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Sally Hartle

Sally Hartle (nee Sara Louise Hepler), formerly of Marble, Pennsylvania, died peacefully on November 17, 2017 in Smyrna, Georgia. She aged with grace. A remarkable wife, mother and respected community volunteer/activist, she is much loved and will be forever missed by friends and family.

Sally was born in Clarion, Pennsylvania on December 5, 1927 to Russell and Belma Hepler. She married F. Duane Hartle in Washington, D.C. in 1947, and they moved to his hometown of Marble, Pennsylvania after Duane was mustered out of the U.S. Air Force. While raising their four children, Sally ran the office for her and Duane’s insurance business. They retired in 1993.

Her 50-years of service to St. Michael’s parish included participation in the Rosary Society, the church choir, the annual Labor Day picnic, and Oktoberfest. When her avid interest in genealogy took her from Fryburg, Pennsylvania to Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, she began organizing trips between the sister cities. Years later, she and Bill Ditz headed a local group who researched genealogical records and published the first history of St. Michael’s. Sally’s genealogical records have been donated to the Clarion Library. You can find the electronic files online at ancestry.com under the heading “Fryburg Families.”

She earned a Master Gardener’s certificate and became the historian for the Clarion County Garden Club. She was instrumental in organizing many of its juried competitions.

She held a seat on the board of the Clarion County Historical Society, worked as an election-day judge, and continued her hands-on support of the Democratic party into her 70s.

Sally was a board member of the Clarion-Forest Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) for over 20 years, passionately dedicating herself to the betterment of in-home health services and the establishment of hospice care.

She also enjoyed many happy years as a member of the Clarion Community Choir, for which she served as treasurer.

In September 2013 she moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area where she resided with Holly and David Casey. Holly became Sally’s primary caregiver with the loving support of Holly’s younger sister Heather Baldino.

Sally is survived by her brother Carl (Hep) Hepler, who resides in Clarion, as well as her children Shelley Hartle of Whidbey Island, Washington (Mike McVay); Dana Hartle of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (Danise Hartle); Holly Casey of Smyrna, Georgia (David Casey); and Heather Baldino of Marietta, Georgia (Mark Baldino). She was the proud grandmother of Stephanie Stolzenbach of Long Island City, New York (Ramon Conce); Christopher Hartle of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania; Katelyn and Jacob Baldino of Marietta, Georgia; and great-grandmother to Lincoln Conce of Long Island City, New York. Many well-loved nieces and nephews also mourn her passing.

Friends and family can pay their respects to Sally and the Hartle family on Monday, December 4 at Faller Funeral Home, Inc. in Fryburg from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Mass of a Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Church in Fryburg on Tuesday, December 5 at 10:00 a.m. With Rev. Joseph Czarkowski, pastor as the celebrant.  Sally will take her rest beside Duane, her husband of 52 years, who predeceased her in 1999. There will also be a reception at St. Michael’s Hall following interment.

Instead of flowers, those wishing to remember Sally are encouraged to make a donation to the Clarion-Forest Visiting Nurses Association or to St. Michael’s Church in Fryburg.

Please visit www.fallerfuneralhome.com to share your memories and photos and offer your condolences.

 

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