Rothen

Mary Ellen Rothen, 87, of Butler died Thursday 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. She 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's.

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, who 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.; and 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.

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> — Friends of Mary Ellen Rothen, who died Thursday, March 4, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at noon Wednesday at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Butler with Father James Dolan, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.Members of the C.D. of A. will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home to recite the rosary.The Women's Council of St. Peter's Parish will meet at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday at the church to recite the rosary.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.