41st anniversary on March 15th.

Born in Portland, Maine she is the daughter of the late Robert and Mary Flanagan Collins.

Winnie was a very caring and devoted wife, mother, sister and grandmother.

A dedicated employee of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem for the past 16 years and served as the Deputy Executive Director. Prior to working with Bach, she worked for many years in the Admissions Office at Allentown College.

She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Bethlehem.

Surviving with her husband Edward are her daughter Amy, wife of Bryan McDonald of Collegeville, PA, her son Mark and his wife Allison of Columbia, MD, her sisters Carol Reeve of Portland, ME, Susan Costigan of Plymouth, MA, Kathleen Collins of Mt. Holly, NJ and her brother Peter Collins of Jackson, NJ. Her beautiful grandchildren will also miss their Grammy: Nathan, Zoe and Gavin.

A Viewing will be held on Monday 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Connell Funeral Home 245 East Broad St. Bethlehem.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church 3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Burial will be private at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem.

Memorials may be made in Winnie's name in lieu of flowers to: Lustgarten Foundation , 1111 Stewart Ave. Bethpage, NY 11714 or at www.lustgarten.org for the benefit of Pancreatic Cancer Research.