Rothen

Mary Ellen Rothen, 87, of Butler died Thursday, March 4, at the Good Samaritan Hospice in Cabot.

She was born March 12, 1922, in Callery, a daughter of the late Alla M. and Coral McCartney Snodgrass.

Mary Ellen was a 1939 graduate of Butler High School. She was a homemaker, mother, and grandmother.

She also had worked as a baker and had been employed at Butler High School, the Garden Gate Restaurant and the Horn of Plenty restaurant and was known for her European pastries.

Mrs. Rothen was an active member of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Butler. She was a member of the Women's Council and the Parish Rosary Prayer Group at St. Peter.

Following her retirement, she volunteered as the head of pastoral care at Butler Memorial Hospital. She also was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America.

Mary Ellen's husband, Louis I. Rothen, whom she married in 1940, preceded her in death July 15, 1979. Surviving are two sons and their wives, Robert L. and Patsy A. Rothen of Hagerstown, Md., and John J. and Jennifer J. Rothen of Mount Airy, Md.; six grandchildren, Roberta L. Rothen, M.D. of Hagerstown, Md., Victoria E. Defreitas and her husband, Leslie Defreitas, of Ypsilanti, Mich., Johanna "Jill" Beck and her husband Cmdr. Kenneth Beck, U.S. Navy, of Alexandria, Va., John Rothen Jr. and his wife, Maria Rothen, of West Palm Beach, Fla., Brent M. Rothen of Butler and Cerise Rothen of Saxonburg; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive her.

Sorrowfully, the original obituary did not mention two people who were very large and important in Mrs. Rothen's life: Kristina Pottol, the life partner of Dr. Roberta Rothen and Anita Thomas, a loving member of the Hagerstown, Md., Rothen household, always kept in touch with her and were lovingly considered by Mrs. Rothen as part of her close family. These ladies were regretfully omitted, and we hope they forgive this oversight.

Her son, James Frank Rothen, died in 2009; and her granddaughter, Mary Grace Rothen, died in 1972. Two brothers and two sisters also preceded her in death.

<B>ROTHEN </B>— A Mass of Christian burial for Mary Ellen Rothen, who died Thursday, March 4, 2010, was celebrated Wednesday, March 10, 2010, from St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Butler with Father James Dolan, pastor, officiating. Interment took place at the St. Peter Cemetery.Arrangements were handled by the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>; and information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.