Obituary of Benjamin H. Schwabenbauer

Mr. Benjamin H. Schwabenbauer of 306 South Barry Street, passed away on Sunday, July 27, 2014 in the Pines Health & Rehabilitation Center in Olean. Mr. Schwabenbauer was born Aug. 5, 1943 in Olean and was a son of Ambrose and Carrie Henderson Schwabenbauer. On June 8, 1968 in East Brady, PA he married his wife of 46 years, Rose Marie Sita, who survives. Ben graduated from Otto-Eldred High School in 1961. He attended Clarion State College, receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education in 1965. He started teaching in Olean, at Ivers J. Norton Elementary School, where he taught 5th and 6th grade classes for 41 years in the same room, retiring in 2006. Throughout his career continued his education taking classes at Cornell and Pittsburgh at Bradford. He completed his Master's Degree at St. Bonaventure University. He touched many lives and he received many awards throughout his teaching career. Ben was a member of St. Bonaventure Parish. He was president of the Olean Teacher and Postal Federal Credit Union and was very active and a past president of the Olean Food Pantry. Ben enjoyed history, traveling & dining out but most of all he loved his grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. In addition to his loving wife, Ben is survived by one son, Bryan H. (Kelly) Schwabenbauer of Olean; two grandchildren, Gunner B. and Angeline C. Schwabenbauer; two sisters, Evelyn (Ray) Stephan of Natrona Heights, PA, and Mary Lou Durr of Verona; and several nieces & nephews. Ben was predeceased by one brother, Walter Schwabenbauer. Friends will be received on Wednesday July 30, 2014 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. #646 E. State Street Olean. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 10:00 AM at St. Bonaventure Parish, 95 E. Main Street, Allegany. The Rev. James Vacco, OFM will officiate. Burial will be in St. Raphael's Cemetery in Eldred, PA. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to The Rose & Ben Schwabenbauer Scholarship Fund, C/O Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, 120 North Union Street, Olean or to the Olean Food Pantry, 8 Leo Moss Drive, Olean. Online condolences may be made by clicking on the button above.