Sister Joan Marie Harper, CDP
Funeral Mass for Sister Joan Marie Harper, CDP, 87, who died Monday, March 10, was celebrated Wednesday, March 19 in the Kearns Spirituality Center, Allison Park, Pennsylvania. She was buried in a family plot in Forest Glen, Maryland.
She was born on Sept. 27, 1937 in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. to Roy and Mildred Harper.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Neuman College in Aston, Pennsylvania in 1969 and a Master of Pastoral Studies degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1980.
She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia on Sept. 8, 1956 and transferred in the mid-1970s to the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence.
In the Diocese of Columbus, she served as associate director of the diocesan family life office from 1981 to 1987 and episcopal vicar for religious from 1987 to 2005 and as a pastoral associate at Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare Church from 2005 to 2017. She also was on the diocesan board of consultors and was a catechist for the RCIA program at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral.
In 1992, she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice decoration from the Holy See for distinguished service to the Catholic Church.
She lived in her congregation’s motherhouse in Allison Park after 2017 and served for several years as a volunteer advocate for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
She also was a teacher, principal and administrator at schools in North Carolina, Maryland and Delaware, assistant development director at LaRoche College (now University) in Allison Park and a parish minister in Pennsylvania and the Diocese of Youngstown.
Sister M. Alice Metzger, OSF
Funeral Mass for Sister M. Alice Metzger, OSF, 94, who died Friday, March 7 at the Stella Niagara (New York) Health Center, was celebrated Wednesday, March 12 at New Lexington St. Rose Church. Burial was at St. Patrick Cemetery, Junction City.
She was born Elaine Metzger on April 11, 1930 to John and Alice (Boley) Metzger and grew up in Perry County.
She was a 1948 graduate of Columbus Rosary High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975 from Rosary Hill College (now Daemen College) in Amherst, New York.
She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity on Sept. 1, 1948 and professed her first vows on Aug. 17, 1951 and her final vows on Aug. 18, 1954.
In the Diocese of Columbus, she served as a teacher at Columbus St. Peter (1959-1960), Columbus St. John (1960-1962), Lancaster St. Bernadette (1975-1981) and New Lexington St. Rose (1981-1982) schools and a tutor at Columbus St. Matthias School (1982-1985) and in the Logan public schools (1986-1988). She also taught at schools in New York, New Jersey and West Virginia.
In addition, she was on the staff of Columbus St. Charles Seminary (1964-1966) and New Lexington St. Aloysius Academy (1966-1969) and worked with the New Straitsville St. Mary Church outreach program. She cared for her parents from 1990 to 1993, retired in Ohio in 1999 and moved to the Stella Niagara Health Center in 2022.
She was preceded in death by his parents and her brothers, Father John Metzger and Brice.
Van R. Stewart
Funeral Mass for Van R. Stewart, 76, who died Wednesday, Feb. 26, was celebrated Monday, March 10 at Powell St. Joan of Arc Church.
He was born on September 6, 1948 to Rolland “Dick” and Mary Lou (Kessler) Stewart, was a graduate of Columbus St. Charles Preparatory School, earned a Bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio Dominican College (now University) and a Master’s degree in education from Xavier University in Cincinnati and served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
He was a biology and Latin teacher and football, basketball and baseball coach, serving at St. Charles, Bishop Ready and Franklin Heights high schools, all in Columbus. He also was principal at Columbus St. Anthony School.
After leaving the education field, he became an underwriting executive at Nationwide Insurance and Motorists Insurance in Columbus. Following his retirement from Motorists, he became a grounds crew member at Safari Golf Club in Powell.
He and his wife, Mary Martha “Marty” (Raphael) Stewart, were longtime members of the former Columbus St. Anthony Church. He was a lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at St. Joan of Arc.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Anna Marie. Survivors include his wife; sons Todd (Madonna) and Matthew (Betsy); two grandsons and three granddaughters.
Mary K. Hummel
Funeral Mass for Mary K. Hummel, 84, who died Thursday, Jan. 23, was celebrated Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Pond Creek Holy Trinity Church. Burial was at St. Joseph Cemetery, Columbus.
She was born on April 1, 1940 in Columbus to the late Lawrence and Hester (Moore) Hummel, was a 1958 graduate of Columbus St. Joseph Academy and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Ohio State University in 1962 and a Master of Divinity degree from the Methodist Theological School in Delaware.
She was co-founder of a retreat center and religious community known as Anawim House at Otway in rural Scioto County. She worked with the area’s Spanish community through the Immigrant Worker Project, helped operate the Born Again clothing store in Otway and hosted and cooked for service groups.
She was a religion teacher at Portsmouth Notre Dame High School and religious formation director at Holy Trinity and the former Otway Our Lady of Lourdes and West Portsmouth Our Lady of Sorrows churches, now part of the St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Community.
While living in Columbus, she worked for Head Start Community Action and taught as an adjunct professor at Ohio State and at St. Joseph Academy.
She is survived by her sister, Loretta (Sam) Mammen, two nieces and a nephew.
Molly A. Marcelain
Funeral Mass for Molly A. Marcelain, 86, who died Thursday, March 6, was celebrated Thursday, March 13 at Columbus St. Agatha Church. Burial was at St, Joseph Cemetery, St. Louisville.
She was born on May 21, 1938, to David and Anne (Patterson) Evans and was a 1956 graduate of Newark High School.
She served as a secretary at Newark Catholic and Columbus Bishop Watterson high schools and was a member of the Hetuck Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Guy; and a brother, David. Survivors include sons Thomas (Leslie) and Andrew (Jennifer); daughters Elizabeth Stiens and Christin LeMaster; 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Susan K. Marion
Funeral Mass for Susan K. Marion, 77, who died Monday, Feb. 10, was celebrated Wednesday, Feb. 19 at the Lancaster Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption.
She was born on Feb. 16, 1947 in Columbus to Wolford and Dorothy Sloter.
She was a 1965 graduate of Columbus West High School, received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1969 from Capital University and was a teacher for six years at Scottwood Elementary School in Columbus.
She began playing the organ in 1985 at what then was Lancaster St. Mary Church, remaining there as organist and later director of sacred music until her retirement in 2012. She later began playing the organ at Lancaster St. Mark Church and accompanied the St. Mark Emerald Choir. She also sang with the Lancaster Community Choir.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Ronald; and a granddaughter.
Survivors include sons Christopher (Kelly) and Andrew (Athena); two grandsons and three granddaughters.
ADAMS, Luke R., 22, Feb. 16
St. Brendan the Navigator Church, Hilliard
BALLANTYNE, Donald, 84, March 6
St. Joseph Church, Dover
BLOCK, Edward A., 87, March 1
St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Zanesville
BORDERS, Aaron Michael, 35, Feb. 28
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, Portsmouth
BOYD, Mary A., 92, Feb. 27
Church of the Resurrection, New Albany
BOZYMSKI, Edward R., 91, March 4
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
BURKLEY, Martha, 94, Feb. 25
St. Margaret of Cortona Church, Columbus
BURNS, Cheryl (Simon), 68, Feb. 27
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, Portsmouth
CAVINS, Gilbert Allan “Skip,” 90, March 1
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
CLAPP, Carol A., 89, March 11
St. Joan of Arc Church, Powell
CLARK, Hugh E., 77, March 5
St. Patrick Church, Junction City
FALA, Clara, 99, Feb. 26
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
FLANAGAN, Mary Elizabeth, 98, Jan. 10
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, Portsmouth
FREITAG, Sharon (Browne), 73, formerly of Columbus, Feb. 26
St. Mary of the Woods Church, Russells Point
GIBBONS, Mary C., 74, March 9
St. Cecilia Church, Columbus
GLASS, Alma L. (Rocco), 95, March 3
St. Pius X Church, Reynoldsburg
GRIGGS, Nancy L., 80, Jan. 29
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster
HARRIS, Larry W., 73, Jan. 30
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption, Lancaster
HILDEBRAND, Frances Eileen, 87, Feb. 7
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, Portsmouth
LITTLE, Judy A. (Skunza), 78, March 1
St. James the Less Church, Columbus
McNAMARA, Roger T., 86, Feb. 19
Holy Trinity Church, Jackson
MUHS, Charles, 86, Feb. 28
St. Joseph Church, Dover
NIXON, Mary Jean, 77, Feb. 25
Sacred Hearts Church, Cardington
POMPEY, Vincent M., 86, March 6
St. Bernard Church, Corning
POSTON, Lowell W., 88, Jan. 27
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption,
Lancaster
PRICE, Donna M. (Prendergast), 87, March 2
St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westerville
RAYL, Matthew A., 52, Feb. 21
St. Andrew Church, Columbus
SAGONE, Dr. Arthur L. Jr., 87, Feb. 25
St. Andrew Church, Columbus
SAVARIMUTHI, Jeyasudan, 50, March 4
St. Brigid of Kildare Church, Dublin
SCHUDEL, Michael W., 66, Feb. 27
Church of the Resurrection, New Albany
SEXTON, Shirley Ann, 75, Jan. 24
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, Portsmouth
SKUNZA, Maria G. (Schintu), 83, March 3
St. James the Less Church, Columbus
SMITH, Joan (Hyland), 94, March 1
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, Portsmouth
SULLIVAN, Kelly M., 63, formerly of Columbus, Feb. 26
St. Michael Church, Fernandina Beach, Fla,
TALLARICO, Ralph, 91, March 2
St. Aloysius Church, Columbus
VAN QUILL, Phyllis, 87, Feb. 20
St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish, Portsmouth
WARTON, John F., 74, Feb. 27
St. Timothy Church, Columbus
WENGER, Dorothy (Quick), 82, March 8
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Pickerington
WOLFE, Bryan K., 65, Oct. 29, 2024
St. Francis of Assisi Church, Columbus