Mary Lou Brunner-Steigerwald
Mary Lou Brunner-Steigerwald, 57, of Grove City died Monday at her home after battling cancer.
Born in Meadville, Dec. 2, 1949, she was the daughter of Clyde Brunner and Rose Ann Brunner.
She married Richard Steigerwald on Nov. 25, 1988.
A graduate of Meadville High School, she received a bachelor of arts degree from Allegheny College and a master's degree in counseling from Edinboro State University. Following graduation, she worked as a counselor in the VISTA program assigned to the Virgin Islands. Later she was Dean of Student Life at Alliance College, Cambridge Springs.
Early in her career she was director of the French Creek Valley Artists Guild.
Mrs. Steigerwald had a passion for travel which she did throughout most of her adult life.
She spent her career as a counselor helping others and working in social service agencies in Crawford and Mercer counties, including Women's Services, Primary Health Services, and most recently The Children's Aid Society in Mercer.
Besides her family, her passion was the theater. She delighted audiences as an actress/singer appearing on stage in countless productions in the Meadville and Franklin areas. Later, she directed and costumed numerous shows in Meadville and Grove City, most recently "Beauty and The Beast" at Grove City High School. She also assisted as a consulting director for children's theater at Grove City College.
She was an avid gardener and had a passion for local sustainable and organic foods. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.
A collector of vintage clothing, she presented many vintage clothing fashion shows in Crawford and Mercer counties.
She was an active member of the Meadville Unitarian Universalist Church and a member of its choir.
She served on the Board of the Meadville Council of the Arts and the Meadville Community Theater.
She was also a member of Datta Retreat Yoga Center of West Sunbury and was a practitioner of universal yogic teachings.
She is survived by her husband, Richard; a son, Ethan; her mother, Rose Brunner of Meadville; her sister, Joanne Ende of Meadville; many nieces and nephews, and her devoted walking companion, her dog Jesse.
She was preceded in death by her father, Clyde Brunner; a sister, Sylvia Brunner Smith, and her in-laws, James and Dee Steigerwald.
<B>Brunner-Steigerwald</B> — A memorial service for Mary Lou Brunner-Steigerwald, who died Monday, Oct. 22, 2007, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 346 Chestnut St., Meadville, with the Rev. Kate Walker, pastor, officiating.The family suggests memorial tributes be made to Meadville Community Theater, 400 N. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335; Children's Aid Society, P.O. Box 167, W. Market St., Mercer, PA 16137, or The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, 114 W. Main St., P.O. Box 419, Millheim, PA 16854.Arrangements are being handled by the <B>Cunningham Funeral Home</B>, Grove City.
