Reflections Of Mary Elizabeth (Eberhart) Bode

"The flowers in her earthly garden are wilting today, but her flowers in heaven are in full bloom creating a beautiful bouquet."

It is with tears of unrelenting flow of sadness, yet with faith in the promise of the resurrection,that we announce the passing of our mother and grandmother, Mary Elizabeth (Eberhart) Bode.

Friend to many and kindness to all were but a few of her human characteristics, but her greatest joys were simple in her love of family and her faith in our heavenly Father.

Mary was born April 18, 1930 in Collinsville, IL and remained living there her whole life. She passed away August 28, 2020 at 7:10 PM at the age of 90 in her home of 72 years surrounded by her loving family.

Mary attended Holy Cross Lutheran School when it was a four room schoolhouse and was baptised and confirmed at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, where she was a lifelong member. Mary graduated from Collinsville, IL High School.

Mary was employed outside of the home working at various professions from bookkeeping to retail sales. During her children's elementary years she was a homemaker.

Anyone who was acquainted with Mary could feel the presence of a loving, caring, and kind human being. Because that is how she lived her life. She lived her life with the highest caliber of respect for others and was the most selfless and honest person you will ever encounter on the face of the earth. She could not tell a lie and honored and lived by the Ten Commandments. There is no doubt that her heavenly Father has a special place reserved for her in his heavenly kingdom.

Mary was loyal to her family and friends who all knew they could count on her to be an open ear that was not biased, slanderous or judgemental. She knew when to give advice and when to just listen.

One of Mary's greatest joys in life was cooking big family meals on Holidays and baking homemade cakes (special order) and Christmas cookies for her family members. It gave her great joy in baking a variety of cookies but what she liked most was sharing them with others. There were never any complaints because everyone knew the meals and baked goods she served were made with her love and kindness mixed in. She knew how important it was to gather as a family. Besides cooking Mary's favorite hobby was gardening. Her flower gardens were so beautiful a neighbor once said her backyard looked like Heaven. Her heavenly place will be surrounded with flowers of all shapes and colors where she will live in eternal happiness surrounded by their beauty.

Mary was also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan. Although she would get disgusted when the players struck out a lot and when the team would lose. Her favorite player from her youth in the 1940's and 1950's was Marty Marion. A Cardinal game was the last thing she watched with any interest on TV. She also loved playing pinochle with her family and friends. Mary loved to remember the old days and her favorite magazine was Reminisce.

Mary was generous with her time and financial blessings. Her mailbox was filled with correspondence from many different charities not because they were soliciting for a single donation but for another one.

Mary may have appeared to be meek, but not in terms of weakness, more like righteous, humble, modest, teachable, patient under suffering, long suffering and willing to follow Gospel teachings; an attribute of a true disciple. Mary's strength shined through as she battled her illness and the ravishes of time with a spirit of courage and determination all the way until the end. No one could have fought a more valiant fight. This yearning to fight on taught us all some very important lessons: When you fall, you get up; and when you fall again, you get up again.

Mary realized that time on earth is short and those without Jesus were lost. Everyone can be assured that she was not lost because of her deep faith in God. We are comforted in the fact that her faith, hope, and love remained steadfast until the end because she confessed it in her final days.

Mary Bode will be greatly missed here on earth, but we can be assured because of God's word we will meet with her in Heaven again and that day will be greatly anticipated. The memories left behind will be of great joy and happiness. Her legacy is that she lived her life with high morals and standards, leading by example. Mary left the world a better place because everyone that was acquainted with her has become a better person themselves. Mary touched lives and will be missed.

God Bless Mary's kind and loving soul and may she rest in peace, united in God's glorious heaven with her family members that have gone before her.

James 4:14-15

"Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Matthew 5:5

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

In addition to her parents, Leonard and Christine Eberhart, Mary was preceded in death by her husband Ronald W. Bode and her beloved sister and best friend Dorothy Eberhart.

Those left to cherish her beloved memory include her sons and their spouses, Randal (Colleen) Bode; Gary (Devorah) Bode; Grandchildren Lauren (Brandon) Webb; Andrew (Shannon) Bode; Megan (Zach) McGinn; Kara Bode and 7 great grandchildren Bryson Bode, Owen Bode, Leela Webb, Violet Clement, Weston McGinn, Alaina Bode, and Maisy McGinn.

Special thanks to Pastor Kyle Wright and Vicar Leeper of Holy Cross for their spiritual guidance and prayers; the Hospice of Illinois nursing staff for their kindness and compassion; to Mary's special caregivers who became friends Vicki Bantel and Sylvia Om; and to all of Mary's family and friends who called, prayed and expressed kind words of support to Mary and her family.

Any memorials may be directed in Mary's name to the HolyCrossLutheranChurch, 304 South Street in Collinsville, IL

Funeral services will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church on Friday, September 4, 2020 at 1:00 PM with visitation prior to the service from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Internment will be held following the funeral service at the Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery in Collinsville, IL