Ethel Mae Horner

Ethel Mae Horner, age 79 of Tionesta, passed away Monday April 7, 2025 at the Shippenville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center following a brief illness.

Born on June 19, 1945 in Somerset, PA, she is the daughter of Harry and Caroline (Lafferty) Shockey.

She graduated from Somerset Area High School in the class of 1963.

 Ethel married Donald J. Horner on August 10, 1963. The couple had just celebrated their 61st anniversary. They were married in the United Church of Christ by Rev. Richard Shellenberger. Don and Ethel met while on the first Somerset County 4-H exchange trip going to Pueblo, Colorado on a train. They decided to do another train trip to Colorado for their 50th wedding anniversary. Over the years, Don and Ethel traveled to all 50 states.

In previous years, Ethel helped with potato harvesting and grading when her husband was involved in the potato farm. In the year 2000, Ethel became a licensed technician at the Tionesta Photo License Center. She met many nice people who helped her with her struggle with breast cancer and losing her hair. She thoroughly enjoyed her job and the kind people she worked with. Ethel also enjoyed all kinds of needlework and quilting, and reading was a favorite pastime of hers.

In early years Ethel was involved in 4-H and then became a 4-H leader. She became involved with the Clarion County Farm Bureau and held many offices including County President, Women's Committee Chairperson, and Newsletter Editor. She represented the District 13 on the State Board of Directors for 8 years and served on the State Women's Committee for 8 years. She also served as treasurer for 10 years at the Venus Faith Lutheran Church, participated in the Ruth Circle Bible Study, and enjoyed the Quilting Ladies.

Surviving Ethel is her husband, Don; daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda and Larry R. Bendal; three grandchildren, Sarah (Antwone) Emily Bendal Wright of Pittsburgh, Charlie(Rose) Levi Bendal of Fryburg, and Larry (Allyson) J. Bendal of Lucinda; two great grandsons, Kyle R. Kim and Waylon J. Bendal; and two sisters, Hester Hemminger of Glen Rock, PA, and Nancy Boucher of Somerset.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, an infant son Jeffrey; a 45-year-old son Douglas A. Horner in 2016; two brothers, John and Frederick; and two brothers-in-law, Fred Boucher and James Hemminger.

Friends will be received from 6-8pm on Wednesday April 9, 2025 at the Faller/Rupert Funeral Home Fryburg, PA. Friends will also be received from 10-11am on Thursday April 10, 2025 at the Faith Lutheran Church in Venus. Services will follow at 11:00am with Rev. Jeffrey Piccirilli, officiating.

Additional viewing will be held on Friday April 11, 2025 from 11-12pm at the Deaner Funeral Home, 133 E. Main Street, Stoystown Pa, 15563.

Interment will follow at the IOOF Cemetery in Stoystown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Faith Lutheran Church, PO Box, Venus, PA 16364 or the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, 300 East Swissvale Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218-1469.

Online condolences may be sent to Ethel’s family at www.fallerfuneralhome.com

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