Mary R. (Troutman) Etchberger

Mary Etchberger passed away September 10th, peacefully in her sleep, just as she had always wished. Born May 12, 1926, to Walter and Lydia Troutman in Jefferson Township, PA. The second of three daughters, Mary loved to tell stories about growing up on the farm at Host Church with her sisters, Lorraine and Pearl. Illuminating a bygone era marked by simplicity, love, and connection. “We didn’t have much, but we didn’t know that. We had each other, so we had everything.” She would often recount to her loved ones. An attitude that she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

 She would marry her beloved husband, John Etchberger on April 21st, 1946, at Host Church upon his return home from World War II. Together they had three daughters, Rebecca, Patricia, and Michelle. They were members of St. Johns Reformed Church in Sinking Spring. Together, they loved to go out to breakfast, and spend time with their children, and grandchildren. They were married for 60 years when John passed away in May of 2006.

Mary was filled with wonderful stories about growing up in a rural Pennsylvania Dutch Community and had a deep appreciation for the culture. Although not fluent, she could still recite words and phrases from the Pennsylvania Dutch Dialect. She enjoyed classic country music, hymns, and bluegrass. She loved making quilts, many of which were gifted to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She also loved watching Jeopardy, Baking, Cooking, and doing puzzles for hours at a time until she literally required physical therapy. 

A chronology of life events, employment, and achievements would fail to paint a sufficient picture of who Mary was to those who loved her. If anyone had read and retained the instruction manual to life, it was her. An everyday Saint of sorts, Mary had a heart full of love that does not originate in the flesh. She prayed daily, “for a pure heart, and a clean spirit.” A prayer that was no doubt answered and experienced by all those who knew her. If there was one word that could encapsulate all that Mary was, it was Love. She knew that beauty was an inside job, and that it is only in giving, that we may fully receive. She expected very little from life, and in doing so had a cup that in her words, “floweth over.” When trials or adversity came her way, she would always say, “There are other people who have it much worse.” These were not empty words from her, she meant them from the bottom of her heart and lived accordingly. All of the aforementioned culminated into a wonderfully full life of 98 years.

It's hard to express what Mary meant to those who knew and loved her. She was known as, Mary, Mom, Grandma, or Grandma Mary (by her great grandkids.) All names that will forever resonate with her love, warmth, compassion, and beauty. In that way, Mary’s love lives on, and her cup continues to floweth over and through the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.

She is preceded in death by her sister Pearl Stout, and her husband John Etchberger. She is survived by her sister Lorraine Wolfe, her three daughters and their husbands, Rebecca and Willis Erb of State Hill, Patricia and Gary Kozlowski of Wyomissing, and Michelle and Pete Gettel of Sinking Spring. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Christie and Carl Botterbusch, Amy and Matt Moore, Bridgette and Jake Lowell, Ben Kozlowski and Tom Synhorst, Nicholas Gettel, Natalie Gettel, and Great Grand Children, Sam Botterbusch and Elizabeth Allen, Lydia Botterbusch, Lily and James Moore, and Maya, Sierra, Tucker and Sawyer Lowell.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 11:00am in St. John's Reformed Church, 4001 W. Penn Avenue, Sinking Spring, PA 19608. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, September 26th from 10:00am to 11:00am in St. John’s Reformed Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. John’s Reformed Church in honor of Mrs. Mary Etchberger. Bean Funeral Homes, Sinking Spring is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.beanfuneralhomes.com.