Smucker, Mary E. Albrecht (1874-1948)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1948 Sep 16 p. 3

Birth date: 1874 Feb 18

text of obituary:

MARY E. SMUCKER

Mary Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Birkey) Albrecht, was born in Bureau county near Tiskilwa, Illinois, February 18, 1874; passed away at the home of her daughter, Esther Hodel, at Morton, Ill. Sept, 4, 1948, aged 74 years six months and 17 days.

She confessed Jesus as her Saviour in her youth and was received into fellowship of the Willow Springs Mennonite church and remained faithful until death.

She was united in marriage to Frank I. Smucker of Nappanee, Indiana, December 5, 1897, and they made their residence on a farm in Indiantown Township, where they lived for 50 years with the exception of two years when they worked at the Children's Home to West Liberty, Ohio. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home December 5, 1947.

To this union were born four children: Ruth, Mrs. Carl Magnuson, Morton, Ill.; Esther, Mrs. John Hodel, also of Morton, Ill.; Mark, Wheaton, Ill; and Milton, Lake City, Florida. They also took into their home a boy from West Liberty Orphan's Home, Edward McCloskey, now of Goshen, Ind.

Surviving are her companion; four children, nine grandchildren, six foster grandchildren; three brothers, Simon, Sycamore, Ill., John and Will of Tiskilwa, Ill., and one sister Bertha, Mrs. Rufus Yoder, Lancaster, Ohio. One sister preceded her in death. She leaves also many relatives and friends.

All her days she was interested in the work of the Lord and many were the labors of her hands given to missionary service.

She was taken seriously ill March 7, 1948, at the home of her daughter, Esther Hodel, Morton, Illinois, where she remained almost totally bedfast for six months, God releasing her the morning of September 4, 1948.

Funeral services were conducted in the home and at Willow Springs Mennonite church the afternoon of September 6. The local pastor, Ira Eigsti, had charge of the services. Psalms 121 and 23 were used as a basis for the message. Interment was made in the Willow Springs cemetery.