Marian D. Eltrich

Marian D. Eltrich, 75, of Belleville, IL, born Saturday, June 9, 1934, in Belleville, IL, passed away Monday, April 26, 2010 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL.

Marian graduated from Deaconess School of Nursing in St. Louis, MO. After graduation she worked in Medical Surgery and GYN for 10 years. Then Head RN in orthopedics for 18 years at Deaconess, retiring in 1983. After retirement she worked at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, MO for several years as a volunteer.

Marian enjoyed being with family and friends, Also loved to travel. Often going to the Colorado Rockies (Estes Park) with family and friends, hiking the many trails in the Rockies. She was a member of Union United Methodist Church in Belleville, IL.

She was preceded in death by her:

  • Parents: Henry and Viola nee Lanxon Eltrich
  • Sister: Doris Bujnak

Surviving are her loving:

  • Brother: Donald ( Elsa) Eltrich of Swansea, IL
  • Brother-in-law: Don (Jean) Bujnak
  • Nieces
    • Tracy (Rod) Haffer
    • Beverly (Bruce) Rinehimer
    • Linda (Tom) Hassall
    • Donna (Ron) Homrighausen
  • Nephews
    • Brad (Nancy) Eltrich
    • Kevin (Kathy) Bujnak
    • Mark Bujnak
  • Great Nieces
    • Amanda Haffer
    • Lauren Haffer
    • Katie Bujnak
    • Brianna Rinehimer
  • Great Nephews
    • Michael Bujnak
    • Kyle Bujnak
    • David Haffer
    • Dale Hassall
  • Dear friend for many years and co-worker: Ilse Mezger

Memorials: Memorials may be made to the Union United Methodist Church in Belleville, IL.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 P.M., Thursday, April 29, 2010 at the Kurrus Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois.

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, April 30, 2010 at Kurrus Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ed Weston officiating. Interment will follow at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, IL.

Condolences left for Marian D. Eltrich:

    What an absolute gem Marian was! I only knew her a short time, but I was impressed with her sweet spirit and unbelievable courage in the face of huge adversity. She loved the Lord and literally trusted Him with her life. I shall always remember her quiet, welcoming smile and gentle ways. My sympathy to all of you in your loss.

    Kathie B. Dudley O'Fallon IL 62269

    My very favorite roommate at Surrey Place...so sweet and considerate. I shall always remember her. We enjoyed each other's company and respected each other's silence. It's amazing what a sweet bond can form between two people under very trying circumstances. With deep sympathy at your loss.

    Isabel S. Blackman Annada MO 63330

    I don't know where to start as there it too much to say about Marian. She was such a caring and sweet Aunt to us all. Marian was so kind and meaningful to us and always put others first.

    She was a strong believer in the Lord and we used to always tease each other about going to church for worship. There was a time when my wife and I didn't attend regularly and Marian would always come from Union United Methodist on Sundays and ask us where we were sitting in church, even though she knew we weren't there. Every Sunday we would have lunch with Marian at Don and Elsa's home and she would ask us where we sat because she didn't see us. This became our little gag and when she would miss we would tease her right back.

    Years later Tracy and I began attending regularly and it really gave Marian joy to see us in church. There were days when Marian would be under the weather and not attend and it tickled her to no end when we would tease her about now going. I will never forget her laugh and sometimes she couldn't contain it because she knew we were going to ask her. I would say, "Marian I saw your name tage left on the table today, how come you were not in church?" Marian would laugh as she tried to think of a quick excuse through her guilt. She would say, "Oh I was there I guess I forgot to pick it up."

    Unfortunately there were many days and Sundays when Marian suffered and could not attend the church she loved so much. Marian followed the teachings of the bible and lived the life as a follower of Jesus Christ as well as anyone I'd ever met. Though quiet in nature, her passion for being a believer never waivered. It took a lot to get her angry and she always had a smile. Even in her darkest days when friends and family were there at her bed holding her hand. The fear in her eyes was overcome by the smile on her face when I would remind her about Jesus being right there with her. I had a cross necklace I received on a Mission Trip recently and I showed it to her and she said it was pretty. I hung it over her bed as a reminder She acknowledged that she knew He was there and how much she believed in Him. She didn't always understand the suffering she had to endure and it was undeserved. Remember our lives here are much different than our eternal lives we will celebrate in heaven. There isn't much fair about this world at all. It wasn't fair that Jesus had to suffer for us either but He did because He loved us. Marian was never much to complain and never wanted to bother others with her pains.

    To Marian, Your suffering was never without a reason. You needed Him and He was there beside you waiting for you.

    Sometimes we all have to have our backs against a wall to believe in Jesus Christ and call out to Him for help. While that certainly was not the case for our dear Marian Eltrich, it is the case for most of us. As you remember Marian and her suffering, remember too her relationship with Jesus Christ and nothing would give her more joy than for her death to help bring others to believe in Him. Marian's struggles with her worldly body was a constant reminder to us to how fragile our lives are and why we all need to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. But rest assured as much as we saw her physical suffering for many years on the outside, she had an unbelievable heart inside that I hope you got to see.

    Marian we will miss you so much and we look forward to the day when we are reunited again with you and Him in Heaven. I want to you know that I noticed your heart and you have forever been an influence on my Christian life. I know my name tag is there on His table and it will be pure joy to put it on. I know you got yours on. We love you and miss you so much.

    Thanks for the Christian influence on my life and my children's lives. You are special and changed us. You made a difference.

    ~ Rod Haffer

    Rod Haffer Swansea Illinois 62226

    I am Marian's great niece, but she was so much more than an aunt to me. She was more like a grandma. We went out to lunch several times when she was well, and people always thought I was her granddaughter. We've always been close, but towards the end we got much closer. I would go see her in the nursing home, and we would sit and tell stories. I would tell her about school, and she would tell me all these stories from when she was young. Some were funny, some were sad. All were good.
    When she kept getting worse, it was hard for everybody. No one wanted to lose her, but we all hated to see her in pain. As much as she struggled, she never lost faith in God. I miss her so much, but I know that she is safe in God's arms right now, and no longer hurting.
    She was definitely my biggest inspiration to achieve my dreams and to have determination.
    Marian, I love you so much. You may not be here with us anymore, but you'll never be forgotten.

    Amanda Haffer Swansea IL 62226