Anna Marie Holzapfel, 101

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Anna Marie Holzapfel of Chestertown died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, in Chestertown after a brief illness. She was 101.

Mrs. Holzapfel was born Aug. 16, 1905, daughter of the late John and Ida Virginia (nee Herold) Susehihl.

After graduating from Western High School, she attended Thayer's Business College, and went to work for the U.S. Fidelity and Guarantee Co. in Baltimore.

In October 1933, she married William H. Holzapfel of Elizabeth, N.J. Mr.

Holzapfel owned a small manufacturing company that made brass paint spraying equipment. She assisted him in this trade. They settled in the Townley neighborhood of Union, N.J., where she maintained a residence for more than 50 years. They gave birth to a son, William Holzapfel Jr. After Bill Jr. became of age, she returned to the workforce, editing pages for the Yellow Book Co. of Elizabeth, N.J.

Mrs. Holzapfel was a lifelong bridge player. She played several times a week until Thanksgiving 2006.

She was a 50-year member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Union, N.J.

After moving to Chestertown, Md., in 1994, she attended worship with her sister, Doris Susemihl Beaven, at First United Methodist Church.

Throughout her life she was an avid baseball fan. Her brother-in-law and childhood neighbor, Harry G. Frank, played for the Baltimore Orioles when they were in International League, and then served as a professional umpire. She rarely missed a New York Mets game on television, unless it conflicted with a card game. When she moved to Chestertown, she moved her allegiance back to the Baltimore Orioles.

Mrs. Holzapfel was a competitive swimmer in high school. During one meet, she swam the entire length of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument in our nation's capital.

She is survived by a son, William Jr. of Manasquan, N.J.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Sterrett P. Beaven, and a niece, Mrs. Patricia Frank of Heron Point in Chestertown; and many nieces and nephews, who hold her in highest regard.

Funeral services will be private.

A memorial service at Heron Point Retirement Community will follow at a later date.

She will be buried alongside her husband in Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth, N.J.

Arranged by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown.