Marcella Kathleen Horner

Marcella "Marcy" Kathleen Horner, 37-year-old resident of Millcreek Twp., found peace on September 2, 2008 surrounded by her family. She leaves us after a courageous 2-½ year battle with appendiceal cancer.

Born on March 7, 1971, Marcella was the eldest child of Eileen (Marsh) and Walter Horner, Jr. and sister to Walter Horner III and his wife, Hadley, of Framingham, MA, Julia Hawkins and her husband, Michael, of Erie, and Margaret Horner of Baker, NV. Her cherished nieces, Lauren Eileen Hawkins and Wyley Cella Horner, will remember Marcella.

A 1989 graduate of McDowell High School, Marcella earned a BS in Health Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 1994. She spent over ten years serving the children and youth of Erie County as an educator, health care professional, counselor, mentor, and friend.

We remember Marcy as a selfless, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She showed us grace, strength, and humor in the face of tremendous hardship. We will never forget her kindness and thoughtfulness, smile, laughter, and love of friends and family. She loved music and dancing, the New Jersey shore, playing with her nieces, Lauren and Wyley, entertaining family and friends, and most of all-you.

Marcella is survived by her maternal grandmother, Audrey Marcella Marsh of Waterford, PA; aunt Peggy Bailey and husband, Gene; uncle Richard Horner and wife, Mary Ellen; aunt Faye Clark and husband, Ralph; aunt Donna Apostol and husband, Peter; aunt Cynthia Salchak and husband, Bob; aunt Pam Marsh; aunt Kristie Paterson and husband, Rob; and aunt Gaye Weigand. She also leaves behind numerous cousins that love her from locations across the country. Her spirit now rests with grandparents, Walter and Kathleen Horner, Gordon Marsh, and cousins, Audrey Rose Swagart and Gene Bailey.

Calling hours for Marcella will be held at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Saturday, September 6, 2008 from Noon until 3:00 p.m. with a service following at 3:30 p.m. Private interment.

Special thanks to the doctors and health care professionals of the Regional Cancer Center, Hamot Medical Center, Great Lakes Home Health Care, and the Visiting Nurses Association- Hospice who cared for Marcy with such respect and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation at www.kanziuscancerresearch.com, (915 State St. Erie, PA 16501) or the St. Martin Center at 1710 Parade St. Erie, PA 16503.