Naffziger, Mary Rich (1857-1943)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 Mar 11 p. 3

Birth date: 1857 Aug 31

text of obituary:

Mary Rich Naffziger

Mary Rich Naffziger, daughter of John and Catherina Rich, was born near Wayland, Iowa, August 31, 1857, and passed away at the home of her son, Lee, near Crystal Springs, Kansas, February 23, 1943 at the age of 85 years, 5 months and 23 days.

On April 12, 1885, she was married to Christian Naffziger who preceded her in death in 1900. Three sons and one daughter mourn her departure — Joseph, Benjamin, and Lee of Crystal Springs, Kansas; and Minnie (Mrs. P. O. Swartzendruber) of Wichita, Kansas; seven grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Barbara Neffsiger of Harrisonville, Missouri, and Mrs. L. J. Miller of Deep Water, Missouri. Two brothers, Joseph and Daniel, preceded her in death within the last year.

In her youth she accepted Jesus as her Saviour, and remained a faithful devoted wife and Christian mother. She was deeply interested in her children, grandchildren, and her church. In her early teens she moved with her parents from Iowa to Missouri, where she grew to womanhood. In 1907 she moved to Crystal Springs, Kansas, where she and her children shared their home with her brother, Dan Rich for 15 years. In 1926 she suffered a stroke from which she never fully recovered.

Dearest mother thou has left us,
And they loss we deeply feel.
But 'tis God who hath bereft us;
He can all our sorrows heal.

The funeral was in charge of Gideon G. Yoder, assisted by J. J. Zimmerman. Text John 3: 9.

IN MEMORIAM

The following poem was composed by Gideon G. Yoder in memory of Mary Rich Naffziger on the evening of February 24, 1943, and read at the funeral the following day.

A pilgrim of years has left and gone
To be with God where angels dwell.
Weary and tired of earth was she,
So she waved her hand and said farewell.

Long were the days of her sojourn here,
And varied the path that she nobly pressed.
But God in His infinite wisdom saw best,
And now she's started on the one great quest.

There's a wound that clings when we are called
To give up those whom we love the most;
Thus this mother has gone from us
To join the ranks of the heavenly hosts.

A kind and loving mother she was
Who always her only blessing did share.
And slowly we grasp the eternal truth.
that God no longer her soul could spare.

What we did for you while you lingered here
Was little enough for our grateful hands,
But we were glad to ease your pain
Till the last faint trickle of the burning sands.

You have gone to earth to seek reponse [sic];
Your spirit has entered the home of the blest;
But the day will come at the eventide,
When we'll join you there and anchor to rest.