Mary Stranges Obituary
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Rita Shapter
March 22, 2005
My dear ones,
How lucky we are to know someone or something that saying goodbye to is so damn awful.
We have all been blessed by having Mary in our lives. I miss her so much.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your family.
Love,
Rita
Roger Zimmerman
March 22, 2005
Matt,
My thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
Cindy Hyland
March 22, 2005
Memories are the legacy of love.
Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with all of you today and always.
Our love to all,
The Patrick Hyland Family
Bill & Jill Gilbert
March 22, 2005
May God be with you and your family in this time of loss. You are in our prayers.
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Tally Hart
March 21, 2005
Those of us at Ohio State and especially we who care so deeply about needy students have lost a great friend and champion for our students. We remember Dr. Stranges and now will add Mrs. Stranges to those whom students may not know, but who gave so much for their benefit.
Our prayers and best wishes are extended to your entire family.
Sincerely yours,
Tally
Director, Office of Student Financial Aid
Gela Tudor
March 21, 2005
Thinking of you and your family.
Pete Shapter
March 21, 2005
Mary Stranges wore many hats. On any given day, she could wear them all. She would never hang one up for a moment.
Family & people were important to her. That's just the way she was ! A loving wife and mother, a caring & involved grandmother, a wonderful friend to many ... and for me, a wonderful neighbor ... for I am one of the few privileged to have lived next to Mary for the past seventeen years.
From the first days of our move in to the house next door to Mary & Joe Stranges in 1988, we discovered that Mary & my
wife, Rita, already knew each other from earlier years of working at Battelle. Surely this was going to make the "meet the
new neighbors thing" much easier for all !
Right from the beginning, Mary and Joe welcomed us to the neighborhood and really drove home a feeling of warmth and
sincere welcome. Over the years, it became more to us than just a next door neighbor relationship.
Our first child, Breanna, was born in 1990 and our second child, Miranda, in 1994. From the moment each one of them
were old enough to participate, they were always included in the Stranges family's annual Easter Egg hunt that took place
at Mary's house. Mary insisted that they be included ! It was an incredible time to see this lady with many grandchildren of
her own, still make room and time for our kids. It wasn't just a one time thing either. A pattern soon developed.
Not a Christmas or birthday would get by that Mary wouldn't see to it that she gave a small gift to the kids ... AND to
myself and Rita. It may have at times been a few days late, but as sure as the sun rises in the east, she got it done !
In the years we had Mary, I NEVER won an argument with her. NEVER! Couldn't be done!
My family made it a point to assist Mary with tasks around the house following her loss of husband Joe. Things like yard
work, snow removal, electrical ..... anything she needed. This then resulted in Mary INSISTING that she pay us for our
help. Well, this is where our "arguments" began ! Each and every time we would clear the snow from her driveway or rake
her leaves .... we could count on a call from Mary.
" Hello ... Rita ? This is Mary next door. You gonna be home? I'm coming over." CLICK!!!
Of course, we knew why she was coming over. Numerous times we would say to ourselves " Nope ... She's NOT GOING
TO GET AWAY WITH THIS AGAIN !!!
All tough and ready to strutt my stuff, I could greet Mary at the door, determined to render her powerless to refuse not
accepting OUR refusal of taking money. Well .... you've probably guessed by now that I was quickly put in my place ...
every time. Now, while Mary's words were always composed with true kindness and appreciation, careful analysis and
decoding might reveal it to sound more like " Shut-up ya big dummy ... I AM going to pay you and you ARE going to
accept it !" Case closed ... end of discussion ! I thanked her for the money. That's just the way she was.
Joe, Vince, Chris & Matt
A celebration of life ... such an appropriate phrase. The pain of your loss can truly be eased knowing that your mom is now
eternally united with God and forever re-united with her loving husband, your father, Joe Stranges. This concept really
helped me cope two years ago when I lost my mom.
It has been an honor to have been a small part of your mom's life and to have shared numerous good times with her. It
was obvious that family was number one priority in her life and I know she looked forward to the weekly family gatherings.
We always knew what day of the week it was by the number of cars in her driveway !
She will truly be missed by our family and we will never forget her. If you need anything, you know where we live!
Pete
Dan & Gina Smith
March 20, 2005
Our thoughts and prayers are for all your families in this time of sadness. I know she leaves all of you with endless happy memories!
Mark and Barb Kleshinski
March 20, 2005
Your Mother will be with you always. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time of need.
Nada Aried
March 18, 2005
You and your family are in my prayers.
Priscillia Kell
March 18, 2005
Matt,
You and your family are in my prayers.
Rita Wooten
March 18, 2005
Both your parents had been wonderful neighbors to my daughter
and her family. Their 2 girls Breanna and Miranda have had Mary in lives since birth. I know that the Shapter family will miss her.
She was more than a neighbor to them. She was part of so many lives, she will be missed by so many.
Rita Wooten
Vicky Crawford
March 18, 2005
I can't begin to express my sorrow at the loss of such a incredible lady. I remember the spaghetti dinners and the times spent with you and your family. I cherish each and every one of them, along with the memory of both your mother and father. I will forever feel fortunate to have known them both and to have had the opportunity to see your mother again. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. In loving memory and with deep affection. Love, Vicky
mark schweinfurth
March 18, 2005
Mark and Kathy Schweinfurth
Jeff and Jodi McDaniel
March 18, 2005
Our thoughts and sympathies are with your family in this time of loss. May God bless you all.
Tom and Cindy McFadden
March 18, 2005
Matt, our prayers are with you and your family.
Tony Pagnozzi
March 18, 2005
Deepest Sympathy on your loss, you will be in my prayers
Cindy Rose
March 18, 2005
Keeping you in my thoughts and Prayers.
Elena Cherkes
March 18, 2005
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss. Your mother will always be with you in spirit.
Vincent LoBianco
March 18, 2005
My sincere condolences to you and your family.
Joe and Virginia Cash
March 18, 2005
We are sorry for your loss and pass on our deepest sympathy.
Marcia Kidwell
March 18, 2005
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