Obituary of Margaret Louise Shrift

SHRIFT – Margaret Louise "Hon," 84, Loretto, died July 12, 2009, at Memorial Medical Center. Born Oct. 5, 1924, in Summerhill, daughter of the late Edward and Bernadine (Schrift) Bodenschatz. Preceded in death by brothers, Father Ronald, TOR, and Edward, and his wife, Margaret; and sister, Virginia Boxler, and her husband, Regis. Survived by children, Bernadette Eckenrode (Leonard), Patton; Regina Itle (Dr. Joseph), Martinsburg; Barbara Sherry (Duane), Ebensburg; Joan Casale (Samuel), Duncansville; Peter (Patricia Funyak), Ebensburg; Thomas, Ebensburg; Edward (Diana Shields), Altoona; Martin (Theresa Berzonsky), New Philadelphia; and Timothy, Cresson; 23 grandchildren, Kimberly, Jennifer, Shawn, Kendra, Amber, Neil, Keith, Eric, Stephanie, Dustin, Kurt, Greta, Antony, Samantha, Brian, Nicole, Leah, Joseph, Anna, Ronald, Nathan, Morgan and Margot; 16 great-grandchildren, Maude, Margaret, Thaddeus, Anya, Grace, Kenneth, Logan, Rose, Jonah, Griffin, Kaylee, Abbey, Lyndsey, Emily, Alyse and Madison; and sister, Flo Cowan (H. Richard), Johnstown. Margaret retired in 1996 with over 30 years of service from St. Francis University, Loretto, as the dining service manager at Frankies, formerly called the Campus Club. She received the John Soriano Outstanding Service Award in 1993, and also was recognized as an honorary alumni of St. Francis University. She was a devoted mother, sister and friend. She enjoyed cooking, playing cinch, flower gardening, arts and crafts and traveling to visit family and friends. Member of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Loretto, where she belonged to the Altar Rosary Society and Legion of Mary, was a Eucharist minister and a tour volunteer for the Prince Gallitzin Chapel House. Margaret was a recipient of the Prince Gallitzin Cross in 2002. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Basilica in Loretto, the Rev. Msgr. Timothy Swope, celebrant. Committal, St. Mary's Cemetery, New Germany. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Gibbons Funeral Home, Ashville, where a vigil service will be held Tuesday afternoon.