Mary Dell Hibbert

Mary Dell Hibbert

Mary Dell Hibbert passed away peacefully in her sleep at Hospice of NW Ohio on February 13, 2025. The day before she died, she had talked on the phone to all her daughters, her sister, and one of her grandsons. She was 93 years old and had a strong, sharp mind.

She was born on September 15, 1931, to Harold T. and Dorothy (Brown) Wintermute in Newark, Ohio. Her mother was a teacher, her father was a Methodist Minister, and Mary Dell lived in many small towns in Ohio. She was married to Fred Hibbert whom she met while they were students at Ohio Wesleyan University. They enjoyed sixty years of marriage before his death in 2014. Mary Dell is remembered as a gracious hostess, making guests feel welcome and preparing delicious meals. She was the consummate 50's housewife: she loved supporting her husband in all his pursuits, including his lifelong love of sailing, and she loved being a stay-at-home mother. She kept a beautiful home and enjoyed keeping the flowers, shrubs and trees in good shape. She was also an excellent seamstress, sewing most of her clothes and those of her daughters when they were growing up, and upholstering furniture for the family home.

Generous with her time, she volunteered in a variety of ways, serving on boards for local organizations, knocking on doors to make sure school levies passed, and helping senior citizens prepare their taxes. Mary Dell was involved with the Toledo Monnett Club, AAUW, and Pi Beta Phi (her college sorority). She was a longtime member of Epworth United Methodist Church. Mary Dell loved to play bridge and played until about six months ago when her diminished eyesight made it impossible. She was the last standing member of a bridge club that started in the early 1960's and continued for sixty years. She also loved to play tennis, especially with her Friday regulars at Laurel Hill. In these last few months, Mary Dell enjoyed listening to classical music and listening to books, especially historical fiction. It wasn't easy to keep up with her voracious reading as she plowed through books. Just recently, she listened to a book about FDR's cabinet and another about President Reagan's close relationship with Margaret Thatcher. She always had something interesting to talk about because of her books. Additionally, up until about a year ago, she read The Wall Street Journal daily and could discuss current events with the best of them. Up until her death, she still paid close attention to the news and enjoyed discussing it.

Mary Dell relished the role of Grandmother and was blessed with seven grandchildren in seven years. They adored her and were devoted to her. She played with them when they were younger and offered guidance to them when they were older. Mary Dell is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Hibbert of Toledo, Helen (Phil) Kirk of Maumee, and Cindy (George) Smithy of Wellesley, Massachusetts; seven grandchildren, Harrison (Bayleigh) Schoettley, Dylan (Meghan) Schoettley, Celesta (Ben) Tow, Nora (Joel) Anderson, Leah Kirk, Peter (Emily) Smithy, and Claire (Carter) Kriz. She also had four great-grandchildren who lit up her life, Fin and Millie Schoettley, and Asa and Willa Tow. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy (Lloyd) Gardner of New Jersey, and sister-in-law, Martha Boice of Centerville, Ohio. She was predeceased by her husband, Frederick W. Hibbert; and her brother, Paul Wintermute.

Mary Dell's daughters would like to thank the staff at Hospice of NW Ohio in Perrysburg for their excellent care in these last few months of her life, and her loving and devoted caregiver, Kristine Brown, who helped her in so many ways.

There will be a memorial service for Mary Dell on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Maumee, 200 E. Broadway St., Maumee. A luncheon will follow the service. Visitation with the family will begin at the church at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be private.

Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider: Glaucoma Research Foundation, First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Museum of Art.

Please view the online registry at CoyleFuneralHome.com.

www.coylefuneralhome.com