Marietta Pilkington

Marietta Pilkington was born in Wichita, November 9, 1925. She and my Dad were High school sweethearts. They were married soon after HS graduation in June 1944. They were separated while Daddy serviced in the army during WWII. During this time Marietta worked as a long distance telephone operator for Southwestern Bell.

Marietta LOVED children and longed to be a mom. Soon after Daddy returned from the war they started a family. Karen was the first, followed by Scott, then in 1956 little Sheri was born. Marietta was a loving wife, devoted mother and a friend to many.

Mom said she always believed in God, but it wasn't until she was in her early 40's that she began a relationship with God through trusting in Jesus as her Lord and Savior. This was life changing for both Mom and Dad who followed Mom in faith soon afterwards.

Isaiah 46:4 says "....Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who WILL Sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

I am here to testify to Gods faithfulness. God gave her strength, courage and kept her through all the seasons of her life as she put her trust in the God of the Bible and took refuge in Him.

It wasn't long after Mom trusted Christ that Sheri, at age 11, was diagnosed with thyroid CA. The Lord faithfully answered prayer and give them courage. Sheri seemed to sail through the surgeries and returned to normal life in amazing time. Sheri, as the youngest, with her fun loving, full of life personality was deeply loved by all of us! Sheri was the only child still at home when she graduated from high school in 1974. This made the news of her death and the days that followed that much harder. One week after Sheri graduated from High school, Mom was busy preparing for my grandparents 50th anniversary. Sheri offered to take over Mom's job of delivering Meals on Wheels to be helpful. Mom received a phone call from the hospital reporting Sheri had been in an accident. A train hit her car and she was killed instantly.

It was a dark, difficult time! Both Mom and Dad grew closer to each other and leaned into God. Both Mom and Dad choose to trust in God's plan, accepting the good along with the bad. In time the pain began to ease and I saw Mom slowly reengage with life again...God faithfully sustained them. She started Bible study Fellowship and taught in their children's program. She memorized scripture, taught Sunday School at WBC along with being a part of their prayer ministry. She also volunteered at Wesley hospital. She love being with her children and eventually her grandchildren. She an Daddy took many lovely trips together.

In 1999 Daddy died. Mom again leaned in to God and He faithfully sustained her. Mom had never lived alone. This was a new journey. Her son Scott and daughter-in-law were a great comfort. I saw courage ad strength and joy as Mom trusted in God. In 2012 Mom lost her son Scott. This was hard and lonely for her, but again God sustained her and gave her peace.

In 2014 Mom gathered courage to move to Chicago to be near her daughter. It was brave to move from her home of almost 90 years. While being in Northbrook I've seen her body and mind decline. Mom asked "why can't I remember?" It was distressing! But again she loved much, trusted her Lord and I saw God keep her. When I would visit, we would pray together, sing together and talk about the past. She remembered the words to different hymns as well as bible verses she'd memorized. Even though her mind and body were broken her spirit was strong.

One year ago, on January 6, 2021, Mother's granddaughter, Leslie Trask Pearson died. -The same day Mother died one year later. This was another loss! The fact that her memory and mind had begun to fail was a blessing, and thankfully made the pain easier to bare. But I love thing about the reunion Mother had on January 6th.

Mom loved to sing, loved beauty, loved children and she found joy in life t the end. The day before she died, the hospice chaplain said to Mom "Marietta I see Jesus in you." Mom lifted up her hands, looked upward and worshiped as we prayed. Just minutes before she had looked at me, as I was wearing all the required protective covering, including a visor, and she said "That hat isn't a good look for you Karen."

Looking back, I see a life well lived. She was a simple woman who trusted in as awesome God. In the end He carried her. He rescued her. And what a JOY, He took her home to be with Him.