Lohrentz, Marie (1883-1949)

Revision as of 13:21, 10 June 2014

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Oct 6 p. 1

Birth date: 1883

text of obituary:

Two Deaconesses Called by Death Last Week

The aged Sister Hillegonda van der Smissen, who reached the age of 101, and Sister Marie Lohrentz, 66, passed away last week at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital here, and funeral services for both were held at the Bethel Sisters Home and the First Mennonite church.

Sister Hillegonda, retired deaconess who observed her 101st birthday last June 30, died Thursday afternoon, Sept 29, and funeral services held Monday afternoon were in charge of Rev. J. E. Entz, assisted at the church by Rev. D. J. Unruh and Rev. J. F. Balzer. The graveside service at the Greenwood cemetery was in charge of Rev. A. J. Dyck.

Sister Marie Lohrentz passed to her reward Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 27, after being a patient at the hospital since July. Funeral services took place Friday afternoon, with Rev. J. E. Entz in charge at the Sisters Home and Rev. D. J. Unruh and Dr. E. G. Kaufman conducting the service at the church.

Sister Hillegonda was born at Friedrichstadt, Germany in 1848 and came to this country with her parents in 1868. She arrived in Newton during a big snowstorm in February, 1909, being 60 years of age when she took up deaconess work. She was the first member of the First Mennonite church to reach such an advanced age.

The only immediate relative surviving her is her brother, Rev. Carl H. van der Smissen, 97, of the Bethel Home for Aged.

Sister Marie was born near Moundridge on Jan. 1, 1883, and took up residence at the Nurses Home Nov. 1, 1911. She served as school nurse and girls' counselor at Bethel college from 1936 to September of last year.

She is survived by four sisters and three brothers.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Oct 13 p. 3
The Mennonite obituary: 1949 Oct 11 p. 10