Graber, Marie G. (1894-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Sep 6 p. 8

Birth date: 1894 May 6

text of obituary:

MARIE G. GRABER

Marie G. Graber, second daughter of Jacob G. and Anna Preheim Graber, was born in Turner County near Freeman, South Dakota, on May 6, 1894.

Except for the last two years, she resided in the family farm home for her entire life, caring for her parents until they passed away. When she was left alone and her health started failing, she found a new home in the Salem Home for the Aged in Freeman.

On the evening of Aug. 16, as she was preparing to retire for the night, the gates of heaven were suddenly opened for her and she entered her new home in glory.

At an early age she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour, was baptized on July 9, 1911, by Rev. H. Bachmann and became a faithful member of the Salem Mennonite Church.

In her youth she endured the hardships of pioneer life with her parents, faithfully performing her duties in the farm home. Not having a family of her own, she was a second mother to her younger sisters and brothers, sacrificing her own education for them and then later adopting their children as her own.

Her affliction, which was detected a number of years ago as being of a glandular nature, continued to weaken her so that she was almost an invalid. Yet she accepted her fate and endured it patiently, without complaint. Her love for good books, music and poetry, helped her pass many lonely hours. She will be remembered for her unselfish devotion to her family and her patient and serene spirit.

She reached the age of 68 years, three months and 10 days.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister Lena, and her brother Joseph.

Those remaining to cherish her memory are her five sisters, Adina, Mrs. Ben P. Walther, Freeman, Martha, Mrs. Wm. Schrag, Madison, Emma, Mrs. Andrew Schrag, Sioux Falls, Lydia, Mrs. Dave Mueller, Freeman, and Alice, Mrs. Wesley Kaufman, Marion; one brother, Harold, Freeman; five brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law, and a number of nieces and nephews to whom she was deeply devoted.