Mary L. Ebel

Mary Lourdes Ebel, 84, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning February 11, 2024, at the Margaret J. Thomas Inpatient Care Center, after a courageous fight with lung cancer. She was a tremendous woman and will be sorely missed.

Mary was born November 3, 1939, to Arthur and Miriam Johnson in Albany, New York. Mary was the first born and the Johnson family grew with her sister Anne and brother Art. She lived the early part of her life in Albany, where she grew up, graduated high school, married William Ebel Jr., and started her own family with daughter Lisa and son Billy.

Mary moved to Cincinnati in 1975 when her husband sought employment as a pressman at Rosenthal's Printing Company. She continued to raise her family and practice her Catholic faith. She was a member of the St. Columban parish, faithfully attended church every week and her children were educated in the Catholic schools.

Mary loved her children and developed a love for animals. Her family had a number of cats but would soon gain their first dog. Mary attended a St. Columban Church festival with her family in the mid-seventies. At this festival, there was a raffle booth where there was a litter of puppies being raffled off for $.25 a ticket. With small odds of winning, Mary agreed to buy a raffle ticket to make her kids happy. When the call came Sunday evening that the Ebels were one of the winners of a brand-new puppy, she was not initially too excited about the prospect of an unexpected new puppy in the house. She eventually conceded when her children promised to walk the dog every day and pick up all the dog poop. Her children's promises lasted at least till the puppy came home before Mary became the one feeding and picking up after puppy Charlie. Charlie soon became Mary's dog, and she took care of him his entire life, becoming the best poop picker upper in the world. That was not a title Mary aspired to, but always found amusing when her children made excuses as to why they forgot their promises about picking up after the dog.

During the mid-eighties, Mary's first marriage ended. This was a difficult time for her, but she remained committed to her Catholic faith. It was a social group for divorced Catholics where she met the second love of her life, Tom Schoenung. Tom was also a member of the Catholic faith. Mary and Tom developed a loving and long-lasting relationship. Mary and dog Charlie eventually moved in with Tom in his house in Milford and were members of the St. Andrews parish. Mary and Tom had many happy years together. Mary was good for Tom, being an active and happy person. Tom was good for Mary being a loving and supportive man. Mary was also a supportive person who always wanted the best for others, whether that was her husband Tom, her children, grandchildren, stepchildren, her dogs or her friends. Mary lived a life filled with love for family and friends.

Mary is survived by her daughter Lisa (Tom) Jones; son William Ebel; grandchildren Melissa Keine, TJ Jones, and Ben Jones; great grandchildren Jake, Olivia, Sophia, Luke, Sammy, and Tommy; Sister Anne Devane; brother Art Johnson; stepchildren Tommy, Patty, Michael, Frances, and Richard. Beloved dog mom to Hachi and Mindy.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Miriam Johnson and her husband Thomas Schoenung.

There is a poem which hangs on the wall in Mary's kitchen. It's called, A Sign of God.

"I took a walk to be alone. That's when I saw a sight so odd, it had to be a sign from God. There among the rocks did grow a flower strong - it did not know flowers need a caring hand, water, light and fertile land. It only knew the will to live and that its purpose was to give. It didn't know the odds it faced or feel that it had been misplaced. God placed it there for me to find, to give me hope and peace of mind. To help me do the best I can and never doubt His greater plan."

A final word, some things Mary often said to her children. "Be nice to that dog" and also, "Don't forget you have a mother. Call me." We won't forget Mom.

There will be a visitation at Evans Funeral Home - Milford 741 Center Street Milford, Ohio 45150 Saturday February 17, 2024, from 10:00 AM until time of Blessing Service at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow at Greenlawn Cemetery.

If so desired, memorials may be donated to any local animal rescue or SPCA animal shelter.