Ann Hentschel passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday morning, March 19, 2009. Her husband Jerry was by her side, as he has been for the past forty-seven years.
Ann was born in Chester, Texas on December 30, 1934 to Pearl and Joe Manry. She was the second born of three children.
She is a graduate of Nederland High School and Lamar University. Ann went on to receive a degree in the field of music. She taught one year in the Anahuac School District. The following year she moved to South Park Independent School District and taught there for ten years at MacArthur Junior High where she again taught music and English. That is where she met Jerry Hentschel, a coach at South Park High School. They were married in December 1961. Together they worked to build a wonderful, Christian home for their daughter, Rhonda.
Ann loved music and devoted her entire life to the field of music. She had been a music director and choir director for forty-one years at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and director of music for the Beaumont Women’s Club for twenty plus years. Ann was an excellent pianist and organist.
She is survived by her husband Jerry Hentschel of Beaumont; daughter, Rhonda Keene and her husband Tim of Sulphur, Louisiana; her granddaughter, Caitlin Keene of Sulphur, Louisiana; sister, Wanda Fuller of Buna; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Joe B. and Pearl Manry of Nederland; brother, Joe B. Manry of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; in-laws, John and Julia Henstschel of La Grange, Texas; and nephews, Rex Sitton and Don Sitton.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Msonthi Levine and Preferred Home Health and Group Care for their care given to Ann.
Her funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2009 at St. John Lutheran Church with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of her family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009 at Broussard’s.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John Lutheran Church Organ Fund, 2955 South Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77707 or to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 4445 Pershing, Beaumont ,Texas 77705.
