Mary Eleanor Scannell

Mary Eleanor Scannell, 100, of Armstrong went to her heavenly home on January 28, 2022, at St. Francis Terrace in Fond du Lac, where she had been a resident since 2019.

            Mary was born on Dec. 17, 1921, in the Town of Empire, the daughter of Martin and Katherine Schwind Tonn. She was one of seven children and grew up living on a farm on Happy Hollow Road near Campbellsport.

            She attended St. Mathew’s Catholic School and took piano lessons at St. Joseph Convent across the street from the school. Her creative talents extended to playing the violin, singing in the Glee Club, drawing (she received a penmanship award) and ballroom dancing.

            She graduated from Campbellsport High School with honors in 1940 and received the Good Citizenship Award.

            On April 18, 1942, she married Stephen H. Scannell at St. Mathew’s Church. They settled on the Scannell homestead in the Town of Osceola.

            Resourceful in every way, Mary sewed clothes for the couple’s five children. As a homemaker, she took great pride in cooking, baking bread, canning and decorating.

            She valued education, making sacrifices for her children’s schooling and keeping herself sharp by watching multiple news shows each night, including the BBC.

            Even into her 90s Mary continued to cut and style her own hair and decorate her home with holiday scenes she drew for the living room picture window. She spent much of her time creating scrapbooks and writing notes of encouragement and gratitude to her friends and family members including her grandchildren away at college.

            She was an 80-year member of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Armstrong and of the larger parish community of Shepherd of the Hills.

            In 1988, Steve and Mary moved to a new home in Armstrong. He preceded her in death on Dec. 19, 1996.

            Mary is survived by four children: Maureen (Bill) Paffenroth, Oshkosh; Eileen (Jim) Mirsberger, Burlington; Ann (Pat) Del Ponte, Menasha; and Tim (Jelaine) Scannell, Eden.

            She is also survived by 12 grandchildren: James and Tom Scannell, Molly (Ron) Naef, Sean (Stacey) Scannell, Shanthi (David) Henriksen, John (Safiyah) Mirsberger, Paul Del Ponte, Leti Del Ponte, Maria (Blake) Blaskowski, Ryan Scannell, Sheena (Nate) Brieske and Neil (Michelle) Scannell; and 18 great-grandchildren. Other survivors are Elizabeth Hipp, Guillemette Scannell and many nieces and nephews.

            In addition to her husband, Mary was preceded in death by her son Steve in 2011 and her granddaughter Caitlin Scannell in 2012. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her siblings and their spouses: Lawrence (Deloris) Tonn, Margaret (Ralph) Guell, Helen (Emit) Searcy, Bernadine (John) Lingenfelter, Katherine (Bob) Willis and George (Mary Ann) Tonn.  

            A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, February 5th at 12:00 noon at Shepherd of the Hills Catholic Church, W1562 County B, Eden. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m.to the time of Mass. 

            The family requests that all visitors wear face masks to be respectful to those who are at high risk. In the interest of safety, a luncheon will not be served.

            The family would like to thank Lynn Kohlman for helping her stay in her home as long as possible, the caring staff of St. Francis Terrace and Agnesian Healthcare Hospice, and the many people who sent cards and notes of encouragement these last two years. She felt your love.

            In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to Father Mike Shea’s Sarnelli House or Agnesian Healthcare Hospice.  

            Twohig Funeral Home is serving the family with online condolences and guestbook at www.twohigfunerals.com.

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