Obituary of Mary Leola Irene Whipple
Mary Irene Whipple, age 95, of Erie, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 12, 2021 in her home surrounded by her loving family.
Mary was born on September 12, 1925 in Monroe. She was one of five children born from the union of the late Gardner and Velma (Schmitz) Whitmer. Mary married the love of her life, Otto Dean Whipple, at St. Joseph Church in Erie on February 5, 1944. They were happily married for 55 wonderful years.
The highlight of Mary’s life was being married to Otto and raising her nine children. Mary was a wonderful homemaker where she loved crafting, crocheting, and sewing. She was an amazing cook and baker and made the best desserts. Mary had many talents and loved to share her creations with friends and family, including her beautiful purses made from recycled plastic grocery bags.
Mary had a passion for Tiger baseball and following her children and grandchildren in all of their sporting events and activities and was their biggest fan. She especially enjoyed watching her sons play softball together and was the best at keeping the scorebook for the team and rarely missed a game.
Mary was a proud member of the Luna Pier Fireman’s Auxillary and Luna Pier Senior Citizens Nutrition Center where she volunteered and enjoyed the company of her friends and loved playing euchre and bingo. She also was a member of the Erie Friendship and Bunco Clubs. Sporting a green thumb, Mary, could grow a plant out of a simple leaf. Mary enjoyed the beauty of flowers with an African Violet being her favorite, and loved feeding and watching birds, especially her finches and hummingbirds.
Above anything, family was of the utmost importance to Mary. She cherished the times she could cook and share a meal with them. A few of her most requested and specialty dishes were potato salad, fried chicken, red cake, and the best ever chocolate chip cookies. Great times were spent camping and going to their family cabin on Lake Esau in Alpena. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and had special memoires from their trips to Hawaii and Alaska.
Along with her parents, Mary, is preceded in death by her husband Otto in 1998; daughter, Janis Rose Whipple; brother, Jack Whitmer; son-in-law, Tim Murphy; great grandson, Carter Vogt, and great granddaughter, Savannah Broadnax.
To cherish her memory she leaves her children; Thomas (Denise) Whipple, Judy Murphy, Terry (Jim) Kominek, Jerry (Chris) Whipple, Tina (Tom) Burzynski, Tim (Laura) Whipple, Randy (Trudy) Whipple, Scott Whipple (Sandra Perkins); 22 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, two brothers, Mel (Shirley) Whitmer and Michael Whitmer, one sister, Patty (Bob) Grove and many nieces and nephews.
Due to COVID-19, a private family service and burial will take place at St. Joseph Church and Cemetery in Erie. Merkle Funeral Service, Erie is entrusted with her care. Online guests may visit www.merklefs.com. Memorial contributions can be made to ProMedica Hospice of Monroe.