Elizabeth May Aldrich Ongley Jennings Ed.D. (99) of Meadville died peacefully on April 30, 2018 at home surrounded by her family, one week short of her 100th birthday.
Elizabeth was born in Meadville on May 7th, 1918, the oldest daughter of Lottie May Brown Aldrich and Leon Percy Aldrich.
She married Ralph Adrian Ongley on August 3, 1939, and they had 6 daughters. They raised their children together until her husband's death in December, 1971.
Elizabeth married Earl Arnold Jennings in 1978.
She was a 1936 graduate of Meadville High School, and attended Allegheny College, earning a bachelors degree in 1960 and masters degree in 1962. In 1974 Elizabeth earned a doctorate of education from New Mexico State University. She was awarded membership in Delta Kappa Gamma (an international honorary society for women educators) and Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Elizabeth Ongley-Jennings was instrumental in establishing the Head Start and kindergarten programs in Meadville. During her 18 years as an educator she left her mark on hundreds of children with her enthusiasm for learning. She has encouraged many others with her passion for lifelong learning.
Elizabeth developed many interests in her lifetime. Doing genealogy research intrigued her, and also writing the family stories she uncovered. She loved to paint, sew, and quilt. In her last weeks she was still asking to have her floor loom warped so she could weave. Elizabeth was an avid reader since childhood, and enjoyed her daily newspaper.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, one child - Janice Ann Ongley (age 7), one grandchild - Ryan Paul Wanninger, and her three brothers, Leon, Walter, and Arthur Aldrich.
She is survived by her sister Nancy Aldrich Wygant of Albuquerque NM, and five daughters: Judith Ongley Mowris Kirby (Roy) of Easley SC, Carol Ongley Shoemaker of Meadville, Suzanne Ongley Williams (Bill) of Meadville, Christine Ongley Foster (Dave) of Coconut Creek FL, and Kathleen Ongley Wanninger Bourgeois (Donald) of St. Amant, LA. She will be missed also by her cousin Martha Brown Rowland of Meadville, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Per Elizabeth's wishes, there will be no service or burial. Because of her lifetime interest in furthering knowledge, she has willed her remains for scientific research. The family suggests that donations be made in Elizabeth's honor to the Meadville Public Library, the Linus Quilt Project (projectlinus.org/donations) or the Meadville Senior Center (activeaging.org/senior-centers/meadville).
During her lifetime Elizabeth supported these and many other charitable and educational programs. In her nearly 100 years, Elizabeth's was truly "a life well lived".
Published on May 10, 2018
Elizabeth was born in Meadville on May 7th, 1918, the oldest daughter of Lottie May Brown Aldrich and Leon Percy Aldrich.
She married Ralph Adrian Ongley on August 3, 1939, and they had 6 daughters. They raised their children together until her husband's death in December, 1971.
Elizabeth married Earl Arnold Jennings in 1978.
She was a 1936 graduate of Meadville High School, and attended Allegheny College, earning a bachelors degree in 1960 and masters degree in 1962. In 1974 Elizabeth earned a doctorate of education from New Mexico State University. She was awarded membership in Delta Kappa Gamma (an international honorary society for women educators) and Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Elizabeth Ongley-Jennings was instrumental in establishing the Head Start and kindergarten programs in Meadville. During her 18 years as an educator she left her mark on hundreds of children with her enthusiasm for learning. She has encouraged many others with her passion for lifelong learning.
Elizabeth developed many interests in her lifetime. Doing genealogy research intrigued her, and also writing the family stories she uncovered. She loved to paint, sew, and quilt. In her last weeks she was still asking to have her floor loom warped so she could weave. Elizabeth was an avid reader since childhood, and enjoyed her daily newspaper.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, one child - Janice Ann Ongley (age 7), one grandchild - Ryan Paul Wanninger, and her three brothers, Leon, Walter, and Arthur Aldrich.
She is survived by her sister Nancy Aldrich Wygant of Albuquerque NM, and five daughters: Judith Ongley Mowris Kirby (Roy) of Easley SC, Carol Ongley Shoemaker of Meadville, Suzanne Ongley Williams (Bill) of Meadville, Christine Ongley Foster (Dave) of Coconut Creek FL, and Kathleen Ongley Wanninger Bourgeois (Donald) of St. Amant, LA. She will be missed also by her cousin Martha Brown Rowland of Meadville, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Per Elizabeth's wishes, there will be no service or burial. Because of her lifetime interest in furthering knowledge, she has willed her remains for scientific research. The family suggests that donations be made in Elizabeth's honor to the Meadville Public Library, the Linus Quilt Project (projectlinus.org/donations) or the Meadville Senior Center (activeaging.org/senior-centers/meadville).
During her lifetime Elizabeth supported these and many other charitable and educational programs. In her nearly 100 years, Elizabeth's was truly "a life well lived".
Published on May 10, 2018
Elizabeth May Aldrich Ongley Jennings Ed.D. (99) of Meadville died peacefully on April 30, 2018 at home surrounded by her family, one week short of her 100th birthday.
Elizabeth was born in Meadville on May 7th, 1918, the oldest daughter of Lottie May Brown Aldrich and Leon Percy Aldrich.
She married Ralph Adrian Ongley on August 3, 1939, and they had 6 daughters. They raised their children together until her husband's death in December, 1971.
Elizabeth married Earl Arnold Jennings in 1978.
She was a 1936 graduate of Meadville High School, and attended Allegheny College, earning a bachelors degree in 1960 and masters degree in 1962. In 1974 Elizabeth earned a doctorate of education from New Mexico State University. She was awarded membership in Delta Kappa Gamma (an international honorary society for women educators) and Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Elizabeth Ongley-Jennings was instrumental in establishing the Head Start and kindergarten programs in Meadville. During her 18 years as an educator she left her mark on hundreds of children with her enthusiasm for learning. She has encouraged many others with her passion for lifelong learning.
Elizabeth developed many interests in her lifetime. Doing genealogy research intrigued her, and also writing the family stories she uncovered. She loved to paint, sew, and quilt. In her last weeks she was still asking to have her floor loom warped so she could weave. Elizabeth was an avid reader since childhood, and enjoyed her daily newspaper.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, one child - Janice Ann Ongley (age 7), one grandchild - Ryan Paul Wanninger, and her three brothers, Leon, Walter, and Arthur Aldrich.
She is survived by her sister Nancy Aldrich Wygant of Albuquerque NM, and five daughters: Judith Ongley Mowris Kirby (Roy) of Easley SC, Carol Ongley Shoemaker of Meadville, Suzanne Ongley Williams (Bill) of Meadville, Christine Ongley Foster (Dave) of Coconut Creek FL, and Kathleen Ongley Wanninger Bourgeois (Donald) of St. Amant, LA. She will be missed also by her cousin Martha Brown Rowland of Meadville, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Per Elizabeth's wishes, there will be no service or burial. Because of her lifetime interest in furthering knowledge, she has willed her remains for scientific research. The family suggests that donations be made in Elizabeth's honor to the Meadville Public Library, the Linus Quilt Project (projectlinus.org/donations) or the Meadville Senior Center (activeaging.org/senior-centers/meadville).
During her lifetime Elizabeth supported these and many other charitable and educational programs. In her nearly 100 years, Elizabeth's was truly "a life well lived".
Published on May 10, 2018
Elizabeth was born in Meadville on May 7th, 1918, the oldest daughter of Lottie May Brown Aldrich and Leon Percy Aldrich.
She married Ralph Adrian Ongley on August 3, 1939, and they had 6 daughters. They raised their children together until her husband's death in December, 1971.
Elizabeth married Earl Arnold Jennings in 1978.
She was a 1936 graduate of Meadville High School, and attended Allegheny College, earning a bachelors degree in 1960 and masters degree in 1962. In 1974 Elizabeth earned a doctorate of education from New Mexico State University. She was awarded membership in Delta Kappa Gamma (an international honorary society for women educators) and Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Elizabeth Ongley-Jennings was instrumental in establishing the Head Start and kindergarten programs in Meadville. During her 18 years as an educator she left her mark on hundreds of children with her enthusiasm for learning. She has encouraged many others with her passion for lifelong learning.
Elizabeth developed many interests in her lifetime. Doing genealogy research intrigued her, and also writing the family stories she uncovered. She loved to paint, sew, and quilt. In her last weeks she was still asking to have her floor loom warped so she could weave. Elizabeth was an avid reader since childhood, and enjoyed her daily newspaper.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, one child - Janice Ann Ongley (age 7), one grandchild - Ryan Paul Wanninger, and her three brothers, Leon, Walter, and Arthur Aldrich.
She is survived by her sister Nancy Aldrich Wygant of Albuquerque NM, and five daughters: Judith Ongley Mowris Kirby (Roy) of Easley SC, Carol Ongley Shoemaker of Meadville, Suzanne Ongley Williams (Bill) of Meadville, Christine Ongley Foster (Dave) of Coconut Creek FL, and Kathleen Ongley Wanninger Bourgeois (Donald) of St. Amant, LA. She will be missed also by her cousin Martha Brown Rowland of Meadville, nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Per Elizabeth's wishes, there will be no service or burial. Because of her lifetime interest in furthering knowledge, she has willed her remains for scientific research. The family suggests that donations be made in Elizabeth's honor to the Meadville Public Library, the Linus Quilt Project (projectlinus.org/donations) or the Meadville Senior Center (activeaging.org/senior-centers/meadville).
During her lifetime Elizabeth supported these and many other charitable and educational programs. In her nearly 100 years, Elizabeth's was truly "a life well lived".
Published on May 10, 2018
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