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Mary Patricia Pressler | Bank manager, 60

Mary Patricia "Maripat" Cope Pressler, 60, of Maple Glen, a former bank branch manager, died of complications from the H1N1 strain of flu Nov. 27 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Mary Patricia "Maripat" Cope Pressler, 60, of Maple Glen, a former bank branch manager, died of complications from the H1N1 strain of flu Nov. 27 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Mrs. Pressler grew up with five younger sisters in Overbrook Farms. She graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes School and from West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Girls and then was a teller for area banks.

In 1979, she became head teller at Continental Bank in Philadelphia. She was hired by her future husband, Eugene C. Pressler Jr., who was the bank's director of personnel. She eventually became manager of teller training and operations and was branch manager of Continental's branch on Rittenhouse Square when she retired on disability in 1995.

Mrs. Pressler had been born with a heart defect that ultimately caused her lungs to fail. In 1996, she had a double-lung transplant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a pioneer in the procedure.

Her quality of life was great for 13 years, said her childhood friend, Carolyn Marconi Anderson. Mrs. Pressler was active with the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund, which provides advocacy, information, and financial assistance to families caring for terminally ill and critically injured children. In October, she received a special recognition award for her service to the fund.

Last year, Mrs. Pressler was registration committee cochair with Anderson for two events commemorating the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes School.

She was an avid reader and needle-crafter and enjoyed travel with her husband. They visited Hawaii - their favorite destination - five times, he said.

Besides her husband of 28 years, Mrs. Pressler is survived by her mother, Patricia Cope; sisters Jane Kelly, Susan Ongirski, Barbara Marley, Virginia Cope, and Kathleen Cope; and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Dec. 19 at First Presbyterian Church of Ambler, 4 S. Ridge Ave., Ambler.