Marianne Bernadette Simko Canning April 24, 1938 - April 19, 2025

Marianne Bernadette Simko Canning passed away on April 19, 2025, at the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown, PA. Marianne was the daughter of the late John Bernard Simko and Marianne (Greitzer) Simko of Allentown.

She was a graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School, Cedar Crest College, Temple University, and Concord School of Law. She served as Prior of the “Priory of Philadelphia, sovereign military order of the Temple of Jerusalem”; a non-profit organization which provides charitable assistance to international and local charities.

Marianne worked at the Lehigh County Community College for 14 years where she served as director of the Instructional Materials Production Department. Starting in April of 1997 she became the executive director of the Lehigh County Bar Association for twenty-two years. During this time, she was a member of the National Association of Bar Executives and served a two-year term as chairman of the Law-Related Education Committee, therein. In 2005, Marianne became a recipient of the Arthur J. Birdsall Award in recognition of “outstanding professional service on behalf of the legal profession”.

She is survived by her son Charles Christopher Canning and his wife Melody, and by her daughter Karen Marie Moussa and her husband Farid. Also surviving Marianne are her four grandchildren Bridget R. Canning, Adib F. Moussa, Robin E. Moussa, and Glenn G. Canning. Marianne’s husband Charles S. Canning who passed away in 2019, had served in the U.S. Army in Korea in the 1950’s.

Services: Gravesite services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, April 28th in the Resurrection Cemetery 547 North Krocks Road, Allentown. Arrangements by Stephens Funeral Home, Inc., Allentown. www.stephensfuneral.com.

In lieu of flowers contributions can me made to The World Wildlife Fund.