Mary A. Strine

YORK - Mary Alice (Detwiler) Sechrist Strine, 100, passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at County Meadows at Leader Heights. She was the wife of the late Robert B. Strine and the late Ralph L. Sechrist.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Bethany United Methodist Church, 121 W. Broadway, Red Lion with her pastors, Rev. Ronald Doverspike and Rev. Larry Parlett, along with her daughter-in-law, Rev. Stephany S. Sechrist officiating. A viewing will be held from 9-10:00 AM Saturday at the Church. Burial will be in Susquehanna Memorial Gardens. There will also be a Celebration of Life Tribute Service held at 11:00 AM Friday, February 10, 2023, which would have been Mary’s 101st birthday, at Bethany Church with a visitation held from 10-11:00 AM. Both of Mary’s Tribute Services will be webcast on her obituary page at www.HeffnerCare.com Olewiler & Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 35 Gotham Place, Red Lion is in charge of arrangements.

Born February 10, 1922 in North York, a daughter of the late Amos and Esther M. (Stein) Detwiler, at age three, she moved with her parents to the 65-acre farm near Springvale, PA, which formerly belonged to Henry Lincoln Stein. This family farm kept everyone busy with chores to do: cows, chickens to be cared for, horses and mules to be tended, fields to be plowed and harvested. While she entered Springvale School at age five, she “skipped” two grades and entered high school at Red Lion at age 11. She withdrew in order to be her father’s full-time farmhand.

Always a lifelong learner, she worked before and after WWII at the Stewartstown Sewing Factory and the Red Lion Cabinet Co. She concluded her work career at FINCORP where she wired large electrical panels. She was always praised for her work. She also acquired bookkeeping skills for the Sechrist Cemetery Memorial business. She excelled at cooking, baking, freezing, preparing feasts for her family, was an excellent seamstress, and crocheter.

Mrs. Strine was a member of Bethany U.M. Church, Red Lion. She was also a well-known vocalist in the area, having been part of Church Choirs, the Quartet of Heidelberg UCC of York, and a featured performer of solos and duets with The Felton Band. In addition to her musical interests, she and Robert Strine enjoyed boating on the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers, fishing, crabbing, and navigation contests. They also were members of the local chapter of the Power Squadron and the Medalist Club of York. After retirement, they participated in the Dallastown Golden Agers, Red Lion AARP and other senior activities, including bus trips and cruises.

Mrs. Strine is survived by a son, Rodney L. Sechrist and wife Rev. Stephany S. Sechrist of Red Lion; two stepdaughters, Sharon Land of New Jersey and Cynthia Kendall of Mechanicsburg; three grandchildren, Jenny Jensen and husband Christopher Jensen, Jeremy Sechrist, Zachary Sechrist; three step grandchildren, Leslie Danee Keefer, Adam Ringhoffer and wife Jessica Ringhoffer, and Tyler Ringhoffer and wife Kate Ringhoffer; ten great grandchildren; a brother, Joseph Detwiler of Huntingdon, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Carson W. Sechrist; and four sisters, Ruth Smith, Esther Zarfoss, Miriam Rusch, and Doris Burke.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bethany U.M. Church, 121 W. Broadway, Red Lion, PA 17356 or to LifePath Christian Ministries, PO Box 1968, York, PA 17405-1968 www.lifepathyork.org

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