Maribel Strong Ebel

Maribel grew up on an Iowa farm. She attended Iowa University and received a degree in nursing. She met Frederick Ebel during WWll when he was ill at the hospital. After their marriage on May 28, 1946 they moved to New Orleans, Fred's home town. Maribel and Fred had 3 children: Terrilee Ebel, Rick Ebel, and Kenneth Ebel and eventually 5 grandchildren: Stephanie, Colleen, and Matthew Brennan and Tye and Logan Ebel and 5 great- grandchildren. Maribel eventually joined the family business of Ebel Produce Brokers and was often seen with three phones in her hands. She served in many capacities as her children were in school and was very active in her church, Mundholland United Methodist in Old Metairie, by singing in the choir, playing piano for the men's Sunday School class, and growing plants to distribute to visitors. She also worked with the women's prison ministry and participated in many missions here and abroad. She loved gardening, music, travel, and painting. She combined her love of plants, travel and art by painting landscapes of places she traveled. She taught her children and grandchildren her strong work ethics. It was definitely work before play with GamME, as her grandchildren called her. She made numerous trips to Tennessee to see Ken and family and later to North Carolina to see Terri and her family. Family mattered to Maribel. She is survived by Terri Ebel, Rick Ebel, Pam Ebel, Kenneth Ebel, Beverly Inman-Ebel, Stephanie Brennan, Matthew Brennan and family, great-grandson Justin Brennan, Tye Ebel and family, Logan Ebel, nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, Selma Johnson Strong and Emory Strong, Fred Ebel, her brothers Dale and Wayne Strong, and her granddaughter Colleen Meredith Brennan. A quote from George Bernard Shaw, reflects what Maribel lived: The best place to find God is in a garden. A Celebration of her life and Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 am at Munholland Memorial UMC on Metairie Rd.