Marian Snyder Heckers

We join together as a family to honor and celebrate the life of our wonderful mother and grandmother, Marian Heckers. Her long life was governed by two things: her deep and abiding faith in God and her love of her family and extended family.

Faith sustained her and gave meaning to her life through good times and in hard times. It was faith that healed her from life threatening illnesses, faith that sustained her through hardships, personal turmoils and great losses. It was her faith that allowed her to find joy in her vital church life and activities, and the life long friends she made along the way. And it was Faith that brought her comfort and hope in the last years of her life.

Marian led a fascinating life that included being mentored as an artist by Norman Rockwell, proudly serving her country during WWII, moving to the "Wild West" and working along side her husband as an accomplished paralegal.

But it was her family that gave her the most joy. At a very young age, Marian met and married the love of her life, our father and grandfather, John.Together, they built a life and home filed with love, acceptance and inclusion. Their love remained vital and inspirational throughout their lives. Our "family" included not only biological family members, but also many "adopted" extended family members; brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles--all were welcome and considered family. Her love of family extended to all of God's children, including those with 4 legs, feathers or fur. From the horse who loved peanut-butter sandwiches to the bird who liked his nightly cocktail to the countless cats, dogs, other pets and even wild animals; Marian loved and cared for these creatures with enthusiasm. Truly, the animals she loved were as much a part of the family as the humans.

Marian was the ultimate hostess, who loved nothing more than than a packed house on holidays. There was always room for one more at her table and in her heart. It was indeed the simple things in life that gave her the most satisfaction and joy. Watching the antics of her cats, teaching her Pug to say "I love you". her Sunday calls with Skeet (her oldest son), going out for a meal, snuggling up with one of her "grand-cat", Rhumpy's blankets, eating lemon meringue pie or one of Hazel's homegrown tomatoes, watching a favorite TV show with Phil, nightly calls with Hazel, teaching Meagan how to make a secret family recipe, or looking forward to getting to know Matt.

The last conversations she had with us were filled with expressions of her kind and generous heart. She spoke of plans to knit an afghan for Essie, make a batch of cup custard for her beloved Mary Jane, introducing Matt to her cats, enjoying baking holiday sticky buns with Hazel and Meagan, and ordering Chinese food with Phil. She spoke of the pride she felt in her family, and how she could feel the love of family, both near to her and far away, as it enveloped her. In her final days, she was surrounded by her family and felt the love encircle her. We know that now she is reunited with all those she so loved who have passed, and is resting peacefully in God's loving arms.

We all hope to leave a legacy. The legacy that Marian leaves us can be be summed up in the famous words from Corinthians:"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."