Mary C. Haniwalt, 84, of Bredinsburg Road, Franklin, Cranberry Township, entered the gates of Heaven on Sunday night, January 19, 2014 at UPMC Hamot in Erie, following a brief illness.
Born November 10, 1929 in Nickleville, she was the daughter of the late John and Amelia Colhepp Bell.
She was a member of Seneca United Methodist Church.
Mary enjoyed playing bingo, crafts and painting, making dolls, and especially the company of her grandchildren.
Mrs. Haniwalt was employed as both a custodian and a cook for the Cranberry Area School District. She retired from there following many years of dedicated service.
She was married on February 17, 1951 to Waldo E. Haniwalt, and he preceded her in death on June 26, 2005.
Surviving are three children, Waldo E. Haniwalt, Jr. of Franklin; Sandra Shaffer of Tionesta; and Bonnie Smith and husband Scott of Seneca; four grandchildren, Christopher and Daniel Shaffer, Jody Lucas and husband Hansel, and Ryan Smith and wife Tabitha; and ten great-grandchildren, Laurianne, Morgan, and Katielynne Shaffer, McKaylah, Bradley, Aiyanna, and Heyden Smith, Jordan and Megan Mealy, and Benjamin Anthony. Mary was anxiously awaiting the upcoming birth of another great-granddaughter, Haley Lynn Lucas.
Also surviving are two sisters, Ella Stone of Oil City and Jessie Stover and husband Don of Titusville; a sister-in-law, Rose Bell of Oil City; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Craig Shaffer; a great-grandson, Glenn Shaffer; four sisters, Ima Hackett, Margie Findlay, Ada Wice, and Agnes Rode; and four brothers, James, Robert “Dietz”, George, and John Bell.
Friends will be received Thursday (Jan. 23) from 4-7 p.m. in the Hile-Best Funeral Home, Inc., 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home Friday (Jan. 24) at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Rob Kifer, pastor of Heckathorn United Methodist Church, officiating.
Interment will follow in Rockland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Condolences may be expressed to Mary’s family online by visiting www.hilebest.com.