Mary Jo Pentz-Keppler

Mary Jo Pentz-Keppler

BELLVILLE: Mary Jo Pentz-Keppler of Bellville, Ohio passed away at home March 31, 2018.

Mary Jo was born in Hunawihr, France in January 1937. Her parents were Josephine Stoessel Keller and Camille Keller. She was the second youngest of nine sisters in her family. Mary Jo immigrated to the United States in 1957 and married Dr. Matthew Pentz. They moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1959 and a few years later settled in Bellville, Ohio.

She was an inspiration to many in the community and saw the good in everyone she met. She was an avid reader and also learned to sew at an early age in her native France. She became an excellent seamstress in her teen years and was so talented that she was able to open up a small dress shop in Columbus, Ohio. She was highly recognized for her work and was asked to sew dresses even for the Governor´s wife and family. She was also an accomplished needlepoint artist.

Mary Jo was preceded in her death by her first husband, Dr. Matthew Pentz in 1998 and her third daughter, Nicole Pentz in 1980.

Mary Jo is survived by her second husband, Douglas Keppler, and four of her daughters, Dr. Judith Pentz; Gabrielle Pentz Ryan; Andrea Mathwich; Mimie Vahue and their families including nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She also raised one of her granddaughters, Danielle, from birth to age 5 while her daughter, Judith was in Medical School and this gave her great joy.

Mary Jo has been a strong supporter of the Bellville community where she lived for over 50 years. She also has volunteered countless hours with Resurrection Parish in Lexington. She supported numerous religious and Catholic missionary groups throughout her life. She loved to travel including numerous trips to support her children and their families wherever they lived around the world. She also established and maintains a Scholarship Fund through the Clear Fork Valley Foundation in honor of her daughter, Nicole Pentz. Mary Jo was also a long term member of the choir at Resurrection Parish and that is where she met Douglas Keppler, who became her second husband, just two years ago.

Her family will receive friends today, Tuesday, April 3, 2018 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm in the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home where vigil services will begin at 8pm. Mass of Christian burial will be offered Wednesday, at 10:30 am at Resurrection Parish, 2600 Lexington Avenue, Lexington, Ohio 44904. The Rev. Father Nelson Beaver will officiate and burial will follow in Oak Grove Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Resurrection Parish or The Nicole Pentz Memorial Scholarship Fund may be made through the funeral home.

Online condolences to her family may be made by visiting:SnyderFuneralHomes.com