Edna Maria Adele (Maaske) Heathers (Gram to most), 105.5, of Avilla, Indiana, died Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the home of her granddaughter in Peoria, Illinois.

She was born June 18, 1919, in Bertrand, Nebraska, to Herman F. and Adele D. (Stuhr) Maaske.

On June 1, 1938, in Alma, Nebraska, she married Jacob Heathers. Shortly following this union and the birth of their only daughter, they moved to South Milford, Indiana, where they made their home and operated a local service station.

She worked as a telephone operator, spent many years as a seamstress—eventually continuing that work at Arden Companies in Kendallville—managed bookkeeping for the service station in South Milford, worked at Colwell General and served as a cashier at Chronister Pharmacy in Kendallville. She also dedicated herself to farm life, both alongside her father and later with her daughter Linnea's family. Remarkably, she retired from Arden Companies at the age of 81.

She was a member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.

Edna leaves a wonderful legacy for her family. Her motto was, "I lived fully, I laughed freely, I loved deeply, I departed peacefully".

Surviving are three granddaughters, Robin Fuhrman of Avilla, Lori Bowman of Peoria, and Renee Carty of Indianapolis; 16 great-grandchildren, Heidi (Wes) Spencer, Nick (Christine) Fuhrman, Philip (Carissa Daly-fiancé) Bowman, Elizabeth (Tyler) Wetzel, Faith (Alex) Moser, Jakeb Bowman, Grace Bowman, Derek (Jessica) Carty, Arlan Carty, and Morgan Carty; eight great-great-grandchildren, Kyli Spencer, Myah Spencer, Penelope Spencer, Gage Spencer, Alyssa Fuhrman, Mallory Fuhrman, Bradley Fuhrman, and Maisie Moser.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jacob Heathers; a daughter, Linnea DePew; a son-in-law, Robert DePew; a granddaughter, Lee Ann DePew; grandsons-in-law, Steve Fuhrman and Sid Carty Jr., a sister, Alice Heller; and three brothers, Ernest Maaske, Emmett Maaske, and Arlan Maaske.

Visitation will be Friday, January 17, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel, 222 South State Street, Kendallville.

Her funeral service will be Friday, January 17, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with the Reverend Dennis Maaske officiating.

Burial will follow at Fairfield Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Nick Fuhrman, Philip Bowman, Jakeb Bowman, Derek Carty, Tyler Wetzel, Alexander Moser, with honorary pallbearers being Jeffrey Bowman, Arlan Carty, and Sylvester Causey.

Memorials may be directed to The Children's Heart Foundation, 5 Revere Drive, Suite 200, Northbrook, IL 60062, www.childrensheartfoundation.org or the American Cancer Society (www/cancer.org).

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