Marcella Oberdorfer

Marcella Marie Oberdorfer, 98, passed away on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina,  She was born in Sugar Grove, Ohio on February 21,  1925 to the late Gretchen and Russell H. Sheets.  She was married in 1947 to the late Paul E Oberdorfer Jr.  Together they lived in Sugar Grove, Metuchen, NJ, Columbus, Oh and Wilmington, DE, where they raised their family.

Marcella was a beloved wife and mother.  She had a deep love for her children and their spouses, Paul III and Valerie Oberdorfer of Delray Beach, FL, , Mary Lee and Clinton Laird of Raleigh, NC., Helen and Thomas Lannon of Phoenix, AZ and John and Michelle Oberdorfer of Tempe AZ.  She was very close to her eleven grandchildren:  Thomas and Mary Lannon of Phoenix AZ., Bridget (Matt) Murphy of Buckeye, AZ., Paul, Penelope and Cecilia Oberdorfer of Tempe, AZ, Gretchen Oberdorfer of St. George, Utah, Clinton (Carla) Laird of Raleigh, NC, Matthew Laird of Wilmington, DE, Madeline Laird of High Point, NC and Julia Laird of Pittsburgh, PA.   Allison, Mathew, Justin and Adam Murphy  are her much cherished great grandchildren.

Paul was her partner in life.  Seldom separated, they shared a love of music.  Symphony, Opera, and Broadway tunes could be heard in their “music room” daily.  When cooking, the kitchen radio was tuned to 40’s music when the Phillies were not playing.  Together, Marcella and Paul enjoyed riding motorcycles and racing cars well into their 80’s with Marcella serving as her husband’s pit crew.  After Paul’s passing, she found solace in following Formula One Racing, rarely missing any televised event.

College basketball became Marcella’s passion in the winter season.  She would be found in the wee hours watching west coast games.  She knew scores, standings, and players names and sometimes even their shoe sizes.

Marcella’s love for her hometown, Sugar Grove, Ohio was evident throughout her life.  In 2022 at age 97, she attended her 79th Berne Union High School reunion. She contributed to many causes benefiting the school and community.  Her grandchildren were given her personal tours of the sights of the small town and the memories she cherished there.

A devout Catholic, Marcella was an early and lifelong leader in preserving the Traditional Latin Mass.  She was a member of Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church in Raleigh.