Mrs. Lenore Spanelli Mengel of Tyrone, PA, died at the age 82 on Monday, August 11, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. Loved ones were by her side until she passed at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
Lenore (Leanie) was born on September 1, 1925 in Pemberton, PA and was the daughter of Italian immigrants, Peter and Nicolena Spanelli. Leanie married her dear husband, Chet (Chester Ray Mengel I) on September 16, 1948 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church Rectory. She treasured her life in the home she and Chet built on Hoover’s Lane throughout the nearly 60 years of their marriage. It was here where they raised their son, “Chuck” (Mr. Chester R. Mengel II) and daughter, Nicolee (Dr. Nicolee Mengel Hiltz).
Leanie was a loving grandmother to Christy Lee Mengel (great-granddaughter Aleana), Chester Ray Mengel III, and Teri Jean Mengel (great-granddaughter Baylee Mae), as well as Chandra Taylor (children – Noah, Cassidy, Malia and Amara) and Ashley Pritchett: the family of her son Chuck and daughter-in-law Deann.
Leanie also deeply loved her granddaughter, Jessica Lee Hiltz and grandson, Michael James Hiltz, who are the children of her daughter, Nicolee and son-in-law, Jim (Dr. James Hiltz).
All of Leanie’s surviving siblings – Katherine DelBaggio, Peter Spanelli, Jr. (wife Dorothy Spanelli) and Dorothy Patton still reside in the Tyrone area. Her eldest sister, Rose Boscaino, preceded her in death. Her surviving nieces and nephews are Diane (Boscaino) Decker, Victoria (DelBaggio) Hayes, Mary Kay (DelBaggio) Dubetz, John Patton, Peter Patton and Steven Spanelli. Leanie’s nephew, Dennis Boscaino and grandnephew, Joshua Hayes, very recently preceded her in death.
In her youth, Leanie was a student at the “one room school house” in Pemberton, then the “old high school” on Lincoln Avenue. Having skipped fifth grade, she graduated at the age of 16 with the Tyrone High School class of 1942. As a young woman, she worked as a secretary at the Western Union office in Tyrone and at Penn State University. Lenore was a member of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church and of Court St. Rita No. 523, Catholic Daughters of America. She remained an active member of the community throughout her life.
Family was always Lenore’s priority. She was a homemaker who was totally devoted to her soul mate and husband, Chet. Her greatest joy in life came from being with her children and grandchildren. She was a warm, loving lady. Leanie was generous of the heart as proven by the number of lives she touched and her many life-long friends. She made a positive difference while on this earth and will be missed.
The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, August 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with Father Joseph T. Orr officiating. Her private burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery at the convenience of the family. All friends and family may call at the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home, Inc. on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Those desiring to do so can make contributions to a fund which has been established to plant dogwood trees in her memory. These can be sent c/o the Richard H. Searer Funeral Home, Inc., 115 W. 10th Street, Tyrone, PA 16686.
