Mary Angela Keller

Our mother, grandmother and friend, Mary Angela (Fleischmann) Keller, died peacefully at the Franciscan Center, Friday, April 28, 2017 at the age of 94, in the care of Hospice of Northwest Ohio. She was born in Toledo, Ohio, September 29, 1922. She attended the former St. Ann’s and Notre Dame grade schools and graduated from Notre Dame Academy in 1940. She was active for many years in the alumni association and took her children to the annual Christmas and Easter parties. She loved to travel and before she was married enjoyed many and varied vacations. She was the chief clerk for The Toledo Terminal Railroad retiring in 1984. When traveling through the city of Toledo, she knew every railroad crossing and educated her children on railroad safety. She was a pioneer. After a sudden and difficult divorce, she became the original single parent. She worked hard to provide for her children and she taught them self-reliance, fortitude and the value of an education. She taught us we were never above being poor, homeless or disabled and she taught us that there were many people whose lives were not as fortunate as ours. After retirement, she stayed busy by volunteering over 2,300 hrs. at Mercy and Flower hospitals, and was active in the Feed Your Neighbor program at her church. She was active in The National Railway Business Women’s Association and the Salesians. She traveled frequently with these groups and her friends. She enjoyed people and events, fundraisers, The Toledo Symphony, The Theater League and was seen “raising the roof” at the performance of the Blue Man Group. She never met a stranger and many friends and acquaintances. She was a member of St. Catherine of Sienna parish for over 59 yrs. and contributed to their rummage sales and church festivals. She was also a member for St. Pius X parish for a short time before her health started to fail. There is nothing more important than the ones we love and the love they leave behind when they are gone. We will miss you mom. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Bertha Fleischmann, her sister Regina Bowerfind, and brother Frederick Ignatius Fleischmann. She is survived by her daughters, Sally Keller, Susan (Ken) Okoroski, stepchildren Dane (Beth) Keller, Cheryle (Dan) Soncrant, grandchildren, Michelle and Cody Okoroski, and step-grandchildren, Andrea Goodwin, Robin Radde, and Danny and Joey Soncrant. She will also be missed by special friends, Barb Grummel, Phyllis Leck, Phil and Cathy LaCourse, Sandy and Keith Sharpless, the Nieswander family, the Okoroski family, Lynne Walker, Tom and Willy Sohnly, Karlene Jacquillard, Becky Aumiller, her Theater League friends, her euchre club and The In Touch Family. The family wishes to thank Hospice of Northwest Ohio and the staff at the Franciscan Center for their caregiving and efforts to keep mom comfortable during her final journey. Sally extends a personal and heartfelt thank-you to Barb Grummel, Becky Aumiller, Carol Fornia, Judi Imhoff, Cathy LaCourse, Dave Putano, John Pickle, Nelson and Kelly, Celeste Alvarado and the gifted sixth grade class at Start High School 2015-2016 for their Christmas and Valentine cards, and everyone who visited mom at the Franciscan Center for sharing this road with mom and me. Mary has donated her body to UTMC. A celebration of her long life will begin with a funeral mass at St. Pius X church, 3011 Carskaddon, Toledo, OH on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 11:00am. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 East River Rd. Perrysburg, OH 43551, The Healing Barn 27731 Bradner Rd. Millbury, OH 43447, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangemnts have been entrusted to the Ansberg-West Funeral Directors, 419-472-7633. To send online condolences to her family, please visit www.ansberg-west.com.

Mary Angela Keller

September 29, 1922 - April 28, 2017