Lillian Marie (Habbley) Schmarje

Lillian Marie (Habbley) Schmarje, 98, Woodstock, died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, at Centegra Hospital – Woodstock.

She was born Oct. 2, 1914, in Plato Center to Frank and Mary (Meyer) Habbley. She was baptized in 1917 at her grandmother’s house with her sisters, Emily and Gertrude.

When she finished eighth grade, she began cleaning houses and taking care of children.

On Sept. 23, 1939, she married Ralph Schmarje by Justice of the Peace Charles Corey, husband to her sister, Helen.

She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Woodstock, and was involved with youth programs, greeters, the funeral luncheon committee, Aid Association for Lutherans, Goldenagers, Mary and Martha and the Ladies Aid.

She was a homemaker all her life, always had a smile on her face and always was surrounded by children and laughter. She enjoyed playing baseball, singing and dancing and will be remembered for the homemade doughnuts she made with her husband every Halloween for more than 40 years.

Survivors include three daughters, Barbara LeAnna, Tucson, Ariz., Wendy (Matthew) Hooper, Woodstock, and Vickie Schmarje, Woodstock; a son, Henry Schmarje, Crystal Lake; 15 grandchildren, Carol, Sue, Bill, Dan, Heidi, Kerri, Henry II, Haley, Shawn, Nicholas, Matthew, Kimberly, Emily, Justin and Kristin; 24 great-grandchildren, Kyle, Meghan, Josh, Michelle, Brianna, Jackson, Syleena, Alexis, Noah, Quintin, Kyandra, Noah, Alex, Madison, Lucas, Madison, Jarret, Addison, Eden, Nevaeh, Conner, Faith, Carson and Dominick; two daughters-in-law, Judy and Becky; three sisters-in-law, Marcella Habbley, Harvard, Eleanor Mungle, Woodstock, and Pauline Young, Harvard; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; and special family members of the Gregory and Sweet families.

She was preceded in death by her husband April 2, 1999; a daughter, Nancy Haager, Nov. 18, 2009; a son, Albert Schmarje, May 30, 2003; two sons-in-law, Roger LeAnna, April 15, 2007, and Daniel Haager, Feb. 19, 1986; three sisters, Emily, Gertrude and Edna; and two brothers, Lawrence and Clifford. 

Visitation was Feb. 4 and 5 at Schneider-Leucht-Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, Woodstock. The funeral was Feb. 5 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Woodstock. Burial was at McHenry County Memorial Park Cemetery, Woodstock.

Memorials can be sent to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 401 St. John’s Road, Woodstock, IL 60098.