Mary E. Rochel, 99, of Seneca, KS, died Sunday evening, November 9, 2008 at Life Care Center in Seneca, where she had lived since July 2002.

Mary was born on December 18, 1908 in Seneca, KS to George Hutton, Sr. and Elizabeth Mullen. She graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in May 1926. She received her Teaching Certificate and taught elementary school at the one-room Humphrey School House on Highway 63 until her marriage.
She married Mathias “Mat” Rochel on June 20, 1933 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They resided in Seneca their entire lives, and ran the Paramount Cleaners on Main Street in Seneca for almost 50 years. The business was sold in 1982; however, Mary and Mat remained very visible members of the community. They were married for just short of 70 years before Mat’s death in April 2003.

They were both lifelong and active members of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Mary had been a member of LCBA since 1925 and was also a member of Catholic Women’s Club. She sewed beautifully and did needlepoint and other handiwork throughout her life. She was an avid reader and history buff; enjoyed traveling and following the Kansas City Chiefs football team. She had a good sense of humor, even nearing the end of her life.

She and her husband were well known for their hospitality at their cabin on Nemaha County Lake and in later years out at the farm on “Hutton Hill” where Mary was raised. Their home there on the steeply angled Hutton Hill, with its white fence, creek bridge, and other architectural details meticulously built and maintained by Mat and Mary, made it an iconic sight on the drive to and from Nemaha County Lake. When outside working on the place, they always had a wave for friends driving by.

Mary is survived by her son-in-law Art Tangeman (Janie Conley) of Seneca; three grandchildren, Julie McQueen (Dan) of Sweden, ME, Tom Tangeman (Julie) of Minneapolis, MN, and Jeff Tangeman of Lansing, IA; and one great-grandchild, Robert Tangeman of Minneapolis, MN.

Besides her husband Mat, she was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth Mullen Hutton (July 1936), and George Hutton, Sr. (December 1954); her daughter Marilyn Tangeman (Septtember 2000); and all of her siblings, Paul Hutton (November 1973), George Hutton Jr. (November 1975), Edith Martinosky (May 1978), Ethel Woltkamp (February 1985), and Carl Hutton (September 1987).

She was dearly loved and will be remembered fondly by many!

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Friday, November 14, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Thursday, November 13, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials can be given in Mary’s memory for the Sts. Peter & Paul Building Fund.