Marcella Hill

Marcella Maneval Hill, 90, passed away at Leighton Place in Williamsport on Friday August 16, 2024 and was reunited in heaven with her husband of 71 years, Merle Hill, who has been patiently waiting for her since April 2, 2023.

Born in Williamsport on October 23, 1933, she was one of four daughters of the late Prosper and Leona (Hunsinger) Maneval. 

By the time Marcy graduated from South Williamsport High School in 1951, she already had plans to marry Merle. They married on January 17, 1952 at South Williamsport United Methodist Church and honeymooned to Niagara Falls before he returned to his service with the United States Navy.

Marcy and Merle settled in Avis and raised their three children.  It was here that they took on their most cherished roles of Mimi and Pappy.  Their house became a bustling home base for their family, which grew to include five grandchildren. Marcy had a keen interest in natural health and kept her home stocked with healthy snacks for her grandchildren, but wasn’t afraid to break into her hidden stash of Smarties on special occasions.

In 1993, Merle and Marcy built a house in Jersey Shore.  Upon completion, they determined that it was not big enough for the many family gatherings they would host and immediately added on a family room.  It’s a good thing they did, because in a few years they would welcome the first of eleven great-granddaughters. 

Mimi loved babysitting her great-granddaughters and happily did so at every opportunity.  Her family room was filled with toys and games and her garage was home to a Barbie Jeep Power Wheels that she and Pappy followed on countless trips around the driveway. When the time came to leave Mimi’s house, she would stand in the doorway and wave and blow kisses until you were out of sight.  

Marcy was a strong woman who knew what she liked and she was not afraid to tell you. She was the perfect complement to her beloved Merle and it was rare to see one of them without the other.  She was a devoted member of Lycoming Christian Church and enjoyed prayer groups and Bible studies.  She fussed over her landscaping until it was perfect.  She hosted her 80th birthday party in the church she was married in, only now—much to the delight of her great-granddaughters—it had become Treasure Castle Playland.  She proudly shared photos and movies from all of her travels with Merle.  She was known for her deviled eggs, which would immediately disappear from every family gathering, and for her banana bread, which was “made with love”.

Marcy loved to host evenings with her three sisters: Doris Dieffenderfer, Dorothy Johnson, and Terry Carpenter.  They, like Merle, have surely been anxiously awaiting her arrival in heaven.

Marcy will live forever in the hearts of her children, Butch (Kelly) Hill, Karen Conner (Bill Schon), and Gary (Pam) Hill; grandchildren Adrianne (John) Stahl, Loren (Andy) Koch, Lyle (Christina) Hill, Vanessa (Eric) White, and Jordan Conner; eleven great-granddaughters and one great-great-granddaughter.

A Celebration of Life service will be held privately.  The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Leighton Place and UPMC Hospice Care for their care of Marcy and Merle.  We love you, Mimi, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.

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