Mary Ellen Wychulis, 68, of Shenandoah, passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon at Shenandoah Senior Living Community.

Born in Shenandoah, Feb. 21, 1948, she was a daughter of the late John and Beatrice Wychulis.

Mary Ellen was a 1966 graduate of the former J.W. Cooper High School, Shenandoah, and also graduated from McCann School of Business, Mahanoy City.

Earlier she worked as the business manager for the former Shenandoah Evening Herald. Prior to her retirement, she worked for The Republican-Herald in the Shenandoah office as a receptionist, and in the advertising, sales and circulation departments.

She was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, Shenandoah, and the former St. George Church, Shenandoah. She was also a member of the Jerry Wolman-Northern Anthracite Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame.

Mary Ellen loved all animals, especially her pet cats that she cared for throughout her life.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Beatrice A. "Bea Ann" Samelko; two aunts, Alberta Zemalis and Anna Zamar.

Surviving are her longtime companion and friend, Robert "Bob" Kane, Gilberton; a niece, Erin Marie Aungst and her husband, Andrew, Pine Grove, and their son, Mary Ellen's great-nephew, Aidan; a brother-in-law, William J. Samelko, Pine Grove; and her faithful cat, "Kitty Buddy".

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, 132 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in Divine Mercy Church, Shenandoah. Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, pastor, will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights.

Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to Hillside SPCA Inc., P.O. Box 233, 51 SPCA Road, Pottsville, PA 17901 or Divine Mercy Parish Memorial Fund, 108 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah, PA 17976.

Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah, is in charge of the arrangements.