Mary Ellen Raudenbush, 90 years old of Sarasota, Florida, passed away at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 2, 2010 at her residence. Mary Ellen was born on Thursday, July 3, 1919 in Rockford, Ohio the daughter of the late William E. Doran and the late Fairy Ethel (Stover) Doran. She married the late Harry D. Raudenbush on November 13, 1937 in Columbus, Indiana and he passed away on February 21, 1997. Mary was a member of the Meadowland First Church of God in Sarasota, Florida, where she played piano and organ at the church, sang in a ladies trio, and taught Sunday School classes. While living in Indiana, she was a member of the Berne Garden Club in Berne, Indiana. She was a graduate of Rockford High Class of 1936 in Rockford, Ohio. Mary played piano for nursing home events, loved to make quilts for her family, restored dolls and antique furniture, crocheted over 100 rugs, painted pictures, made foot stools, wrote poems, journaled daily, made jewelry Christmas trees, and made corner shelves out of wooden spools, and was a loving homemaker. Surviving are her daughter, Melinda Lu (Luther) Lehman of Berne, Indiana; daughter, Diane Sue (William) Kettleborough of Colorado Springs, Colorado; daughter, June Elaine (Jerry) Steffen of Auburn, Indiana; son, Michael Randall (Nanine) Raudenbush of Petaluma, California; daughter, Leesa Dale (Sandor) Rendeczky of Sarasota, Florida; ten grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, and nine step-great-grandchildren. Preceding Mary Ellen in death were one son, Patrick Doran Raudenbush in 1983; and three brothers, Robert, Marcus, and Jason Doran. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 12, 2010 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home with Rev. Kris McPherson officiating. Interment will follow in the Backesto Cemetery in rural Monroe, Indiana. Friends will be received from 12:00 NOON to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, April 11, 2010 in the Zwick and Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur, Indiana. Preferred memorials are to First Missionary Church, Berne; or Resurrection House Inc. 507 Kumquat Court Sarasota, Florida 34230 or phone (941-365-3759).
