Frances B. (Ashworth) Schnell

Cambridge  Frances B. (Ashworth) Schnell, 89, of Avenue A, died suddenly at home on Thursday, February 11, 2010.

Born Sunday, December 19, 1920 in Wilkinsburg, PA, she was the daughter of Everett and Marguerite Wright Hill Ashworth.  She graduated from high school in Croton-Harmon and then received her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs.

Frances married William Rodman Schnell in 1942.  They were living in Plattsburgh when he died in 1956.  In 1957, she moved her family to the Cambridge area where she had relatives.

While raising her family, Frances worked for the Virginia Dare Wine Company, General Nutrition Company, as a library aide at Cambridge Central School and as a home health aide for Washington County.

She was a member of the Cambridge United Presbyterian Church and several recovery groups including O. A. and Al-Anon.

Frances loved libraries where she found a great sense of peace especially while she was researching “the art of loving”.  Her special interests included parenting, mental health and “finding ways to be a fruitful blessing to myself and others”, as she wrote.

A daughter, Susan Elizabeth Schnell, died in 2001.  She is also predeceased by a sister, Edythe Meulendyke.

Survivors include three sons, Scott Rodman Schnell and wife Joanne Elizabeth (Mook) of Macon, MO, Steven Frederick Schnell of Cambridge and Stuart Alan Schnell and wife Julia Kittrose of Seattle, WA; two brothers, Everett M. Ashworth and wife Meg of Cambridge and John Lee Ashworth of Bethel, CT; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service and burial of ashes will be planned at the family’s convenience.

Frances requested memorial donations be made to C.U.P.C. Mission Fund, %Cambridge United Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 188, Cambridge, NY 12816.