Warrior for homeless loses battle to cancer

Described as the “heart and soul” of Open Shelter, Mary Beittel passed away Saturday after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 65 years old.

The Dispatch linked up with Sheli Mathias, assistant director of Open Shelter, who spoke very fondly of her coworker and confidant.

Beittel worked alongside her husband to keep the homeless and marginalized shelter operating for 34 years. When the shelter in Franklinton was forced to close due to funding cuts, the service moved to a Trinity Episcopal at Third and Broad streets, then to St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church on E Mount Street, according to The Dispatch.

Beittel was a very powerful member of Columbus society and will be dearly missed.

She is survived by her husband, three daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

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