By Jerry Vondas

Published: Saturday, February 2, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated: Friday, March 29, 2013

Throughout Pittsburgh's northern neighborhoods, Mary Lou Knobeloch was considered the consummate volunteer, whose mission was to be of service to others.

When her daughters attended the former Holy Ghost High School in the North Side or when her son was a student in North Catholic High School in Troy Hill, she volunteered in the school cafeterias or at the concession stands that raised money for the school teams, said her daughter, Kathleen Slagel of Ross.

Mary Lou “Boots” Hamscher Knobeloch of Ross died on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in her home. She was 79.

“Well-meaning friends would often ask her why she put in so much time volunteering for her children's school activities,” her daughter said. “She'd tell them it's what you do in order to raise your children to become men and women of good standing in everything they accomplish.”

Mrs. Knobeloch worked as a nurse's aide in the infirmary of St. Benedict Convent in Ross, said Sister Michelle Farabaugh.

“Not only was she kind and collected, but she was able to take any problem in stride,” Sister Farabaugh said.

Born and raised in Brighton Heights, Mary Lou Hamscher was one of five children of truck driver Elmer Hamscher and his wife, Margaret Retzloff Hamscher.

After her graduation from Mt. Alvernia High School in Millvale in 1951, she married Lester C. Knobeloch, who died this past year.

In addition to her daughter, Kathleen, Mrs. Knobeloch is survived by her children, Barbara Stocklin of Butler, Cherri A. Schaar of McCandless and Kenneth Knobeloch, also of Ross; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Knobeloch was preceded in death by her siblings, Anna Sexton, Dolores Kettering, Robert Hamscher and Susan Euler.

Family will welcome friends from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday in Schellhaas Funeral Home, 388 Center Ave., West View.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Athanasius Church in West View with the Rev. Robert Norton as celebrant.

Interment will follow in North Side Catholic (Christ Our Redeemer) Cemetery in Ross.

Jerry Vondas is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7823 or jvondas@tribweb.com.

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