Helen Mae Ketzel, 95, of the Grove Manor Nursing Center in Grove City, formerly of Old Pittsburgh Road, New Castle and Spruce Drive, Slippery Rock, passed away Sunday at Grove Manor.

She was born April 3, 1916, in New Castle, to Isaac Ambrose Lytle and Geneva Stewart Lytle.

She attended Shenango High School, New Castle. Along with her sister, Clara, she was an initial member of the women’s basketball team that was started in 1932.

Early in her married life, Helen worked in the family-owned grocery business, Lytle’s market, on the east side of New Castle.

Following World War II, she moved with her husband to Greenville, S.C., where she was a department manager at the JC Penney Co. in Greenville.

Upon returning to New Castle, she managed her sister Margaret’s clothing store, The Margaret Elizabeth Shop, in Ellwood City. For many years, she also worked in her sister Bernice’s grocery business, Barker’s Market, also on the east side of New Castle.

She was a faithful partner with her husband, the Rev. Harvey Ketzel, who she married May 12, 1937. Together they served in the pastorate of many churches throughout the area. The most notable of these churches were the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Prospect and the Unity Baptist Church in Harlansburg. She served as a Sunday school teacher, a choir director, a youth leader and a vacation Bible school teacher/coordinator throughout their joint ministry. She enjoyed being around young people and often was a willing participant in the activities involving the youth of the church.

Helen’s greatest joy was serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her goal was to be a faithful Christian witness to all who came into her life.

She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and she took great pleasure in hosting her family and friends at her home in New Castle. She also was a positive support to her children and grandchildren in their interests and activities.

She is survived by a daughter, Lynn Fleeger (Thomas) of Burleson, Texas; two sons, Lee Ketzel (Doris) of Grove City and Stewart Ketzel (Denise) of Slippery Rock; three granddaughters, Kelley Smith (Brendan) of Grove City, Allison Page (Daniel) of Erie and Andrea Ketzel of Rockville Md.; three grandsons, Matthew Fleeger (Chrystal) of Portland, Ore., Timothy Fleeger (Amanda) of Omaha, Neb., and Ross Ketzel of Slippery Rock; two great-grandsons, Torin and Dalee Smith, both of Grove City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 70 years, the Rev. Harvey Ketzel, who died in 2007; sisters, Ruth Watson, Margaret Young, Bernice Hutchison, Clara Bunney and Jesse Karki; and a grandson, Randall Ketzel.

KETZEL — Funeral services for Helen Mae Ketzel, who died Sunday, June 12, 2011, will be at the

Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St. Slippery Rock, Friday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. James Lewis, pastor of the West Liberty United Methodist Church, officiating. Friends will be received at the funeral home Friday from noon until time of service at 2 p.m. Interment will be in the Unity Baptist Cemetery, Harlansburg.Memorial contributions may be made to The Christian Loving Fund, c/o Grove Manor Nursing Center, 435 N. Broad St., Grove City, PA 16127.