Ardelle Pennington

Ardelle Jean Pennington (Bergin), daughter of Albert Bergin and Jeannette Jussila and younger sister of Ellerine Bergin, passed on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at the age of 101 years at McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

Born on August 18, 1920, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ardelle was predeceased by her immediate family, her treasured daughter, Gloria, and three wonderful husbands, Glyde Harvey Snyder, Harvey Jack Schneider and Rev. Chester Arthur Pennington.

Ardelle enjoyed an adventurous life. As a young woman, she was a professional ballroom dancer. She met Glyde through dancing and together they went on to produce dinner theater shows for many years in Minneapolis at Schiek’s Cafe. It was said that during those years, going to Minneapolis without going to Schiek’s was like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower.

Ardelle and Glyde had one daughter, Gloria Jean (Page, Fender). Having Gloria was, without a doubt, the greatest joy of Ardelle’s life.

The family were members of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church where Glyde and Gloria were baptized on the same day. Ardelle did significant work at Hennepin organizing a group supporting faith teachings on death and dying. She was also a regular hospital volunteer during these years.

After Glyde’s passing, Ardelle married Harvey Schneider, a banker. Together Ardelle and Harvey lived more than a full retirement. They enjoyed many adventures together including ice fishing, hunting (she only went along to make Harvey happy), and sailing through the Caribbean. After moving to upstate South Carolina, they made their home surrounded by many great neighbors in Seneca, South Carolina on Lake Keowee. Following Harvey’s death, Ardelle reconnected with Rev. Chester Pennington, who had previously been she and Glyde’s minister at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. They were married and enjoyed life together in Greenville.

Ardelle was a free spirit who loved life. She embraced life, even in the more challenging years as she grew older. She enjoyed reading, and always had a thought to share about current events and politics.

Ardelle is survived by one grandchild, Anne Albers (Annie, to Ardelle), grand son-in-law, Creighton Albers (who has done so much for his grand mother-in-law) and three great-grandchildren she adored, Erin Albers, Grayson Albers and Lachlan Albers. When asked about her longevity, Ardelle would explain that she was living such a long life because she loved seeing her great grandchildren grow up and because she was “a tough old bird,” which she most definitely was. Ardelle is also survived by the larger Elizabeth Monaghan Albers family in Greenville, South Carolina, who became her own through shared stories and the celebration of some pretty big birthdays, and by Jerry Fender of Jasper, Georgia, who took such great care of her Gloria.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Windsor House, Pelham Road and The Springs, Simpsonville. Thank you to The Palmettos, Mauldin and to Ardelle’s sweet friends there who brightened her later days. Thank you, also, to the staff who served Prisma-Greenville Memorial room 2303 and to the wonderful people at McCall Hospice House.

Ardelle will be laid to rest with her first husband, Glyde Snyder, in Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis during a private family ceremony. Gifts in her memory can be directed to McCall Hospice House, Simpsonville, SC.