Struthers, MARY HELEN GAPPEN, 88
 A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday April 16, 2016 at 12:00 noon at Christ Our Savior Parish, Holy Trinity Church for Mary H. Gappen, 88, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 9, 2016.
“Babe,” as she was sometimes called within the family, was born on February 3, 1928 in Youngstown, Ohio.  She was one of four children of Mary C. and William Yash of Struthers.  
Mary attended the old Holy Trinity church and elementary school on Washington Street in Struthers.  Subsequently she was a parishioner of the new church on upper Bridge Street.  A graduate of Ursuline High School, Mary quickly transitioned into a secretarial position at the Youngstown Sheet & Tube offices. 
Shortly after marrying Paul L. Gappen on Sept. 7, 1949, she became a full time mother. After raising two children,   Mary decided to return to the work force.  She took driving lessons, obtained a driver’s license and became the secretary of the Archangel Michael Church in Campbell, Ohio.
After Paul’s retirement in 1986, the couple travelled extensively.  The Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska and the West Coast, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Atlantic City and Washington D.C. were some of the highlights.  While Paul was frustrated by his lackluster slot machine results in Vegas and Atlantic City as well as the daily lottery numbers, Mary enjoyed considerable success at both.
Preceding Mary in death were an infant son, Michael; her parents; a brother, Thomas Yash and a sister, Helen (Sister Mary Olivia). Husband Paul L. Gappen passed away in January 2011.  
Surviving are a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Schromofsky of Boardman, Ohio; a son, Richard (Belinda) Gappen of Waterford, Pennsylvania; a sister, Katherine Delost of Mentor, Ohio; a grandson Daniel (Rachel and two great grandsons) Gappen of Greenville, North Carolina; four sisters-in-law, Martha Rusky and Maryann Cramer of Youngstown; Georgiann Karsnak of Youngstown; Carol (Wally) Disler of Avon Park, FL; two brothers-in-law, John Karsnak of Youngstown and George Karsnak of Canfield; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Interment will be at St. John’s Cemetery in Campbell.  
The family expresses their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the care provided by the entire staff of Sunrise Assisted Living in Poland, Ohio, where Mary had resided since July 2010.  Special thanks must go to all the care managers and nurses who monitored and assisted Mary on a daily basis.  In addition, the activities coordinators deserve a very special mention for planning the daily activities and field trips that Mary so enjoyed.  Finally, the care and advice provided by Dr. Ted Faull was always very much appreciated.
Friends may call between 10:00 AM and noon on Saturday April 16, 2016 at Christ Our Savior Parish, Holy Trinity Church prior to the funeral mass.

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