Mary Ellen Knappenberger, age 91, of Waldo, was reunited with her twin sister, family and Lord, Saturday afternoon, October 22, 2016, at the Kingston Residence.
On June 23, 1925, Mary Ellen was born in Waldo, with her twin sister, Mae Eileen, daughters of the late Edward and Mary (Rentschler) Knappenberger. They graduated from Waldo High School in the Class of 1943. For many years, Mary Ellen wrote the Memorial Service for annual Waldo Alumni Banquet.
In 1954, Mary Ellen took over her sister’s position at the National City Bank in Waldo, so Mae Eileen could start raising her family. Mary Ellen worked there nearly thirty years, starting as a bank teller and working her way up to being the assistant branch manager, a happy, caring face to the community.
Mary Ellen was a lifelong active member of the Peace Community United Church of Christ, where she was a former Sunday School teacher, served as treasurer of the Women’s Guild, and sang in the choir back when the church was known as St. Joseph’s Evangelical and Reformed Church. She also helped the minister of the church prepare the litanies, often using her gifts of writing and poetry to put her own touch on the morning’s worship service. There was no end to faithfulness to the church, she epitomized “showing the love of Jesus” …if anything was happening, Mary Ellen would be there with her smile. She also was formerly a member of the Bethlehem Grange.
Carrying on the Knappenberger and Schrote family tradition of having dinner every Sunday after church with her sister, Mary Ellen and Mae Eileen loved being surrounded by their family. Everyone would come from far and wide not wanting to miss the Sunday food and fellowship. For the occasion, Mary Ellen always enjoyed making the salads for dinner and cakes for dessert.
Sharing a special bond with her sister, Mary Ellen was always a big part of Mae Eileen’s life. One role she especially enjoyed was being a second mother to Mae Eileen’s five children. While Mae Eileen would try to keep her children in line, Mary Ellen would often sneak behind her to spoil them. Mary Ellen saw Mae Eileen’s grandchildren as her own too, and she was endearingly known by all of them as their beloved “Auntie”. Mae Eileen preceded her in death, passing June 24, 2009.
Mary Ellen was born and raised in Waldo, where she lived nearly her entire life. One of her favorite pastimes was caring for her garden and tending to her yard there, often working outside until the sun went down. Then at night, she would turn to another favorite pastime of reading. She read anything she could get her hands on, though she especially enjoyed Reader’s Digest condensed books.
If you knew Mary Ellen, you couldn’t help but to love her. She had a quiet, yet adorable fun-loving personality, and could brighten even your worst of days.
Mary Ellen will be missed by her four nieces and nephew: Eileen (Robert) Chappell of Cardington; Ronald (Kim) Schrote of Richmond, MI; Melinda (Steven) Hornsby of Waldo; Karen (Rick) Mahaffey of Marion, and Mary Susan (Jim) Banks of Schwenksville, PA; 13 great-nieces and nephews: Krista (Andrew) Betti, Wendy (Tom) Kenney, Robby (Grace) Chappell, Adam (Michelle) Schrote, Ryan (Niki) Schrote, Timothy (Kim) Hornsby, Nathan Hornsby, Rachel (Austin) Roush, Joel Hornsby, and Bryan, Jamie, Kellie, and Abbie Banks; and nine great-great nieces and nephews with one on the way.
Including her sister and parents, Mary Ellen was preceded in death by a great-nephew; and brotherin-law, Gerald Schrote.
Her family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, at the Snyder Funeral Homes, DENZER CHAPEL, 360 E. Center St., Marion. Services celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, at the Peace Community United Church of Christ in Waldo, with Rev. Frank Isaacs officiating. Burial will follow in Waldo Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Peace Community United Church of Christ, PO Box 176, Waldo, OH 43356.
On behalf of Mary Ellen’s family, they would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to the staff of Kingston Residence for their loving care of their aunt.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Marion are honored to have been chosen to serve Mary Ellen’s family and your condolences may be expressed to them by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
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