HOELLE, Mary Ellen, age 96 passed away Sunday February 20, 2022. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 7, 1926 the daughter of Harry and Ella (Reiff) Neiheisel. On September 25, 1948 in Our Lady of Visitation Catholic Church she married Neil L. Hoelle and he preceded her in death in 2000. Mary Ellen graduated from Seton High School and went on to attend College of Mount Saint Joseph before graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in journalism and worked briefly at Proctor and Gamble before marrying Neil and settling down to raise a family and work the family farm in Butler County. Mary Ellen raised chickens to raise extra money, though it wasn't her favorite activity. She found her true calling broadening and inspiring young minds at St. Veronica Elementary School and later at Southern Ohio College. Mary Ellen loved to travel and she and Neil enjoyed many adventures with family and friends including a family trip out west to Yellowstone and a much remembered and talked about family cruise to the Caribbean. She made good use of her journalism degree interviewing family members, documenting family history and penning poems for her grandchildren. Mary Ellen loved music (which she seems to have inherited from her mother whom she recalls whistling "Johnny Coppersmith" when she was in a good mood) and played the trumpet. She always spoke about the dances on the Island Queen and going to the Moonlight Gardens at Coney Island and listening to big band music. Mary Ellen loved family, not just her immediate family, but siblings and their families as well. Many weekends were spent visiting relatives. Large, multi-family gatherings were the norm with lots of food, music and laughter. She and Neil were also surrounded by friends who enjoyed card games, fish frys, bowling, baseball or just gathering to enjoy each other's company. After retirement, Mary Ellen and her lady friends would enjoy book club and bridge and alone time found her sewing, quilting, listening to music and reading. Mary Ellen enjoyed a full life surrounded by family, love and laughter.

Survivors include four children: Mark (Gail) Hoelle, Neil (Julie) Hoelle, Gary (Peggy) Hoelle, and Rebecca Hoelle; eight grandchildren: Eric (Shannan) Hoelle, Sara (Tim) Jung, Jennifer (Marcus) Jauss, Tim (Lisa) Hoelle, Greg (Katie) Hoelle, Jon (Connor) Hoelle, Joe Hoelle, Jessica Hoelle; eleven great grandchildren: Kierstin, Alyssa and Meryn Hoelle, Holly, Connor and Grace Jung, Michael and Ellyn Jauss, Ella and Luke Hoelle, Zoey Hoelle ; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Wyrick.

Besides her husband she was also preceded in death by five sisters: Alma Hermann, Angela Lameier, Edna Deger, Lucille McSorley and Dolores Neiheisel; two brothers: Ted and James Neiheisel.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff of The Waterford at Fairfield and The Legacy at Liberty Ridge for the professional and compassionate care of our mother/grandmother/great-grandmother. Funeral services will be held at 6:00pm Thursday February 24, 2022 in the Zettler Funeral Home 2646 Pleasant Ave. Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00pm Thursday in the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations are suggested to a charity of donor's choice. Online register book at www.zettlerfuneralhome.com