Ella Gertrude McClay (nee Baertele), age 85, of Arnold, Missouri passed away on Tuesday October 8, 2019. Ella was born March 17, 1934 in Heilbronn, Germany to Amalie (nee Hecht) and Christof Baertele.
Ella is loving mother of Christopher (Linda) McClay, Sara (Kevin) Henrick and Karen (Earl) Stringer. She is the beloved Oma to Nicholas Savides, Sean (Jennifer) McClay, Alexander Savides, Rachel McClay, Joseph Howard, Amelia Howard, Amanda Lyons, Larissa (Bill) Rigas and Brandon Henrick. Ella is the dear sister of Lore Waack of Ulm, Germany and a good friend to many.
Her husband James Rolla McClay, her father Christof Baertele and her mother Amalie Baertele preceded Ella in death.
Ella grew up in Germany. After finishing school with some vocational training, she went to work as a telephone operator. With the lure of new opportunities and encouragement from family in the United States, she came to the United States and the Saint Louis area for work, with the idea she would return to Germany at some point.
She began working at Bussman Fuse and started attending the various German social clubs and dances in the area. It was at one of these dances she met James Rolla McClay. As they say, the rest is history.
Ella was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Arnold, where she was a member of the Ladies Sodality. She was also an active member of the quilters groups at both Immaculate Conception and Saint David. Honoring her heritage Ella was a member of the German Cultural Society. She enjoyed traveling, especially home to Germany and many other destinations throughout Europe.
Services: Visitation 2-6 pm, Sunday, October 13, 2019 at Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63125. Mass of the Resurrection, 10 am, Monday, October 14, 2019 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 2300 Church Rd, Arnold, Missouri 63010. A committal service follows in the Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ella's memory are encouraged to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 300 Church Rd, Arnold, Missouri 63010; and American Diabetes Association, 15455 Conway Rd, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017.
Offer fond memories and expressions of sympathy at www.hoffmeistersouthcounty.com for the McClay family.
