Mary Emma Groff

Mary Gappa Groff was born on November 24, 1929 on the first farm owned by Rosie and Louis Gappa in Dornsife, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of 9 children and was pre-deceased by her other siblings. Mary lived on the Herndon farm until she was 13 years old when she and her Mother Rosie moved to Phoenixville. She graduated from Phoenixville High School and worked at Busters Restaurant where she met and later married Robert Groff, her husband of over 34 years until his death in 1987. She lovingly and selflessly cared for her disabled husband for over 17 years prior to his passing. Mary and Robert raised their 5 children in the same home where she remained until her death. A talented seamstress, Mary was sought out for alterations on special occasion dresses, especially for the prom, Communion, and wedding dresses made from scratch with love. Her grandchildren could always be found wearing one of their grandmother’s many creations. When she wasn’t sewing, she was crocheting hundreds of pair of booties, lap rugs for veterans, and tracheotomy covers for the Red Cross. Her sewing machine and antique quilting frame rarely sat idle. Mary hand-stitched over a dozen large bed quilts using Rosie’s frame, that she gifted to family members. Each quilt took almost a year to complete. She also made hundreds of blankets from fabric sent to her by her sisters who worked in the clothing factories. Cooking and baking for large family gatherings as well as taking care of family members and grandchildren was a huge part of Mary’s life. She could always be counted on to step in on a moment’s notice to help with anything. Mary worked as a sewing machine operator at the Detra Flag Company in the late 1970s. After being widowed, she worked at the Eagleville Kmart store for 23 years as a cashier and stock clerk. When she retired from Kmart, she joined her daughter Stephanie working on the Main Line helping clients in many ways, even minding their children. She worked well into her 80’s. Being a devout Catholic, Mary read her Bible daily. She enjoyed going to prayer retreats at the Abby with her friend Anne. She was also active as a Lioness for several years. Mary is survived by her children Robert, Mary, Patricia, Elizabeth, and Stephanie, their spouses, her ten grandchildren, and her six great-grandchildren. Friends and family are invited to Mary’s services November 20th with the viewing from 10 am till 11 at the funeral home. Service followed by internment at St Ann’s Cemetery, Pothouse road. Szpindor-Meyers Funeral Home, 101 North Park Ave, Trooper, PA