Mary Jane Wahl, 76, a volunteer

Mary Jane Leaming Wahl, 76, of Ambler, a volunteer who helped new mothers and the elderly, died Thursday, Oct. 15, of pulmonary fibrosis at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Born in Abington, she was the daughter of Helen Lenihan and John Patrick Leaming. She was the wife of Ambler Mayor Charles T. "Bud" Wahl. The two were married for 55 years until his death in 2014.

She graduated from Gwynedd Mercy Academy in 1956 and Hahnemann University in 1997. While raising a family, she volunteered with the La Leche League.

In 1985, Mrs. Wahl became a certified lactation consultant, one of the first nationally certified lactation experts. She counseled hundreds of new mothers about how to breast-feed their babies properly.

The league also trained members in communication skills, which she called upon throughout her life. In the 1990s, she worked nights as a certified nursing assistant at St. Joseph's Villa while finishing her undergraduate degree.

In 1999, she became the coordinator of Meals on Wheels at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center. She served as the manager of the center for 11 years until retiring in 2011.

Mrs. Wahl was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish for five decades. A longtime member of Ambler's Civil Service Commission, she also volunteered at the polls on Election Day.

In 2007, she received the Margaret Beirn Barger distinguished alumnae award from Gwynedd Mercy Academy for her public service.

Mrs. Wahl enjoyed reading, watching public television, quilting, and gardening. "She had a love for the natural world and was concerned about environmental issues, especially clean water," her family said.

She is survived by daughters Elizabeth Kunzier, Mary Kathryn, and Kristina Glanzmann; son Jonathan; seven grandchildren; and a brother. A daughter, Jennifer, died earlier.

Services were Thursday, Oct. 22.

Donations may be made to La Leche League of Eastern Pennsylvania via www.lllofeasternpa.org.

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