Elsie (Adams) Parcell

Mary Elsie Parcell (née Adams)

It is with both sorrow and peace in our hearts that we share the passing of our beloved mother, Mary Elsie Parcell (née Adams), on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. At 100 years and 5 months old, she left us gently and gracefully, returning to be with God—and reunited at last with our dear father in Heaven.

Born on November 21, 1924, in Oxford, PA, Elsie was the daughter of Robert A. Adams Jr. and Mary Emily Adams (née Brown). She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Eugene Donald “Don” Parcell of Montcalm, WV; her sister Edna Bryan and husband John of Cincinnati, OH; her brother Frank Adams and wife Louise (née Toliver) of Oxford, PA; and her granddaughter Ashley Lauren Peterson.

Though no amount of time would ever feel like enough, we are so grateful for the century of life she shared with us—full of love, quiet strength, and grace. She was a blessing to all who knew her. In addition to raising three
daughters with Don with unwavering devotion, she helped raise many children whose parents worked in the community over the years. She often looked after each of her grandchildren whenever they needed her without
question. She was known as P-Mom to some of the grandchildren and Mom-Mom to all of them.

Elsie is survived by her brother, Robert A. Adams III, who is thriving at 104 years old; her daughters Donna L. Stoneback (the late Richard H.) of West Grove, PA; Susan E. Peterson (Charles "Chuck") of Wilmington,
DE; and Julie A. Cook (Bruce) of Drumore, PA. She also leaves behind five grandchildren—Carly H. Peterson of Wilmington, DE, Richard “Rick” W. Stoneback (Deana, née McClure) of Essex Junction, VT, Taylor
M. Jackson (Matt) of Newark, DE, Samantha J. Stoneback of Elkton, MD, and Courtney Cook of Drumore, PA—and one great-granddaughter, Charlotte R. Stoneback of Essex Junction, VT. She will also be missed by
her many nieces and nephews.

Elsie was a graduate of Oxford Area High School, where she played both field hockey and basketball. A lifelong athlete and competitor, she was also an exceptional bowler. She was a loyal Philadelphia Phillies fan who
rarely missed a game. In her youth, she was an avid traveler, taking many trips to Florida with her Uncle Howard Brown and others.

As a young single woman, Elsie rode the train from Oxford to Harrisburg for work during the week, returning home on weekends. She later worked at a military base in Bainbridge, MD, and at Chrysler in Newark, DE,
where she met Don. When she first saw the dashing young man, she told the other girls to stay away—she had her eye on him. Fortunately, they listened, and the rest is history.

She was a member of Oxford United Methodist Church for over 90 years, where she sang alto in the choir. She remained civically active as a local poll worker during elections for many years. Elsie was a part of history
when her first child, Donna Lynne, was the first baby born in the new maternity ward at Jennersville Hospital in Jennersville, PA.

Elsie never missed a chance to laugh—and when she did, you knew it. Her laugh was unmistakable, contagious, and completely her own. Don made it his mission to keep her laughing, and she passed that same joyful spirit
on to each of her daughters. Adams family reunions were anything but quiet. They were filled with noisy lively stories, playful teasing, and the familiar sound of her laughter ringing through it all.

Easter has always been a day of renewal and hope. And while we grieve, we also hold fast to the promise of eternal life and the reunion between Mom and Dad. The bond they shared was unshakable, and it brings us
comfort to know they are together again. Their love story continues beyond this world, and that thought brings us peace.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Oxford United Methodist Church, 18 Addison Street, Oxford, PA 19363, followed by her funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Oxford Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Elsie’s memory can be made to the Oxford United Methodist Church, the American Macular Degeneration Foundation at macular.org, or the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Ruffenach Family Funeral Home of Oxford, PA.

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