Mary Kay "Katie" Schell Martz BOARDMAN - A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Church in Boardman, celebrated by Father Rogers for Mary Kay "Katie" Schell Martz. Mary Kay made her journey from this world to the next on Dec. 6, 2014, at her home, in the loving company of her three daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren after fighting a difficult battle with cancer. Mary Kay Martz was born on June 17, 1937, in Youngstown, to parents Robert and Dorothy (Groucutt) Schell. She was a 1955 graduate of Ursuline High School after twelve years of Catholic education. Her Catholic faith continued to be her rock throughout her life. She worked at Truscon as a young woman before marrying Philip W. Martz on June 3, 1961. After some moving around during their early marriage, Mary Kay and Philip began looking for a home where they could raise their family. Mary Kay did not care where she lived, as long as the community had an excellent school system. So the young couple grew roots in Boardman, sending all three of their daughters to Boardman Schools. Mary Kay lived her entire life in that same little house in the Boardman community. On May 22, 1983, Mary Kay's husband, Philip, died suddenly, leaving Mary Kay alone to raise three teenage girls. She continued working full time at Strouss' (later Kaufmann's then Macy's), retiring eventually after 36 years of service, and instilling a survivor's instinct and a traditional work ethic in all three of her daughters. Her struggles as a single mother made her demand that each of her daughters have a college degree, a demand that all three daughters gladly met. She was the eldest of nine children whom she helped to raise and loved in some ways like a mother, Thomas (Linda) Schell, Patricia (James) Koenig, Robert (Vivian) Schell, James Schell (deceased), Dorothy (Richard) Kyle, Deborah (Donald) Maloney, Rebecca Schell, and Kathleen (Charles) Damelio. She had many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly. Mary Kay Martz leaves three daughters whom she cherished more than anything else, Wendy (Mark) Lyden, Cynthia (Martin) Fernback and Alisa (David) Akuszewski. Mary Kay Martz was the kind of mother who put her children first. She did not fret about having a clean home when her daughters were young because making homemade yellow play-dough and spending an afternoon making her signature snakes and snails was of far more importance. Mary Kay was many things to many people. In her many positions at Strouss in her 36 year career, she was the clerk with whom everyone loved to chat. At her nursery school, Raggedy Ann and Andy, she was the loving teacher that both children and their parents adored. To her many friends, she was the joyful, positive thinker with an unforgettable laugh. But no role was as important to her as that of MeeMee, the name that became her official title upon becoming a grandmother to her eight grandchildren, Sarah (Bryce) Merriam, Matthew Lyden, Jade Lyden, Robert Fernback, Joseph Fernback, Alexander Martz, Brandon Akuszewski, and Lauren Akuszewski and two great-grandchildren, Andrew Fernback and Amelia Fernback. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, James and John; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins. Friends may call at St. Charles Church in Boardman on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. A service will follow at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, material tributes can be made to Hospice of the Valley or the Beatitude House of Youngstown in Mary Kay's memory. Arrangements are by the Fox Funeral Home , Boardman.