Mary E. Zimmerman

Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Zimmerman, age 81, of Archbold, Ohio, formerly of Defiance, passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center surrounded by her loving family. 
  
She was born on March 3, 1944 to Gilbert and Odelia (Miller) Eisel in Berkey, Ohio. Betty attended St. Elizabeth grade school and was a 1962 graduate of Metamora High School. After high school she attended Stautzenberger Business College until 1963. Betty worked as a Secretary for Toledo Edison until 1965 when she married Lawrence Zimmerman and moved to Defiance. Betty then worked at Ayersville School in the cafeteria from 1985 until 1991. She then went to work for ITT Automotive in Archbold from 1992 until her retirement in 2000.
  
She was a faithful member of St. John's Catholic Church in Defiance, St. Peter's Catholic Church in Archbold, St. John's Christian Mothers, Twin Rivers Garden Club and South Richland Fire Auxiliary. Betty was a devoted wife to her husband and an inspiration to her children.She loved hosting family gatherings, cooking and sharing her homemade desserts and pies that she loved. Betty loved playing cards and having an afternoon cocktail. She enjoyed vegetable gardening, including freezing and canning many vegetables, flower gardening and the craft of pressing flowers and making them into matted frames as gifts for friends. She sold her craft at many different craft shows and was privileged when asked to display her work at the Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio. Betty also enjoyed camping with family and friends. After retirement she treasured the days of traveling in RV's, spending winters in Arizona or Florida, and visiting her children until moving into Fairlawn Retirement Community in Archbold. She will be sadly missed by her family and many good friends.
  
Betty is survived by her loving spouse of 60 years Lawrence; four children, Susan (Michael) Priddy of Uniontown, OH, Thomas (Deborah) Zimmerman of Defiance, Catherine (Shawn) Sawyer of Wilmington, NC and Sister Jennifer Marie Zimmerman. S.N.D. of Toledo,OH;  eight grandchildren, Maria (Jimi) Hardgrove, Gina (Jon) Kasburg, Tyler (Rachel) Zimmerman, Kevin (Kayla) Zimmerman, Andrew (Sophia Moran) Sawyer, Anna (Nick) Sander, Jonathan Sawyer and Madeline Sawyer; two step-grandchildren, Jordan (Randall) Schelcher and Christopher (Kelsey) Priddy; five great-grandchildren; three step-great grandchildren; two siblings, Don (Caris) Eisel of Berkey, OH and JoAnn Duncan of Toledo, OH and a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Eisel of Berkey, OH.
  
She was preceded in death by her parents, a grandson Benjamin Zimmerman, and two brothers, Robert and Joseph Eisel.
  
Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Schaffer Funeral Home, Defiance. A Memorial mass will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. John's Catholic Church in Defiance with Fr. John Stites officiating. Inurnment will follow at Ayersville Cemetery.
     
Memorials are suggested to St. John's Catholic Church, St. Peter's Catholic Church, or CHP Defiance Area Hospice. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.
  

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