Mary Michel

Mary Jane Michel, (née Hite) passed away peacefully on June 13, 2023 at the age of 88, with her husband, Bill by her side, Born in Norwood, Ohio, Mary Jane grew up in Brookville, Indiana. She was a great wife and mother. She was a licensed real estate salesperson but she saw real estate as just a job. She saw working with kids, especially those with problems, as a vocation. She left her job and pursued her vocation with a passion. She volunteered at and later worked in the Cincinnati Public School System. She also volunteered in Catholic primary schools in Over-the Rhine. Her happiest moments were working as the librarian at Guilford School in downtown Cincinnati. She and husband Bill worked as a team at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and visited families in need throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. She also assisted Comboni Missionaries in their work by setting up for Sunday Mass in a retirement home and being a lay distributor of Holy Communion to those who were bed bound at that home.

An avid gardener, she was quick to give away plants from her garden, sometimes leaving plants on a table in front of her house for others to pick up, Once, after thinning out her garden, she balked at throwing away plants that she loved, hso she re-planted them in pots, sold them and donated the profits to improve the garden at the Anderson Senior Center. Around the turn of the century Mary Jane decided to start a garden in a vacant lot in Over-the-Rhine, tending it weekly and inviting OTR residents to join in. Mary Jane was also a very good artist; painting, clay sculpting and wood carving/burning were among her artistic talents.

Her never give up attitude encouraged many of the young people whose lives she touched to try harder and keep trying until they accomplished their goals. Mary Jane is survived by her loving husband, William F Michel, her children, Constance, Scott, and Mark Michel, Kathryn Schmid (Edward) and Bruce Michel (Nicole), Dear grandmother of Kelly Sheldon (nee Schmid, Ryan), Thomas Schmid (Jessica), Rebecca Michel, Matthew Michel, and two great-grandchildren, she is also survived by her sister, Carolyn Lamppert of, Sunman, IN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held in the Sacred Heart Chapel at Comboni Missionaries, 1318 Nagel Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45255 on Thursday, June 29th at 10 AM. Guests may visit at the church 45 minutes before mass. Use the main entrance. Parking. is permitted along the paved driveways including the circular driveway in front of the main entrance. There is also a small parking lot behind the building with a separate entrance. Please make any memorial donations to combonimissionaries.org or the charity of your choice.