Mary G Rohrer

Mary Genevieve, affectionately known by family and friends as “Mary G,” “Momma Mary,” and “Flower,” passed away on November 4, 2026, at the age of 98, following a brief illness. She was born May 1, 1928, at home on North Mantua Street in Kent, Ohio, to Jay C. Steele and Gladys (Barber) Steele.

Mary was a proud graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School, Class of 1946. She cherished the friendships she made there, and for many years, her classmates continued to gather monthly and annually to stay connected. As the years passed and their numbers grew smaller, Mary was one of the few classmates still living.

In 1948, she married Harold Solitro and moved to Ravenna, Ohio, where they built their life together and raised their family. They became part of the Ravenna community through their family dry-cleaning business, Solitro’s Service Cleaners.

Mary was the talented seamstress for the business, a skill she learned from Harold’s mother. When Harold’s mother retired, Mary inherited that part of the business and became highly skilled in her own right. Many people in the Ravenna area came to rely on her sewing and clothing repair talents. After Harold passed away in 1988, Mary continued operating the family business for a couple of years.

In 1990, Mary married Pershing Rohrer, whom she had met through the dry-cleaning business. Through Persh’s work as a sports writer, the two traveled extensively throughout the United States covering bowling conventions. Their shared love of bowling brought them many wonderful experiences and introduced them to friends across the country. They shared nearly 25 years of marriage before Pershing preceded her in death.

Mary was an avid bowler for many years, playing on a team that won consecutive championships. She was a devoted Cleveland baseball fan and rarely missed watching a Guardians game. She was also one of the biggest supporters of her grandchildren, rarely missing an opportunity to attend their sporting events and cheer them on.

A regular attendee of Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna, Mary was a woman of faith, kindness, and compassion.

Independent and strong-willed, Mary lived in her own home until her passing. Recently, her daughter Anita and Anita’s dog, Daphne, had moved in to help care for her. For the past ten years, she also enjoyed spending winters in sunny Florida with her daughter Annette and son-in-law Ken, where she loved the warmth and sunshine.

Mary embraced life and technology in a way that was remarkable for someone of her generation. She enjoyed working puzzles on her iPad, keeping up with family on Facebook and Instagram, and using her iPhone to stay connected with those she loved.

She loved animals and had many dogs and cats throughout her life. She also took great pride in the beautiful landscaping in her backyard, creating a welcoming haven for birds and butterflies.

Mary was blessed with a sharp mind and quick wit right up until her final days. Kind, sweet, and genuinely caring toward everyone she met, she touched the lives of so many. Everyone who knew Mary loved her, and she will be remembered for her independence, her warmth, her devotion to family, and the special way she made people feel loved.

Mary is survived by her children: Anita Carr of Ravenna, Ohio; Annette Speidel (Ken) of Viera, Florida; and Matthew Solitro of Georgia; and her stepson, Thomas Rohrer (Sharon) of Logan, Utah.

She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Aaron Halsne (Amy), Matt Byers (Nicki), Jonathon Speidel (Jaclyn), Lindsay Nedley (Alan), Pershelle Rohrer, and Vincent Rohrer.

Her legacy continues through her great-grandchildren: Madison, Gannon, AJ Halsne, Lincoln, Cooper, Brody Byers, Emerson, Parker, James Speidel, and Camden and Olivia Nedley.

She is also survived by members of her maternal Steele family in Pittsburgh and Sellersburg, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her siblings Virginia Lee (Mel), Geraldine Mittiga (Frank), Jay F. Steele (Del) and Bill Steele (Pat).

Mary will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no funeral services. A private burial will take place with family.