Mary E. Bentz

Mary Elizabeth (Schlegel) Bentz, 97, formerly of West Reading, died August 10, 2008 at 2:10 am in Sacred Heart Villa, Muhlenberg Township, where she had been a resident since January 2005.

Born in Lebanon, PA on April 4, 1911, she was a daughter of the late Joseph E. and Elizabeth C. (Hicking) Schlegel.

She was a life long member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, West Reading and a devoted mother, sister, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Mary was employed by the Reading Hospital Medical Center in the medical records department and was a member of the TRHMC Ladies Auxiliary, Sacred Heart Sodality, and Alsace Senior Group.

Mary is survived by seven children: Sister Mary M. Bentz, IHM, St. Catherine of Sienna parish, Mount Penn; John, husband of Mary Lou (Hoke) Bentz of Bechtelsville; William of Sacred Heart Villa, Muhlenberg Township; Nicholas, husband of Mary Alice (Eckert) Bentz of Shillington; Theresa, widow of John R. Caton of Wakefield, Mass.; Richard, husband of Barbara (Strand) Bentz of Palmyra and Thomas, husband of Anne (Schuler) Bentz of Harrisburg and a daughter-in-law; Nancy L. (Snyder) of Wyomissing, widow of James Bentz.

She is also survived by five siblings: Edward Schlegel of Lebanon; William Schlegel of Anaheim, Calif.; Anne Reilly of Lebanon; Agnes Fancovic of Myerstown and Elizabeth Darone of Stanton, Calif. and one sister-in-law, Mildred Bentz of State College, Pa.

There are also 25 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren and two great, great granddaughters.

She was predeceased by her husband, Nicholas Michael Bentz, who died April 5, 1976 and three children: Robert Bentz, who died in 1953; Joseph Bentz, who died in 1944 and James Bentz who died in 2000 and four siblings: Joseph Schlegel; John Schlegel; Cecelia Gristick and Dorothy Burch all of Lebanon, Pa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 11:00 am in Sacred Heart R.C. Church, Franklin Street and 8th Avenue, West Reading.

The Rosary will be prayed Wednesday at 5:45 pm and a viewing will follow from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery, Muhlenberg Township.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Villa, 51 Seminary Avenue, Reading, PA 19605 or the Sisters of the IHM, 1140 King Road, Immaculata, PA 19345-0200.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.kuhnfuneralhome.com