Our beloved Aunt Izzy passed away on Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Here is her obituary, as it appeared in The Altoona Mirror on April 23:
"Isabelle Louise (Snavely) Stiffler, 93, formerly of Albion, Pa., and Willoughby, Ohio, and originally from Altoona, died Wednesday at St. Mary's Home of Erie-East.
She was born in Altoona to the late Albert Ellis and Emily Mae (Osterman) Snavely, the eighth of 11 children. She married Raymond M. Stiffler on Aug. 16, 1941, and he preceded her in death in 1982 after 41 years of marriage.
Surviving are two children: Bonnie L. Snyder (Tom) of Cranesville and the Rev. Martin J. Stiffler (Joann) of Crestline, Ohio; five grandchildren: Debbie Baer (Jim) of Erie, Kim Popella (Mike) of Grove City, Jonathan Stiffler (Jessica) of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Kristin Rickel (Scott) of Crestline, Ohio and Jefferey Stiffler of Mansfield, Ohio; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters: Ada Munchak (Steve) of Sebastion, Fla., and Frances Woomer of Altoona; as well as many nieces and nephews who called her "Aunt Izzy."
She was preceded in death by a brother, George; and seven sisters: Alberta Wambaugh, Edith Thomas, Violet Demeree, Eleanor Smith Seibert, Emily Lytle, Helen Boore and Florence "Babe" Stacey.
Isabelle was a 1934 graduate of Altoona High School. She worked in the sewing factory and the A&P Bakery in Altoona, where she met her husband. She was a member of the Albion Grace United Methodist Church, the church sewing circle (RSVP) and the Altoona Area High School Alumni Association.
Izzy lived a very simple life that included the love of her life, Ray, her children and their spouses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her church and the Snavely clan. She enjoyed sewing and was an avid reader of the Altoona Mirror.
Friends will be received from 10 to the 11 a.m. funeral service Saturday, April 24, 2010, at Liebegott-Brown Funeral Home Inc., 1218 Fourth Ave., Duncansville (http://www.liebegottbrown.com/). Isabelle's son, the Rev. Martin Stiffler, will conduct the service. Burial at Rose Hill Cemetery, Altoona.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Home of Erie-East, 607 E. 26th St., Erie, PA 16404."
