Mary L. Hultgren Whipple, 81, of Summit, died Friday afternoon January 14, 2011 at Hamot Medical Center following a brief illness. A resident of Erie all of her life she was born February 5, 1929 a daughter of the late Frederick F. and Marie Simon Hultgren. Mary achieved her life's dream of becoming a loving, caring wife, and creating a warm and beautiful home for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She proudly wore the titles of Wife, Mom and Grandma. She happily welcomed all who knew her into the warmth and comfort of her home, charming them with her wit, humor and home cooked meals made specially for them by Chef Mary. A lover of sports and highly skilled at word games, she competed internationally in online scrabble with players from all over the world. Over the years, so many friends of our family, especially those of her children and grandchildren called her house their second home adopting her as their second Mom and Grandma. A skillful chrocheter, her famous afghans found their way into so many homes, including senior centers in Maryland, providing comfort and warmth to all who received them. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, William R. Whipple, Sr. and one son, William R. Whipple, Jr.. Survivors include one son, David Whipple and his wife Nancy of Laurel, MD; three daughters, Janice Dollard and her husband Richard of Brockport, NY, Carol Habas and her husband Jay of Erie, and Ann Whipple and her boyfriend Mike Ruzzi of Erie; one brother, William F. Hultgren of Erie; six grandchildren, Sara Whipple, Rebecca "Becky" Bettes and her husband Trey, Cheryl Smith and her husband Robert, Amy Bird and her husband Jeff, Mark Dollard and his wife Lynn, and Jennifer Bilski; two great grandchildren, Andrea and Emily Smith; and many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at All Saints Catholic Church on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. At the family's request, instead of flowers please make all donations, in memory of Mary L. Whipple, to the Penn State Dance Marathon benefiting pediatric cancer. Checks can be made payable to "Atlas THON" and mailed to Atlas President, Meg O'Rourke, 311 S. Burrowes St., State College, PA 16801. Funeral arrangements were made by the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Road, Erie, 16504.