Iva H. Kessler

Iva H. Kessler, 96, entered eternal rest on Friday, December 5, 2025 in York.

Iva was born on June 8th, 1929, in York County, Pennsylvania, to a family rooted in the area's farming and small-town traditions. Growing up on her family’s farm near Hanover, Pa. she embodied the quiet strength of mid-20th-century American life, shaped by the rhythms of community and hard work.

In 1947, she married Carlton C. Kessler, a devoted husband. Their union lived 58 years, a testament to enduring love—they marked their golden anniversary in 1997 with simple joys like family gatherings and quiet evenings. Together, they raised a close-knit family, including children who carried forward the values of resilience and kindness.

Iva was the heart of her home, a skilled homemaker who filled it with the scents of homemade apple pie and the laughter of grandkids. She shared Carlton's love for gardening, tending roses that bloomed brighter each spring. After Carlton's passing in June 2006 at age 77, Iva carried on with grace, surrounded by her family until her own departure. She's remembered in Hanover and York not for headlines, but for the everyday magic she wove—fiercely loving, quietly wise, and forever the glue of her circle. Her thirst for truth and knowledge led her down the long path of discovery towards a greater understanding of the world she inhabited. Her legacy blooms onward in every story told around the dinner table, card table and puzzle table.

She is survived by two daughters, Linda F. Kessler and Jane E. Fishel, both of York, And three sons, Stephen J. Kessler and his wife Ana Paula De Oliveira of Easton, PA, Michael C. Kessler and his wife Regina of Santa Fe, NM, and Jonathan P. Kessler and his wife Kathy of Deep Creek Lake, MD, and five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc, 1551 Kenneth Rd, York PA with Certified Celebrant Amy Favorito officiating and later, Iva will be laid to rest at Marburg Memorial Gardens in Hanover. The service will be livestreamed at HeffnerCare.com around 1 p.m. on Iva’s obituary page.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Embracing Aging Fund, York County Community Foundation, 14 W. Market St, York PA 17401.