Birky, Magdelena Cender (1876-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Nov 8 p. 8

Birth date: 1876 Jun 12

text of obituary:

MRS. MAGDELENA BIRKY

Our dear mother, Magdelena Birky, was born on Jun 12, 1876 near Roanoke, Ill., a daughter of Joseph and Mary Rouvenauc Cender. She departed this life to be with her Lord on Sunday afternoon near Fisher, Ill. where she made her home with her daughter and family.

In the spring of 1892 as a young girl she with her family moved to the Fisher community where several others had moved previously and started a new church. At an early age she gave her heart to the Lord and herself to his service. She always put the Lord's work and others first. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years. She took an active interest in sewing circle work, and until she suffered a broken hip about two years ago, she made many quilts and whenever possible attended a circle meeting each week in various churches.

On Jan. 24, 1905 she was united in marriage with Christian Birky and they spent their entire life in the Fisher community. Preceding her in death were her husband who died on June 3, 1940 at the age of 61, a son at birth, a granddaughter, and all the members of her family except one sister, Mrs. Mary Heiser of Fisher. She leaves two sons and one daughter, Harvey and wife Prudence and children, Grace and Howard of Goshen, Ind.; Lewis and wife Eunice and children, Jennie and Douglas, of Gibson City; and Martha and husband David Yoder and children Marsha and Davene of Fisher.

Funeral services were held Sept. 25 at the East Bend Mennonite Church where she was a member for many years, in charge of her pastor, J. Alton Horst, and. A. Heiser of the Gibson City Bible Church.