Mary Ellen White, age 81, previously of New Bremen, died Sunday, January 30, 2022 at 4:42 A.M. at the Heritage Healthcare Center in Minster where she had resided for the last few years.

She was born on January 26, 1941 in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Milo J. and Alice (Wyandt) Keith. On September 7, 1963 she married Jack E. White and he died on April 19, 2010. Surviving are her beloved daughters: Alicia (Bill) Schemmel of New Bremen, Stephanie (Jeff) Dicke of New Bremen, and Linda (Michael) Tinsley of Benton Harbor, MI. Also left to cherish her memory are her thirteen grandchildren: James (Shannon) Riebel, Megan Riebel, Kaylyn (Tyler) Regedanz, Marissa Clint, Anna Clint, Taylor (AJ) Schmitmeyer, Joseph Schemmel, Jaquie Schemmel, Conner Barhorst, Grant Dicke, Gavin Dicke, Ethan Tinsley, Celeste Tinsley; and her six great-grandchildren: Charlie, Colton, Cooper, Tommy, Liam, and Leona. She also leaves behind her extended family of caregivers and friends at Heritage Healthcare Center.

Along with her parents and husband, Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her daughter, Jennifer Clint; and her brothers: Robert Keith, Milo Keith, and David Keith.

Mary Ellen was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen. She was a 1959 graduate of Van Wert High School, and went on to continue her education at a registered nurse at the Parkview College of Nursing in Ft. Wayne. Over the years, she was a nurse at several local facilities including Southland Medical Center, Dr. Ranga's office, and also at Heritage Manor in Minster until her retirement. She was highly respected for her nursing skills and was known by her peers to be very caring and proficient in her trade.

Even after Mary Ellen became a resident at Heritage, she still wanted to assist the nurses in their daily routine. While living at Heritage, she was very loved and well taken care of by many of the nurses that she had helped train, and her passion for music and dancing became more prevalent. She had loved to travel and bake, and dearly loved spending time with her grandchildren. Her tradition of making quiche, coffee cake and mimosas on Christmas morning will always be continued by her family.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen with Rev. Becky Erb Strang officiating.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mary Ellen can be made to the Grand Lake Hospice or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospitals.

Because the activities at Heritage Center provided Mary Ellen with such joy and laughter, the family asks that in her memory, you contact your local nursing facilities and contribute or volunteer to their activities department.

The family is being assisted by the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and online condolences to the family may be left at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.