Mary F. Klemmer, 97

October 12, 2017

Mary F. Klemmer, 97, formerly of Lancaster, passed away Thursday, October 12, 2017 at Frey Village Retirement Center in Middletown where she was a resident. Born in Millersville, PA, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Kathryne (Taylor) Filling. She was preceded in death by her first husband, George Klemmer, and her second husband, Robert Brodie.
Mary was a 1938 graduate of Penn Manor High School and served proudly for many years as the president of the alumni association. She also attended college at Franklin & Marshall and Drexel.
As the owner of Mary’s Bridal House and later as the manager of Carter’s Outlet, she was able to nurture her love of working with people and making them feel cared for and special. She also worked at Hess’s Department Store, Welcome Wagon, Cardtique, Royer’s Flowers, American Heart Association and in her family’s business, Filling Cleaners and Men’s Shop.
She was very active in many social and charitable organizations. She was a past president of the American Business Women’s Association and Susquehanna Angel Collectors Club as well as being active in Christian Business and Professional Women’s club, Red Hat Society and in her church, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Middletown. She was nominated for the Jefferson Award for community service in 1997.
Mary came from a very close and loving family. Her great-grandchildren Evan Moralis and Katarina Hoehn were the light of her life. Besides her husbands, she was predeceased by 4 brothers: Frank, J. William, Richard and Albert Filling as well as two sisters, Kathryne and Elizabeth. She is survived by her brother James Filling of Lancaster and sister Kay Straley of Ronks. She is also survived by two daughters, Kay Bemesderfer of Mountville and Kim Sternbergh of Summerdale and her grandchildren Elissa Sternbergh Hoehn (San Diego, CA), Amanda Moralis DeGroof (Raleigh, NC) Bradley, Craig and Kurt Bemesderfer. She is also survived by two step-sons, Dennis and James Brodie, and their families of Ontario, Canada and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service in Mary’s honor will be held in the chapel at Frey Village, 1020 N Union St., Middletown on Monday, October 23 at 10:30AM. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA. Visitation will be held there on Monday, October 23 from 6 to 8 PM and again on Tuesday morning from 10-11 with the funeral services immediately following. Charitable contributions in Mary’s honor may be sent to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, PA or to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 121 N. Spring St., Middletown, PA.