Marcella O'Steen Rohling

Marcella O’Steen Rohling entered into eternal life September 20, 2021, at Halifax Health Hospice in Port Orange, after a courageous battle with cancer. She will be interred in her family plot in Springville, NY. Visitation will be held at Deltona Funeral Home from 5 to 7 PM on Oct. 1, 2021. A celebration of Marcella’s life will take place at 4 PM on Oct. 2, 2021 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Presence at 355 N. Kepler Rd., Deland.

Marcella grew up in the small rural village of Ellicottville, NY as the only child of William and Edith Hintz, local store owners. Marcella received her BA in Education from Stetson University in 1961 and returned to New York to teach for one year. Longing for Florida, she returned in 1962 where she served as Director of Christian Education at the First United Methodist Church in Sanford. In 1964, she began teaching at Enterprise Elementary School until 1967 when she took a sabbatical to complete her Master’s Degree in Education at Stetson University. In 1968, she returned as a first grade teacher at Enterprise Elementary.

In February 1970, she transferred to Starke Elementary where she remained until 1974 when she was promoted to assistant principal at Enterprise Elementary. In 1980, she was promoted to Principal of Osteen School which, at that time, consisted of all portables located in an orange grove and had one teacher per grade level. As the area grew, she was instrumental in advocating for a new larger school which was opened in 1985. She remained there until retiring in 1992. At Osteen School, Marcella succeeded in creating a true family among her faculty, staff, parents and students. Many remain in touch today.

After retirement, Marcella missed interaction with children, so began a second career in early childhood education, first at First Presbyterian of DeBary, then in 2003 at Little Blessings at Our Lady of the Lakes in Deltona, where she stayed till 2008. Even after that, she served on the Board of Directors for Emmaus Lutheran PreSchool, where she was an active board member up until her passing. She was always a voice for the children and staff.

Marcella served for many years on the Board of Directors for Southwest Volusia Habitat for Humanity and was a member of the West Volusia Retired Educators Association, the Yaru Shrine Guild and Alpha Delta Kappa Education Sorority. She was an honorary Kentucky Colonel. She was a lifelong Bible student, with yellow highlighter in hand. She travelled, read extensively, knitted and crocheted baby booties and blankets for both friends and the Central Florida Pregnancy Center. She loved her many Cocker Spaniels, eating out with friends and “making a joyful noise” when singing Happy Birthday to them.

She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Edith Hintz and by husbands Ernest O’Steen and Edward Rohling. She is survived by family and friends who loved her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends are invited to bring a donation of a hard cover children’s book which will be donated to local classrooms in Marcella’s memory. In addition, family and friends are asking that you honor the educational legacy of Marcella by considering a donation to the Take Stock in Children scholarship & mentoring program at FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools. There will be a direct link at www.futuresvolusia.org or you can mail a donation to FUTURES Inc., 3750 Olson DR, Daytona Beach, FL 32124 (please note Marcella in the memo line) or you may make a donation to The Church of the Holy Presence Memorial Fund in memory of Marcella O’Steen Rohling. Please make checks payable to Church of Holy Presence and put 'In Memory of Marcella O’Steen Rohling' on the memo line.