Winifred S. (Cermak) McCabe

Winifred Schell-McCabe. 98, of Willoughby, formerly of Bainbridge and Burton, Ohio passed away peacefully surrounded by her  family,  August 29, 2017, at The Nason Center of Ohio Living Breckenridge Village. She was born on August 15, 1919 in Cleveland, son of the late Fred and Rose Cermak.  “Winnie” spent her 98^th birthday with many family and friends at her beloved cabin on Middle Bass Island.  She greatly enjoyed this celebration, serenaded by a large group of “Barbershoppers” who showed up to sing.

Winifred retired from the Bainbridge branch of the Geauga Library system in 1984. She will be remembered by many for Children’s Story time and serving as a reference librarian to countless students.  She graduated from Western Reserve University School of Applied Social Sciences in ’41.  After the death of her husband Paul Schell in ’65 she went back to school and graduated with an education degree from KSU. She had a wonderful life that included a love and gift for being with people of all generations – she touched the hearts and minds of many. Her early work was in social services, the Camp Fire Girls and later with, Scouting and 4-H. She was a life member of Bainbridge Community United Church of Christ but active in many area churches including Word of Faith in Chardon and Valley Lutheran in Chagrin Falls.  She loved her hookin’ with many members of Western Reserve Rug Hookers and continued the craft through this year. An avid Scrabble player, she lost to few! A remarkable mind and spirit, storyteller and writer.

She will be lovingly remembered by her sons, Paul Michael (Kay Lester), John,  and David (Annette) Schell.  Many nieces and nephews. Her “adopted” and step-children include: Bill and Tom (Hester) McCabe, Gael Judd, Ted Weise and Ruthy Massman.  Her grandchildren Paul (Stephanie), Mathew (Holly), Joshua (Kristen), Jeremy (Julia) Schell, Shawn (Renee) Lester and great-grandchildren Lilly, Elizabeth, Owen Schell and Isabella Lester. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husbands Paul L. Schell and Jack L. McCabe and her beloved brother Fred J. Cermak who was like a twin.  

A celebration of life will be held at Bainbridge Community United Church of Christ, 17751 Chillicothe Rd, Bainbridge, OH 44023 on Saturday,  September  2, 2017 at 11:00 AM.  Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home is entrusted with the funeral arrangements.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home 95 S. Franklin St. Chagrin Falls, OH. on Friday, September 1, 2017; 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM.  In lieu of flowers the family wishes gifts to be made in her honor and memory to the charity of their choice, Bainbridge Community United Church of Christ or Ohio Living Breckenridge Village.

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