Dorene Lape

Lape - Dorene (Markley), died peacefully in her sleep on June 21, 2025 at Trillium Place, Lancaster, PA at the age of 96. She was born on July 4, 1928 in Johnstown, PA, the daughter of Forrest Markley and Queene Belle Probert.

She was a 1946 graduate of Dale High School. She then attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), graduating in 1950 with a teaching degree in business education. During these same years, Dorene participated in competitive pairs roller skating and she met her husband Donald William Lape at Oakland Roller Rink. They were married after she graduated from IUP in 1950 and remained married for sixty-one years until his death in 2011 at the age of 86.

Dorene loved teaching and retired in 1985 from Greater Johnstown School District following a distinguished teaching career. She was one of the teachers who founded the Academic Alumni Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to Johnstown High School graduates to further their education in a college, university or technical school. She was also active in Walnut Grove Church of the Brethren where she served as secretary to Women’s Fellowship, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and served as a deacon. She supported Camp Harmony by participating in the annual Heritage Days fundraising event.

She enjoyed socializing with friends, particularly the Happy Hemmers Club and fellow teachers from Greater Johnstown High. She enjoyed traveling, crafting, and spending time with her grandchildren. Dorene also had a great sense of humor and particularly enjoyed puns. One of her favorites was, when driving by a cemetery, she would say, “People are dying to get in there.” Sadly, she’s one of them now. We will miss her.

In addition to her husband and parents, Dorene was preceded in death by her brother Forrest G. (Bud) Markley. She is survived by her daughters, Susan Robertson (Craig) and Candace Pugliese (Dominic), both of Lancaster, PA, and grandchildren Kristin Pugliese and Michael Pugliese.

A memorial service will be held on a later date at Harris Funeral Home, 500 Cherry Lane, Richland. Online condolences may be posted to www.wharrisfuneralhome.com.