3-26-23 to 1-13-21 Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on March 26, 1923, Elizabeth "Betty" Schell entered the Kingdom of God on January 13, 2021 where she was reunited with her beloved husband of 72 years, Joseph L. Schell, who preceded her in death on April 3, 2013. A loving wife, mother, and woman of God, Betty lived a long and joyous life filled with blessings big and small. She will be deeply missed. A lifetime resident of the greater Harrisburg area, she passed away peacefully in her sleep at Homeland Community Center in Harrisburg. In addition to the love of her life, she was preceded in death by her two sisters, Sarah Devine and Loretta Dolinger. She is survived by a grieving family including her six children: Joseph Schell and wife Joanne of Grantville, PA; Gerald Schell and wife Victoria of Sarasota, FL; William and wife Susan of Sarasota, FL; Loretta Hopper and husband Donald of Apex, NC; Mary Ballos and husband Robert of Dauphin, PA; and John Schell and wife Amy of Allentown. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, all of whom mourn the profound loss of the family matriarch. A proud housewife from a bygone era, she cherished the days of raising her children, using her pressure cooker, and ironing hankies for her husband. Betty was blessed to enjoy a fulfilling life inside and outside her home. Betty was a devout Catholic and a founding member and lifelong parishioner of St. Catherine Laboure Church in Harrisburg. She dedicated her life to her family, church, and community. She volunteered at the former Villa Theresa Nursing Home and St. Catherine's Elementary School. She served as the president of the Paxton Promenadors (oh, did she love square dancing with Joe!); president at the local, state, and national level for the National Council of Catholic Women; and on the executive board of the Church Women United of Pennsylvania. In high school, Betty loved playing the French horn, so it only made sense that she married the drum major of Harrisburg Catholic High School. Joe and Betty both loved music and passed that passion onto their children and grandchildren, many of whom played in local high school bands. She cherished family gatherings and picnics when she could be surrounded by the love and laughter of her large extended family (many wearing Notre Dame garb). Betty enjoyed rollercoasters, flowers, Notre Dame football, and Caribbean cruises where she could get a close up view of magnificent sunsets painted by God's hand. As Mother Teresa once said, "There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those." This quote describes the long and happy life of Elizabeth Schell who never aspired to greatness, but nonetheless achieved life's greatest blessings because she approached everything with love, humility, and faith. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM Friday, January 22, 2021 at St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, 4000 Derry St., Harrisburg. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.
