Mary Blake Stauffer

Mary Blake (Kochenderfer) Stauffer, 80, passed away April 8, 2026. She was the beloved wife of Ed Stauffer with whom she shared 61 years of marriage.

Born September 20, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Thomas T. Kochenderfer and Anne (Yount) Kochenderfer.

A native of Norristown, Blake's family spent weekends at their farm in Pennsburg PA. She attended St Marks Lutheran church on those weekends and that is how she ended up meeting her future husband, Ed Stauffer. Her childhood was filled with Girl Scout meetings/events, horseback riding, swimming, and ice hockey with her brothers and friends on the pond at their farm. She even played basketball on her high school team. After graduating from Norristown High School, she went on to nursing school. She graduated from Sacred Heart Hospital School of Practical Nursing in Norristown in 1964 where she was President of her class.

Over the years she was active in various community organizations. In the 1960s she volunteered at an orphanage in Coopersburg, PA. In the early 1970s she was President of the Pool Auxiliary of the Upper Perk Recreation Council. She co-chaired various annual charity balls to raise money for the organization. She was very active with St Marks church - especially helping out in the education wing, and Altar Guild including serving as its President. She took her young daughters and went door to door collecting funds for the annual cancer drive for many years after her father died of cancer in 1972. In the 1970s and 80s she was active in the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution -Valley Forge chapter), and the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century (Penns Grant Chapter). Especially coordinating DAR fashion shows to raise funds for groups the organization was supporting. She modeled for Stephanie's Bridal Shop in addition to Madaras for many years in the 1990s.

Favorite pastimes included golf, tennis, riding the waves at the shore on her boogie board, and spending time with her many friends, and family. Especially her five grandchildren. She was often found at the local YMCA working out, swimming, and chatting with everyone there. She was a voracious reader and made a habit of using uncommon words around her daughters when they were young, and later her grandchildren, in hopes they would pick up new adjectives.

She embraced every day to the fullest and enjoyed going the extra step on occasion. She was known to answer the door to trick-or-treaters on Halloween in her own costume.

To say she loved travel was an understatement. She managed to see all of Europe, most of North & South America, all of the Caribbean, and parts of Asia. She even made calls back home very early one morning to tell each of her daughters she was standing at the North Pole.

Affectionately known as G5 to her family. The role that filled her with the most joy was to be the absolute best Grand'Mere ever to her five grandchildren: Halle & Sydney Putera, Peyton, Porter & Preston Marshall.

Her father, a Norristown physician, served as a surgeon in WWII. As her dementia progressed, she began saluting her family when she was pleased with something, or as a goodbye. Perhaps the saluting was a memory of something she did in her younger years. So now, it is our turn. We salute you G5 for a job well done.

She is survived by her husband; Ed, and daughters; Becky Putera of Pennsburg, and Tori (Rob) Marshall of Williamsburg, Va., her grandchildren; Halle, Sydney, Peyton, Porter, Preston, and her brothers; Retired Pastor Thomas Kochenderfer of Trappe, and William Kochenderfer of Phoenix AZ. She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Tom Putera, in 2022.

She will be interred privately at Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe, PA. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 81 North Main Street, Pennsburg, PA 18073.