Mary Ellen Goodlin

Mary Ellen Goodlin, 72, of Chardon since the early 1990s, formerly of Mentor-on-the-Lake, passed away May 13, 2014 at Tri-Point Medical Center.

Mary Ellen was born May 10, 1942 in Pittsburgh, PA, the only daughter of the late Miller and Anna (nee Elnyczky) Senovich, and grew up in McDonald, PA. She graduated from Fort Cherry High School in 1961, the first class of the new high school. Mary Ellen worked at Westinghouse before she married Matthew W. Goodlin on June 2, 1962 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, PA, were they lived for a few years before moving to Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio in 1964. She raised three children, Margaret, Marie and Matthew Jr. before going back to work at JCPenny’s and Sears in the Great Lakes Mall, retiring after 20 years. Matt and Mary Ellen moved to Chardon in the early 1990’s and enjoyed many happy years of camping with a group of friends known as the “Willoughby 8 Balls”. In addition, they traveled to Florida for many years during the snowy months of Ohio winters. Over the years, Maryellen also enjoyed crochet, making candy with chocolate, crafts with her kids, reading books, playing hand-held games like Poker or Yahtzee, and watching her grandchildren play softball.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband of 52 years, Matthew W.; daughters Margaret (James) Casey from Morgantown, W.Va. and Marie (Tim) Ferris of Mentor-on-the-Lake; son Matthew Jr. (Natalie Whited) of Geneva; grandchildren, William, Summer and Kenneth Spakes (fiancée Heather Buxton), Brooke Ferris, Caleb and Hannah Ludwick and great-grandchildren Caleb Spakes, Austin and Kayla Schultz; her sister-in-law, Joanne Wigfield; and brothers-in-law, William (Lynn) Goodlin, John (Karen) Goodlin, Thomas (Linda) Goodlin. She will be remembered as the dear aunt, cousin and friend of many.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Miller and Anna (nee Elnyczky) Senovich; in-laws, Clyde and Anna (nee Ihli) Goodlin; brother-in-law Wade Wigfield; and grandson, LCpl Eric Paul “EJ” Ludwick USMC.

Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Mary Ellen Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the DeJohn Funeral Home and Crematory of Chardon, (formerly Ritondaro), 126 South St (Rt. 44, south of Rt. 6/Chardon Square).

A Celebration of Life Service will be Friday, May 16, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. David Bill from Victory Lane Assembly will officiate. Burial following at All Souls Cemetery, Chardon.

Family suggests contributions may be made in Mary Ellen’s memory to Susan G. Komen Foundation , NE Ohio Affiliate, 10819 Magnolia Dr. Cleveland, OH 44106.