Leona Ann Miklas Sohmers of Buckingham Township, Pa., passed away at her residence on Thursday, July 14, 2022. She was 97 1/2 years old.
Lee was born in Throop, Pa., to the late Leon and Stella (Rocheski) Miklas. She spent her early years in Throop and eventually moved to Philadelphia as a teenager. She graduated high school with honors and found a job at Merck, Sharp and Dohme in the mailroom in Philadelphia.
Recognizing her brightness, intellect and hard work, Lee was promoted frequently and was moved to the Merck office in New York City and then to the main corporate office in Rahway, N.J. Lee was a very diligent and devoted employee at Merck for 45 years and reached an executive position at Merck - director of marketing for Europe and Asia. She frequently made trips to Merck’s home office in Zurich, Switzerland, in addition to business trips throughout Europe including Russia.
Lee was the highest ranking female at Merck and the first female to ever attend an executive board meeting. She also was the first woman at Merck to wear a pantsuit, which created quite the stir.
Her first NYC apartment was in Washington Heights next to the George Washington Bridge. Subsequent apartments were in Greenwich village and midtown Manhattan. Lee loved the after work nightlife of the city – restaurants of any ethnicity within walking distance. She loved attending the theater, the symphony, the ballet and museums. It was in the elevator of her 7 East 14th Street apartment where she met Eddie (and Pal, his loyal canine companion). They were married on St. Patrick’s Day in 1983 and were able to share their love of New York City. Lee and Eddie purchased a weekend home in Essex, Conn., which became their permanent home when she retired in 1990.
Lee and Eddie moved to New Hope in 2000 and became very active in many community projects including the Heritage Conservancy and NOVA. Together they enjoyed going to tag sales and finding many interesting items that became part of their home decor. They loved venturing out to the many different restaurants that Bucks County had to offer. Over the years, Lee and Eddie always had their trusty Rottweilers by their side – Heidi, Sasha and then Belle.
Lee was beloved by everyone she met in all of these cities and retained lifelong friendships with many people from Merck, Essex and New Hope.
Her hobbies were gardening, reading, current events and she loved watching the many birds that frequented her home in New Hope. She volunteered at NOVA a second hand shop that donated their proceeds to help woman and children that had been abused.
Lee was the beloved wife of the late Edward Sohmers, dear sister of the late Florence Babiarz; loving aunt to Raymond S. Babiarz Jr. of Wilmington, Del., Mary L. Babiarz of Maplewood, N.J., and Carol A. Cyphers of Bonita Springs, Fla; beloved step-mother of Linda Siris of Perrysburg, Ohio; six great-nieces and nephews and eight great-great nieces and nephews; her devoted friends, Jean Barrell, Marna Hydrusko and John Wojcik.
A Celebration of Life Mass will be offered on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 5194 Cold Spring Creamery Road, Doylestown, PA 18902. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. prior to the Mass at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to NOVA Thrift Shop, 2116 Broad St., Perkasie, PA 18944 or the Catholic Relief Fund (for the Ukranian Refugees), 228 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3443 or Bayada Hospice, 650 Louis Drive, Warminster, PA 18974.
Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com.
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