Marianne (Shipkowsky) Krotz 74, of Export, passed away peacefully Thursday, February 23, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. After her courageous fight with ovarion cancer in 2012, Marianne's battle resumed in June of 2015. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God and the love and prayers of family and friends carried her through to the end. Yet even throughout her own struggle, she found the need to take care of others, especially her family, by constantly nurturing their needs and putting her own needs aside. She had the gift of joy in all that she did, and that showed through her constant smiling and laughter, endless jokes and witty sarcasm which will never be forgotten. Marianne was born August of 1942, to the late Charles and Mary Shipkowsky. She was the oldest of four children. She was an active member of St. Mary Church in Export. She had been employed by Cloverleaf Golf Course most recently, but in past employments you'd find her working as a sales person in various industries. She was a devoted Smokey Robinson fan and loved the Broadway show "Jersey Boys". If she wasn't with her children or grandchildren, she'd be with many of her friends either at garage sales, vacations or dinner and a movie, but most of all you'd find her hanging with her beloved husband, Kenneth, the love of her life, along with their dog, Oscar. She is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years, Kenneth Krotz; and her four children, Kenneth (Janice) Krotz, Keith Krotz, Melissa (Bill) Lewis and Kirk (Lauren) Krotz; and nine grandchildren and two step-grandchildren, Shawna (Eric) Megia, Brittney Bush, Anthony DePellegrini, Tiffany (Joe) Stupka, Michael DePellegrini, Jessica (Josh) Peniazek, Stephanie Krotz, Kylie Krotz, Lexi Krotz and Josh and Justin Lewis. Also surviving are her siblings, Dolly (John) Cordera, Charles (Sally) Shipkowsky and Richard (Kathy) Shipkowsky; additionally seven great- grandchildren, Jackie, Jenna, Brianna, Braelynn, Kaydence, Maddex and Kamden. She also leaves behind a circle of friends that have maintained friendships since grade school and numerous cousins and nieces/nephews. Friends and family will be received from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017 and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Wolfe-von Geis Funeral Home, Inc., 5701 Lincoln Ave., Export with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in St. Mary Church, Export. (Everone please meet at the church) The family asks that if you can, wear something teal to the celebration service at church in honor of Marianne's fight against ovarian cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Marianne's name to the Blackburn Center in Greensburg, which advocates for the rights of all individuals to live free from domestic violence. Marianne's church got involved with the center over Christmas and it touched her to the core and she wanted to continue helping the women in the center.: P.O. Box 398 Greensburg, PA 15601. www.wolfe-vongeis.com