Mary Jo Pfenning, 79, St. Marys, died at 8:49 p.m. Nov. 11, 2011, in the emergency department at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, St. Marys, following a sudden illness.

She was born April 22, 1932, in St. Marys to William and Erma Sprague Suchland. On Oct. 2, 1952, she married J. Philip Pfenning, who died Dec. 11, 2007.

Survivors are children, John (Penny) Pfenning, New Knoxville, Thomas (Julie) Pfenning, New Bremen, Julie (Doug) Metz, St. Marys, and Michael Pfenning, St. Marys; a sister, Vonnalee Howick, St. Marys; in-laws, Dorothy Pfenning, Robert Burke and Frances Suchland, all of St. Marys, and Janet Suchland, Trotwood; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Deceased are an infant son, Philip Pfenning; brothers, Robert and William Suchland; a sister Evelyn James; and a granddaughter.

She was a 1950 graduate of Memorial High School, St. Marys, a homemaker and a caterer for a number of years. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and the American Legion Auxiliary, both in St. Marys.

A Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Thursday at Miller-Long & Folk Funeral Home, St. Marys, with Deacon Greg Bornhorst officiating. Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery, St. Marys.

Calling is 4:30-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be left at millerfuneralhomes.net.