Anna Haitz Serwna, a Haitz Family Centenarian

I saw on the Geneablogger's Facebook page that today is National Centenarian's Day, and it just so happens that the obituary information I recently entered into my Roots Magic software is that of Anna Haitz Serwna who lived to be just a month over 100 years old so this post is in her honor.  

Maplewood Cemetery
Ripley, Ohio

Anna was the sister of my great grandfather, Joseph Haitz.  She was the second of ten children of her parents, Francizkus Xavier (Frank) and Elizabeth (Germann) Haitz and the first to be born in Ohio.  Her older sister, Elizabeth, had been born several years earlier, 1859, in Boston, Massachusetts.   

Anna lived all but two years of her life in and near Ripley, Ohio.  Her marriage to Joseph Serwna was performed at St. Michael Catholic Church on October 24, 1891 by Father John B Dickham.  She and Joseph, a Huntington Township farmer, would eventually have a family with five children.  Joseph preceded her in death in 1959.

For her 100th birthday, September 9, 1963, just about one month shy of her death, she attended a party in her honor complete with family, festivities, and a birthday dinner.   

Her death occurred at 5:00 AM on October 13, 1963 in Norwood, Ohio at the home of her daughter, Anna Roebel with whom she lived.  In addition to Anna, she was survived by another daughter, Mrs. John Helbling (Mary) of Aberdeen and three sons, Joseph and Frank of Ripley, and Martin of Norwood.  She also left a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A requiem high mass took place in St. Michael Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 15 with the Reverend Father Paul Cornwell officiating.  Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery.

Death Takes Albert J "Jerry" Steele

From The Ripley Bee      

25 July 1996

Page 3, Column 1

Albert J. "Jerry" Steele was the only child of Albert Francis and Elizabeth (Haitz) Steele.  He was born in Ripley, Ohio on October 23, 1936.  He died July 20, 1996 at his home in Mansfield, Ohio where he lived with his wife, Wanda Sue (Reeves) Steele who survived him.

Jerry was an application engineer at Barnes Pumps in Mansfield.  He belonged to the Resurrection Parish in the same city and was a long time member of the Knights of Columbus.  He served in the Army Reserve.

Maplewood Cemetery
Ripley, Ohio

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, July 24, 1996 at St. Michael Catholic Church in his hometown of Ripley, Ohio with Father William Kennedy officiating.  Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery, Ripley.  

Link to Find A Grave Memorial

The Death of Frank A Haitz

The death of Frank A Haitz was the first of the sixteen children of Joseph and Henrietta (Koewler) Haitz.  His father had died two years earlier on Valentine's Day, 1960.  

Frank, a 51 year old farmer, had been last seen late on the night of April 15, 1962.  His younger brother, Albert, found his body the next morning in a ravine between his house and the house of Henrietta with whom Frank had been living.  The coroner ruled the death as a result of a heart attack which occurred, it was believed, while Frank was walking through a field on his way home.  

A requiem high mass was intoned at St. Michael Catholic Church in Ripley, Ohio on Wednesday, April 18, 1962 by the Reverend Father Paul Cornwell.  Burial was in Maplewood Cemetery in Ripley.

The original obituary can be found in The Ripley Bee, 19 April 1962, page 1, column 2.

Find a Grave Memorial Page