Obituary for Mary E Miederhoff (Berghoff)
On October 5th, 2019, Mary released the bonds of this earth to join her Savior in Heaven. Beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great – great grandmother.
Her passing, though joyous in her eyes, brings an emptiness in the hearts of those left behind. The family praised the Lord in the gracious gift of such an amazing woman!
Born on March 6th, 1927 in Josephville, Missouri to John and Elizabeth Berghoff, Mary was the eldest of 3 daughters (herself, Matilda, & Alvera) and a brother John Jr, who passed at birth.
Mary learned how to cook & bake bread at an early age with the nuns at her school. Helping to make the lunches for the other students was part of her schooling. She graduated 8th grade and proceeded to help bring in an income for her family by cooking & cleaning for those in the community. Within several years, Mary was working in the kitchen at the White House. Not in Washington DC, but the Catholic retreat in St. Louis Missouri. :)
Mary increased her cooking talents at the White House sending most of her income to her parents. Her dear father passed on in 1946 and she became the bread earner for the family in Josephville.
While at the White House, Mom met Edgar and they were married in 1954. To this union, six children were born in 10 years. The family moved from St. Louis, to Kansas City, finally settling in Springfield Missouri in 1967.
Mary was a woman of many talents & abilities, which were an incredible help when she & Ed took over the Black Kettle Restaurant in 1970 at the corner of Sunshine and Campbell. Her talents in the kitchen help the restaurant quickly become a local destination for delicious home cooking. Pies of all varieties, cinnamon rolls, ham & beans, “ho-made” dinner rolls and the best gravy in town.
Mary was a tireless worker at whatever she undertook. Gardening, canning, cooking, sewing clothes, crocheting and the wonderful quilts hand made for family members.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, John & Elizabeth Berghoff, her youngest son, Eddie, her sister Matilda, and her husband Edgar.
Mary is survived by her children: Rodney Miederhoff, Grace Ann Marie Bandeh, Frances Carol (Robert) Bledsoe, Ray (Carol) Miederhoff, and Virginia Shaw.
Her grandchildren: Jeremiah Miederhoff, Nathan Bledsoe, Jamal (Abbey) Bandeh, Elizabeth (Clayton) Davis, Darren (Amanda) Shaw, Jason Bandeh, Miles Bledsoe (Clair Messmore), Jon Bledsoe and Amber, Gus, & Harlan Miederhoff.
Her great grandchildren: Ash & Amanda Miederhoff, Madison (Jay) Clark, and a soon to be new addition from Jamal & Abbey. She also had a great-great grandchild, Mavis Rae Clark.
Mary leaves behind her dear youngest sister, Vera (Parker) Sams & their children Mary (Mike) Wolford, John Sams, Cecilia Sams, Carol Gill, Robert Sams and their extended families.
From the Perryville area: Terry (Kaye) Miederhoff, Judy (Lou) Steinhauser, Tim Miederhoff, Thomas Pecaut, Louise (Rick) Wibbenmeyer, and Roger (Cindy) Besand, Ronald (Bernice) Richardet, RutheAnn (John) Levin, Marvin (Pam) Richardet, Edward (Linda) Richardet, Russell (Tina) Richardet, Allen (Michelle) Richardet and their extended families.
The sweetest of neighbors, Rick and Gloria Scarlet.
In addition, there are numerous other dear friends throughout her long, well lived life.
In every chapter of Mary’s life, she brought her compassion and strength. A quiet strength that came from a deep and very real relationship with God.
As her strength waned, she found joy and thankfulness in the smallest of pleasures the Lord sent her way. The glint of the sun coming through the clouds, the sweet smell of warmth on a breeze, the song of birds, her flower garden outside her window. In the last days, the silliness of the squirrels as they ran up and down the pecan “store” gathering for the winter.
Mary quietly tended to her children often times in ways we were not aware of.
We will miss those sparkling blue eyes and beautiful smile.
-With Love, Mary’s children
A Visitation will be held at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, October 11th, 2019 at Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut Street Springfield, MO; with a Prayer Service starting at 7:00 pm.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am, Saturday, October 12th, 2019 at St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson Springfield, MO. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Springfield, MO.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Agnes Parish, St. Agnes Education Fund, Crosslines or another local charity of the donor's choice.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
Her passing, though joyous in her eyes, brings an emptiness in the hearts of those left behind. The family praised the Lord in the gracious gift of such an amazing woman!
Born on March 6th, 1927 in Josephville, Missouri to John and Elizabeth Berghoff, Mary was the eldest of 3 daughters (herself, Matilda, & Alvera) and a brother John Jr, who passed at birth.
Mary learned how to cook & bake bread at an early age with the nuns at her school. Helping to make the lunches for the other students was part of her schooling. She graduated 8th grade and proceeded to help bring in an income for her family by cooking & cleaning for those in the community. Within several years, Mary was working in the kitchen at the White House. Not in Washington DC, but the Catholic retreat in St. Louis Missouri. :)
Mary increased her cooking talents at the White House sending most of her income to her parents. Her dear father passed on in 1946 and she became the bread earner for the family in Josephville.
While at the White House, Mom met Edgar and they were married in 1954. To this union, six children were born in 10 years. The family moved from St. Louis, to Kansas City, finally settling in Springfield Missouri in 1967.
Mary was a woman of many talents & abilities, which were an incredible help when she & Ed took over the Black Kettle Restaurant in 1970 at the corner of Sunshine and Campbell. Her talents in the kitchen help the restaurant quickly become a local destination for delicious home cooking. Pies of all varieties, cinnamon rolls, ham & beans, “ho-made” dinner rolls and the best gravy in town.
Mary was a tireless worker at whatever she undertook. Gardening, canning, cooking, sewing clothes, crocheting and the wonderful quilts hand made for family members.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, John & Elizabeth Berghoff, her youngest son, Eddie, her sister Matilda, and her husband Edgar.
Mary is survived by her children: Rodney Miederhoff, Grace Ann Marie Bandeh, Frances Carol (Robert) Bledsoe, Ray (Carol) Miederhoff, and Virginia Shaw.
Her grandchildren: Jeremiah Miederhoff, Nathan Bledsoe, Jamal (Abbey) Bandeh, Elizabeth (Clayton) Davis, Darren (Amanda) Shaw, Jason Bandeh, Miles Bledsoe (Clair Messmore), Jon Bledsoe and Amber, Gus, & Harlan Miederhoff.
Her great grandchildren: Ash & Amanda Miederhoff, Madison (Jay) Clark, and a soon to be new addition from Jamal & Abbey. She also had a great-great grandchild, Mavis Rae Clark.
Mary leaves behind her dear youngest sister, Vera (Parker) Sams & their children Mary (Mike) Wolford, John Sams, Cecilia Sams, Carol Gill, Robert Sams and their extended families.
From the Perryville area: Terry (Kaye) Miederhoff, Judy (Lou) Steinhauser, Tim Miederhoff, Thomas Pecaut, Louise (Rick) Wibbenmeyer, and Roger (Cindy) Besand, Ronald (Bernice) Richardet, RutheAnn (John) Levin, Marvin (Pam) Richardet, Edward (Linda) Richardet, Russell (Tina) Richardet, Allen (Michelle) Richardet and their extended families.
The sweetest of neighbors, Rick and Gloria Scarlet.
In addition, there are numerous other dear friends throughout her long, well lived life.
In every chapter of Mary’s life, she brought her compassion and strength. A quiet strength that came from a deep and very real relationship with God.
As her strength waned, she found joy and thankfulness in the smallest of pleasures the Lord sent her way. The glint of the sun coming through the clouds, the sweet smell of warmth on a breeze, the song of birds, her flower garden outside her window. In the last days, the silliness of the squirrels as they ran up and down the pecan “store” gathering for the winter.
Mary quietly tended to her children often times in ways we were not aware of.
We will miss those sparkling blue eyes and beautiful smile.
-With Love, Mary’s children
A Visitation will be held at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, October 11th, 2019 at Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut Street Springfield, MO; with a Prayer Service starting at 7:00 pm.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am, Saturday, October 12th, 2019 at St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson Springfield, MO. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Springfield, MO.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Agnes Parish, St. Agnes Education Fund, Crosslines or another local charity of the donor's choice.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.