MaryEllen Garber, of Cherry Grove, NY, and formerly of Lancaster, passed away unexpectedly in Lancaster on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. Born in Lancaster, she was the daughter of the late James L. and Alice E. Miller Garber.

She had worked for 20 years for the ISC Corp. and 15 years for Armstrong World Industries. After retiring, she worked with her son, Charles, at his store, Goodies General Store on Fire Island in New York.

MaryEllen enjoyed cooking and shopping, feeding the deer on Fire Island,  and loved her dog, Godiva.

She was a former member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.

She is survived by her 5 children: JoEllen DeFreitas of Sao Paolo, Brazil, James L. Balmer of Gainesville, FL, Janice E. Barner of Newberry, FL, Charles M. Balmer of Fire Island, NY and Barbara Balmer-Bonilla of Palm Bay, FL; her 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, and by her 3 sisters: Janice Vance of Lancaster, Dorothy Adams of Parsonsfield, ME, and Beverly Ratts of Salem, MA. She was preceded in death by her son, Charles W. "Butchie" Balmer, Jr and her daughter Lisa M. Balmer.

Friends will be received on Monday, Feb. 20, 2011 from 930-1030AM at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, 414 E. King St., Lancaster, PA . The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11AM at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, with interment to then follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in MaryEllen's memory to the American Diabetes Assn., 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 17110. To send an online condolence, please visit Snyder Funeral Home.com. Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory 393-9661