Mrs. Maria Elisabeth Raps Schloetterlein, age 89 of Fayetteville, passed away on Wednesday April 10th at her residence. She was born September 8, 1923 in Lauda, Germany to Martin and Agnes Raps and was the wife of Karl Josef Schloetterlein. She is survived by two daughters Luzia Elisabeth Haefelinger and husband Helmut and Regina Marianne King and husband Ben, three grandchildren Melody Turpin born King and husband Ryan of Lexington, KY, Sam King and wife Mary of Lexington, KY, and Sandra Haefelinger of Obereggenen, Germany, three great granddaughters Mahala Marie Turpin, Catherine Elizabeth Turpin and Lily Annelise King and several nieces, nephew and many friends both here and back home in Lauda.
Depending on who was talking to her, she answered to the following: Maria by her friends, Mama by her children, Oma by her grandchildren and many others, Tante by her nieces and nephews in Germany, but most recently as JaJa by her great granddaughter. Mama came to visit us in 1993 after Papa died. She was only going to stay a few weeks. Much to everyone’s surprise she only visited Germany a couple of times after that. Mama very quickly adopted Fayetteville as her home. She especially loved her faith family at Saint Anthony Church. She loved gardening and doing a variety of hand crafts. She did so may thins well but was best known for her crocheting and knitting. We all loved her Christmas cookies. Mostly, we loved her daily presence in our lives. We will cherish a multitude of great memories as long as we live. She loved her family and we all loved her. She is already and will forever be missed, on this earth, by those of us who loved her.
Regina and I would like to thank so many of you who loved her with your expressions of concern and you prayers through these last difficult months. Her suffering is history now.
Memorial services will be conducted Saturday May 4, at 9:30 am at Saint Anthony’s Church with Father George officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. We would also request that flowers not be sent – please donate to a charity or church of your choice.
Higgins Funeral Home is assisting the family of Maria Elisabeth Raps Schlotterlein.
Regina and family,
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. God took her home where there will be no more pain. May he now guide you and yours to find peace in knowing that she is at rest and whole again walking the streets of gold and enjoying the sweet fragance of his gardens…let the memories of your precious mama be with you now and always..
I leave you with the following to hold near and dear to your hearts…
The angels are always near to those who are grieving, to whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in the hand of God. ~Quoted in The Angels’ Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994
How very blessed you have been to have your Mom for so long. May you be comforted by such sweet memories you have. Thinking of you.
Mr. King,
Lindsey and I wanted to offer our sympathy in the loss of your mother-in-law. We will continue to keep your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Regina, Benny, and Family,
I so love the two of you. I am so very sorry the loss of your Mother, Regina. I’m sure she was a wonderful woman to have raised such a dear in you.
god has given you all many memories and I know they will last a lifetime. Love to you all! God bless!
Regina, we know you will greatly miss your mother. Her suffering is now over and you can rejoice that she is no longer in pain. Know that you and Benny as well as your family are in our thoughts and prayers.