Mary Elizabeth Maurer

  Mary Elizabeth Gillette, the daughter of Lester and Cecilia Gillette, was born January 25, 1923. She was raised on a dairy farm east of Fostoria, across the road from her grandparents. Mary attended country school, passing her exams early, and then graduated from Spencer High School at age 16. She went on to attend Iowa State College and earned a Home Economics teaching degree in 1943.  She married Erland Maurer one month later in Milford, while WWII was in full swing. They were together while Erland was stationed for a short time in Harrisburg, PA.

     After Erland’s service with the army ended, they farmed south of Spencer and raised eleven children. Mary was active in Catholic Daughters of America at Sacred Heart and volunteered there and in the school. She was also a 4-H leader and a TOPS member. Mary was known for her homemaking skills, especially her family’s tasty and nutritious meals.

     Mary was also known for her sweet kind nature, beautiful smile, and her way of finding a positive spin on life’s events. Her children remember the many songs she sang and evenings listening to her read stories. She was eager to be of service and offer a helping hand. Her legacy of love will live on through her children, grandchildren, and now her great grandchildren.

     In later years Mary attended daily Mass, played bridge, trained on Nautilus at the Y, was an avid reader, and wrote her memoirs. One of her favorite things was to go to the lake and watch her children and grandchildren swim. For the past five years, she lived at Riverview Assisted Living where she felt well cared for by the staff.

     She passed away on March 21, 2018, at St Luke Lutheran Home. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Erland, her sisters Jean and Rita, and her brothers Riley and John Gillette. 

     Left to cherish her memory are her sister Fran Neuzil (Jack) of Solon IA, brother Charles (Meredith) Gillette of Milwaukee WI, one sister-in-law, Frances Ann Gillette of Tuscon AZ, her eleven children: Steve (Monica) of Decorah IA, Chris of Colfax IA, Mary Ellen (Curt) Jones of Spencer, Fran (Joe) LeClair of Spencer, Ann (Sohrab) Gandomi of Oak Park IL, Paul (Barbara) of Spencer, Julie (John) Greek of Dekalb IL, John (Pam) of Ames, Sarah (Pete) Palmer of Scottsdale AZ, Mike of Fresno CA, and Stacy of Fairfield, IA, and 19 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren and other relatives and many friends.

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OFFICIATING

CASKET BEARERS

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