Marie Alice "Bachtel" Sergio

Marie Alice Sergio, age 74, was welcomed into eternal life surrounded by her family after a life beautifully lived in service, faith, and love. Born on April 27, 1951, in Massillon, Ohio, Marie completed the family as the only daughter to Alice and Earl Bachtel. She looked up to her two older brothers David and Larry and loved being their little sister.

Marie attended St. Joseph Elementary School in Massillon Ohio. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1969 where she was a cheerleader and had a wonderful group of friends who called themselves the "Rowdies" even though they were the furthest thing from rowdy. The girls demonstrate the strength of their 60 year friendship as the 12 of them continue to get together.

Marie went on to college at Ohio Dominican to become a teacher. A guy in a green letter jacket stole her heart and became her husband on May 26th, 1973. She lovingly called him "my Patrick" and spent her days supporting him as a coach and baseball player. Seeing him happy made her happy, even if it meant going on dates climbing ladders to the top of the pressbox in the rain to scout football games. When Marie married the oldest in a family of 6 she immediately became a big sister to Patrick's siblings. She embraced that new role and spent days making cakes and playing games with Chris, Tony, Jan, Joe and Amy.

Marie started her teaching career at Buckeye Valley as a special education teacher where her classroom was an old locker room shower area. She told stories how she had to wait to get books for her classroom until all the regular education rooms selected the ones they wanted. The first weeks of school she taught with no books but it made her shine even more. She made that room with a drain in the middle feel warm and loving. That was always her gift to the world and what she did everywhere she went.

In 1975 Marie stopped teaching to raise a family. She filled the days with trips to the park, scavenger hunts through nature, reading books, building forts, cooking, laughing and making memories with her two daughters Laura and Lisa. Even though money was tight she made them feel like the richest girls in the world. Marie waited until her youngest Lisa went to preschool to start back teaching. She took a job at a Kindercare and worked in the preschool classroom next to the one Lisa was in. She went on to teach the remainder of her years in Dublin, Ohio where she taught in the "lighthouse" room where students would go to receive extra help. She also worked as a reading teacher, tutoring students, and as a 4th grade classroom teacher. She loved her students and had a way of bringing out the best in them. Marie had many lasting friendships with those she worked with and kept in touch even after retirement.

In 2002 Marie was diagnosed with breast cancer. She prayed for more time and she got just that, 24 more precious years! Celebrating her final chemo treatment Marie and Pat took a weekend trip to a resort in Marblehead, Lake Erie. They loved it so much they booked a week every summer for their family to spend together. Those weeks over the last 23 years gave her family long lasting memories of waking to the smell of her cooking breakfast with a smile and cheerful good morning, swimming, hiking, playing wiffle ball, shuffleboard, laughing, and excitedly sharing about Eagles she spotted.

Marie felt that it was a gift to serve others and she lived a life doing just that. In retirement she got up earlier than she did when teaching and drove to her daughter Lisa's home to care for her grandsons Jace, Tate, and Dax. The boys were her pride and joy and they were blessed to have her as a major pillar in their lives. She didn't miss the opportunity to cheer for them and she became Grandma Marie to all their friends. She also excitedly welcomed a granddaughter when Laura and Brian adopted Alexandria Doland in 2003. Alex balanced out all the boys sports with dance and band. In the evening Marie would care for her mom who was battling Alzheimer's.

Grandma Marie was known through her grandsons neighborhood and was loved by many of the families. She started a religious group and taught the kids about how much Jesus loved them before they went to school on Friday mornings.

Marie was also instrumental with the Good Shepherd program at her parish St. Timothy. She went one last time pushed in her wheelchair by her husband to share a lesson about Lent. Marie talked to the kids about God's greatest sacrifice of his only son to open the gates of heaven for us. So fitting that her final lesson focused on the everlasting joyful life that she wouldbe entering into just 10 days later.

One of Marie's favorite traditions was her Christmas tea party. It started as a small gathering and grew over the years to become a tradition for many. It was a chance to stop and enjoy being together during the busy Christmas season. She filled the party with a craft, homemade gifts, reading a Christmas story, delicious treats and of course tea!

Marie cared for her daughter Laura during her battle with cancer from November of 2023 until she went to heaven October 24th 2025, just 4 months ago. Laura cherished the extra time with her parents as they cared for her. She felt lucky even with the cancer because of their love. Two weeks after Laura passed Marie was told her cancer had come back in her bones and probably had been there for the last year. While heartbreaking, Marie's family finds comfort and meaning in this timing. They believe it was part of God's loving plan-that He gave Marie the strength and time to care for Laura, and allowed the family to focus their love and attention on one battle at a time. It makes her family smile thinking of the embrace between Marie and Laura at the gates of heaven. She was also lovingly greeted by her parents and brother David.

Above all else, what made Marie so special was how she made people feel. Her prayerful heart, gentle kindness, and unwavering faith allowed her to shine the love of Jesus in every place she went. She is survived by her husband of 52 years Patrick Sergio, her daughter Lisa (Matt) Middleton, son in law Brian Doland, brother Larry Bachtel, granddaughter Alex Doland, grandsons Jace, Tate, and Dax Middleton.

Marie is also survived by many dear friends and family who filled her final months with crafts, food, visits, and words of love. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel to her community who helped us care for her. While we are heartbroken we are so thankful for the time we had with her. Thank you God for giving us those extra years and an extraordinary person in our lives. Until we meet again we will hold our memories close and live to make you proud.

Friends may call 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at Egan-Ryan Funeral Home Northwest Chapel 4661 Kenny Rd. Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. at St. Timothy Church 1088 Thomas Ln. Private interment later.

In lieu of flowers friends who wish may contribute in her memory to Saint Timothy Good Shepard program to help cover the cost to train new teachers.