1936-2026
Carole Jean Fellner was born December 24, 1936, in Punxsutawney the daughter of Lawrence S. “Bill” Heitzenrater and Lucille (Davis) Heitzenrater. She passed away at home January 28, 2026.
Jean, as she was known, was a member of the Punxsutawney High School class of 1954 and was graduated from the secretarial curriculum.
She worked at Hoffman Diamond Products right out of high school. She later moved to Polk, and was employed at the Joy Manufacturing Company in Franklin, Pennsylvania, where she met Charles “Chuck” Fellner. They were married on June 29, 1957. They were married for 51 years before Chuck’s death in 2008.
Jean was a proud Army wife and was privileged to have been able to travel the world with Chuck and their family. They were twice in Germany (1960-1962, 1966-1968) and were attached to Embassies in Korea, Malaysia, Lebanon, and Austria between 1972 and 1981. Jean and the children were evacuated from Lebanon to Greece in 1975. She worked as a secretary at the United Nations Work and Relief Agency at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. When they returned to the States after Chuck’s retirement, she worked as the executive secretary to the president of The National Association of Beverage Importers in Washington, DC, and retired as Vice President of the association in 1999. Jean and Chuck then moved back to Punxsutawney.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, daughter, Sandra Fellner and brother Robert L. Heitzenrater.
She is survived by her children, Amelia Seaton, Robert Fellner (Deloris) and Kimberly Curtis (Jeffrey) all of Punxsutawney. Grandchildren Christine Lambert (Ryan), Franklin, WV, Samuel Curtis (Kaylin), DuBois, William Curtis (Stephanie), Brookville, and Kimberly Rodriquez (Jared Levitt), Lake Point, UT. Great-grandchildren Charlotte Curtis, Kaydon Curtis, Cameron Rodriquez, Natalie Rodriquez, Robin Levitt, Wren Levitt, and baby Curtis on the way. She is also survived by her sister, Joanne Grube, New Castle.
Family and friends will be received on Monday, February 2, 2026, from 2pm to 6pm, at the Fait – d’Argy Funeral Home, 117 N. Jefferson St., Punxsutawney, PA 15767. A second viewing will take place on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 10am to 11am, also at the funeral home. A funeral service will take place immediately following the second viewing, beginning at 11am.
In lieu of flowers suggests donations be made in Jean’s name to local animal shelters.
