Anna Marie "Ree" Ponstingl (nee Gordon), sister to the late Madelyn Sell and the late Charles Gordon, graduated from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, in 1940 with a degree in Education. She then joined the Navy Department. With the arrival of WW2, she joined Westinghouse in 1942, and trained to become an engineering assistant. Here she met, and in 1945, married John Ponstingl. In 1950 they moved to Cleveland, Ohio. She taught at St. Charles School in Parma, Ohio. She became a member of the Christ Child Society and began teaching special needs children at Our Lady of the Angels School. The girls were taught sewing on an electric sewing machine. They were very good. Ree became a member of the Garden Club of Ohio and held many offices in the following years. She was on the Board and ultimately received the Buckingham Award for her activities. She traveled all over Ohio lecturing to the Garden Clubs on Floral Arranging Designs. She even appeared on TV. She served as President of the Garden Club in Parma, Ohio, later as President of the club in Rocky River. She served many years as Superintendent of the Floral Building at the Berea County Fair Grounds as well as Director of the Arts and Environment Group of St. Angela's Church in Fairview Park. In addition to gardening, Ree was also an expert seamstress and culinary artist.
Ree was the beloved wife of John C., sister of the late Madeline Sell and Charles Gordon; dear aunt of Gordon Sell and Paulette Lewis. She passed away on Sunday, August 28, 2011. Memorials may be forwarded in her name to the Memory Care Fund, 20545 Center Ridge Rd., Rocky River, OH 444116 to benefit the residents of the Kemper House. Service will be at the Funeral Home on Friday, August 2, at 10:00am. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at the BUSCH FUNERAL HOME, 21369 CENTER RIDGE RD., FAIRVIEW PARK, from 2-4 and 6-8pm on Thursday.