Marcella (Hummel) Loebensberg

Marcella B. Loebensberg (nee Hummel), age 92, of Hockessin, DE passed away peacefully in her home on June 2, 2017.

She was born a coal miner’s daughter but became a Woman of Substance.

Born in Nanticoke, PA. on August 3, 1924 she was the daughter of Luther and Josefa Hummel.

At the age of 17 she decided to be on her own and went to Aberdeen, MD. There she worked as a waitress in the local diner, continued with her education graduating from Aberdeen High School. She also laundered shirts for some of the GI’s at the Army Base there which led her to meet her future husband, Norman Loebensberg. They married on June 21, 1946 in Bel Air, MD and shortly after moved to Reisterstown, MD to begin their life.

Marcella worked for the US Government from 1950 to 1977. First, in the Awards and Presentations Branch of Personnel in Washington, DC. She was completely tongue tied upon presenting an award to the actor William Holden, she said he was handsome beyond belief. In 1958 she received the coveted Civil Service award for her outstanding performance as Chief of the Awards and Presentations Branch of Personnel. She then transferred to the Social Security Claims Dept. in Glen Bernie, MD to be closer to home and during those years she held multiple jobs in banking, real estate and typing legal documents for two lawyers from her home on nights and weekends. She was a very enterprising young woman to say the least.

In the early 70’s she and Norman moved to Wilmington, DE to embark on the next journey of their lives. Norman opened Royal Imports, a Mercedes-Benz dealership and later on opened Airport Toyota as well. Upon her move to Delaware she transferred to the Wilmington branch of Social Security, working in the claims division until 1977 when she retired. She also co-owned a yarn shop and a deli shop but eventually sold out to her partners because she and Norman starting traveling for Mercedes-Benz.

She loved tennis, golf, dancing, crocheting, good wine and traveling. She and Norman enjoyed snow-birding to Hawaii and then to Florida where they established their second home. After Norman passed away she went on World Cruises with her friends then eventually came back to snow-birding in Florida making her last trip there in 2016. She always returned to her Pennsylvania roots once or twice a year. One of her beliefs: “The world is a book and those that do not travel read only the first page”.

Marcie’s true passion was her family. She worried over all of them and held every one of them dear to her heart. For years and years she gave out Christmas gifts to every family member and her closest friends. She always said, without family we are nothing.

Preceding Marcella in death are her father and mother, Luther and Josefa Hummel, her husband Norman Loebensberg, her three sisters and their husbands, Josephine and JW Allen,II., Rebecca and John Boone, Patricia and Edmund Szymanski. Nephews David Hummel and Richard Hummel.

Surviving are her brothers whom she loved so much, Luther “Ky” Hummel and wife Betty, Wellington “Dick” Hummel and wife Betty. Her loving and caring nephew and wife whom she resided with, Mark and Carol Boone, her loving and caring niece and husband Janine and Stephen Duphily, her loving niece Jennifer Martin and her companion Richard Pizzuto, as well as her best friend Johanna Learish. Numerous nieces, nephews and friends who loved and admired her so much.

The family gives tremendous thanks to Heartland Hospice Care of Del., especially RN Pauline Mwangi with her beautiful smile and to Home Watch Care Givers, especially Cammie Schaefer, Nichola Kale and Valerie McClain.

A Celebration of Life for Marcella will be Friday June 9th from 2-5pm at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana, 100 Continental Dr., Newark, DE 19713. Interment will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Childrens Heart Foundation of Pennsylvania, P.O. Box 176, Swarthmore, PA 19081 or Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 10086, Toledo, OH 43699-0086. 

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