Bertha Anna Van Der Bent Hamel

Bertha “Berthi” van der Bent Hamel, formerly of Bangor, PA, passed

away on February 27, 2025. She was 92 and had been residing in a

nursing facility near Camp Hill, PA.

On September 4, 1932, Berthi was born to the late Andries and

Elisabeth (Ruth) van der Bent. Her family endured great hardship under

the occupation of Holland during World War II. They lost everything

and were forced to emigrate to the US. In 1957 she married Paul E.

Hamel and raised two children, Cherstin and Mark.

The family moved to Augsburg, Germany in 1964 for Mr. Hamel’s

teaching job. Berthi worked as an aide for the Augsburg American

Elementary School. It was there she met her friend Margaret Lesley.

Margaret was a great companion to Berthi during her nursing home

residency.

Always interested in public health, Berthi received her BS in Nursing

from East Stroudsburg University in 1976. She worked as a registered

nurse for the Visiting Nurse Association in Easton, PA and served as an

instructor for the Practical School of Nursing in Jim Thorpe, PA.

In 1979, Berthi discerned a call to the ministry. She attended Princeton

Theological Seminary and received her M. Div. in 1983. She was

ordained in 1988 to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Berthi’s desire to

be of service to humanity guided her different ministries, which

included the Dominican Sisters Ecumenical Office for Health and

Spiritual Guidance (South Bronx), God’s Love We Deliver (New York

City), and Pocono Area Transitional Housing-PATH Houses

(Stroudsburg). She also worked as a chaplain at the Leader Nursing and

Rehabilitation Center (Easton).

For 25 years, Berthi worked for the Nekbakht Foundation in Suresnes,

France, transcribing the Sufi texts of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Khan’s

message of love, harmony, beauty and spiritual unity resonated deeply

with her. She retired in 2018.

Berthi is survived by her children Cherstin and Mark, and daughter-in-

law Diane; her grandchildren Roxanne, Demetria and Freddie; six great-

grandchildren; and cousins and nieces and nephews in the US and

Europe. She was predeceased by her husband Paul and her siblings

Friedrich (Fritz), Dirk, Joachim and Dieter.

Berthi will always be remembered for her deep faith, love of family and

friends, and kindness to all. She will be deeply missed.

A funeral service will be held on March 15, 2025 at the Bensing-Thomas

Funeral Home at 401 North 5 th Street, Stroudsburg, PA with the

interment directly following the service. Friends are invited to call from

10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in celebration of

Berthi’s life to Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center (kirkridge.org) or

Columcille (columcille.org).