MaryEllen Appel

MaryEllen Appel, 78, of Ephrata was called to her heavenly home on Monday, December 22, 2025, after a short stay at Ephrata Manor.

She was born in Lancaster to the late Fred and Merla (Carvell) Nies and was the wife of the late Harry B. Appel, who passed away in 2008.

MaryEllen graduated from Warwick High School and attended Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA, where she met her husband Harry on a blind date with her college roommate. She and Harry lived in Gordonville, PA with their four children, and she served as a manager for Turkey Hill convenience stores for many years.

After moving with her husband to Oregon, she was employed at a nursing home while going to night school and considered a career in the medical field. Later when the family moved north to Washington, MaryEllen was essential in the management of King City Truck Stop in Pasco, WA.

After the passing of her husband, MaryEllen returned to the east coast to live with her daughter Lori Clark and her family in Crofton, MD. She attended Grace Pointe Nazarene Church in Gambrills, MD, and became very active in the church working as the secretary. MaryEllen also became a certified Stephen Ministries grief counselor and led a grief share group where she helped countless people through their difficult times of loss.

MaryEllen moved back to Pennsylvania and lived with her daughter Mindi Maywell from 2019 until her passing on December 22, 2025. She kept busy, earning herself the title "Crochet Queen". MaryEllen made thousands of blankets over the years and donated them to various charities, including Ephrata Area Social Services, Re-Uzit on State, High Point Community Church Food Pantry and Veterans dinners, and the Jared Box program for children at the Ephrata Hospital.

MaryEllen is survived by her four children, MaryBeth Appel, Mindi Maywell, wife of Joseph Maywell, Gerald Appel of Spokane, WA, and Lori Clark, wife of Scott Clark, of Crofton, MD. She is also survived by seven granddaughters, Christine Appel-Wolverton, Alexis Appel, Madison Appel, Jenna Clark, Bethany Appel, Hailey Maywell, and Olivia Appel.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by sisters, Lucille Nies and Judi Hess, and grandson, Adam Appel.

A viewing will be held on Monday, December 29, 2025, from 10 to 11 AM, at Stradling Funeral Home, 201 Church Ave., Ephrata, followed by her funeral service at 11 AM, with Pastor Kevin Sylvester officiating.

Interment will take place following the service in the cemetery at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, formerly known as the Rothsville Lutheran Church at 36 Church St., Lititz, PA.

Arrangements by Stradling Funeral Homes, Inc., Akron/Ephrata.