Mary Lou Rottler

Born 90 years ago, Mary Lou Murtha Rottler, of Greensburg, died Monday July 26, 2021. She was born April 22, 1931, in New Kensington, PA to the late Edward J. Murtha Sr. and Anne McIntyre Murtha. Affectionately, Mary Lou’s childhood friends referred to her as “Murt,” which pleased her because she was so proud of her Irish heritage. After graduating in 1949 from New Ken High School, Mary Lou worked for Alcoa. In 1953, Mary Lou attended the first mass of her newly ordained cousin where she met the love of her life, Army Air Force veteran and B-17 pilot, Martin J. Rottler. Thirteen months later, they were married and made their home together in Connellsville for the first two years of their marriage. Just after welcoming their first-born child, Marty received a promotion which brought them to Greensburg for the remainder of his 43 years with West Penn Power.

Survivors include her daughter, Nancy A. Rottler, D.Ed. and son, Marty and Tami Scheibler Rottler and their daughters, Meredith Rottler and Casey Rottler Castle and her husband, Nick Castle, and Mary Lou’s great-grandson, Weston. Also surviving are her brother-in-law, Guy Baker of Pinehurst, NC; sister-in-law, Diane Rottler, of Sicklerville, NJ, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband in 2003 after nearly 48 years of marriage and by siblings, Elaine Rowe, Edward J. "EJ" Murtha Jr., Anna Kate Murtha and Thomas P. Murtha, and sisters-in-law, Annamary Rottler Schilling, Kathleen Rottler Baker and Marie Murtha, and brothers-in-law, James Rottler,  Max Schilling and Harry "Dutch" Rowe.

Mary Lou was a remarkable woman with true class, dignity and a devoted love of her faith and a 65-year member of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. Mary Lou’s grace, compassion, and engaging personality were immediately appreciated by everyone she met. Mary Lou’s lifelong focus was always centered around the love and nurturing of her children and family, especially the newest arrival of great-grandson, Weston AKA “Little Man.” Mary Lou enjoyed dancing to Big Band sounds, playing cards, watching her granddaughters play sports, and keeping up with current events. She will be deeply missed by her family who cherished her extraordinary memory, gentle kindness, and unwavering love and friendship…She was truly their greatest love of all.

Family and friends will be received from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 1st in the Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, Inc. 524 N. Main St., Greensburg. On Monday, August 2nd, a funeral mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, 300 N. Main Street, Greensburg. For those attending, please go directly to the church.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery in Connellsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary Lou’s memory to the Saint Vincent College Opportunity Program https://ssl.charityweb.net/stvincent/ 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA or St. Emma Monastery https://www.stemma.org/donate 1001 Harvey Ave, Greensburg, PA. Online condolences are welcome at www.kepplegraft.com.