Obituary of Mary N. Schwab

Mrs. Mary N. Schwab, 94, formerly of S. Franklin St., Titusville died at 5:07 pm Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at Country Acres Personal Care Home in Titusville. Mrs. Schwab was born on June 14, 1917 in Oil City to the late George F. and Violet Bickel Netzler. She attended schools in Dempseytown. Mrs. Schwab was formerly employed at the L & C Restaurant, General Manifold and Printing in Franklin, Brown’s Boot Shop and retired in 1987 from The Fashion Shoppe in Franklin. While living in Franklin, she was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church, serving on church council, a member of the choir, and taught Sunday school. She was a member of the Franklin Hospital Auxiliary where she faithfully worked on the information desk. Mrs. Schwab was currently a member of the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Titusville, the Titusville Hospital Auxiliary, and a former senior tutor in the literacy READ program. She attended Titusville Senior Center where she learned line dancing, played the chime choir, exercised with the cardiac workout class, and enjoyed the creative writing class where she was writing her family history and memoirs. She held memberships in American Assoc. of Retired People, and National Assoc. of Retired Federal Employees. Mrs. Schwab was an avid reader, loved to golf, bowl and travel. She was interested in bird watching and was rarely without her binoculars and bird book. She loved to visit wildlife refuges, historical sites, bird sanctuaries and was a big fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren and is survived by a son, Loren Schwab and his wife Rachel of Lilburn, GA; a daughter, Linda Shaffer and husband Kenneth of Erie; three grandchildren, Scott Shaffer and wife Michelle, Jenn Spitznogle and husband Matt, and Brian Shaffer; three step-sons, George Schwab Jr. of Bloomfield, MI, James Schwab of Andover, KS, Richard Schwab of Emerald Hills, CA; two brothers, Robert Netzler and wife Alletta of Utica, Wayne Netzler and wife Eva of Port St. Lucie, FL; a sister, Dorothy Bomgardner and husband Frank of Harrisburg; and several step-grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Mrs. Schwab was preceded in death by her first husband, H. Lionel Schwab whom she married on Oct. 8, 1941. He died on July 4, 1975; her second husband, George L. Schwab whom she married on March 25, 1989. He died on June 26, 2007; four brothers, Richard, Donald, Herbert and Tommy Netzler; and five sisters, Evelyn O’Brien, Betty Bray, Ruth Holquist, Violet Moore and Grace Netzler. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home 303 N. Washington St., Titusville on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. Funeral services will be conducted from the Emanuel Lutheran Church 218 W. Elm Street Titusville on Saturday at 11:00 AM with Rev. Samuel Mabugu, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in the Franklin Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Crawford County 310 N. Monroe St. Titusville, PA 16354 or to the Emanuel Lutheran Church 218 W. Elm St. Titusville, PA 16354; or to the charity of one’s choice. FLOWERS