Marie Senff
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Marie Meier Senff, 87 years old, passed peacefully into eternal rest on October 19, 2022, in her home in Stonewall, Texas. Marie was a woman of grace and kindness. She deeply loved Jesus and her faithfulness shaped who she was and how she treated others.
Marie was born on February 8, 1935, the ninth and last child of Henry Meier and Emma Brodbeck Meier, at home in Stonewall. Later her family moved to Albert where she began her schooling. Marie completed her primary school education in Stonewall. She was the 10th grade Valedictorian. Marie attended and graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1952.
Marie was beautiful inside and out. In 11th grade she was voted princess of her class and in 12th grade chosen as Gillespie County Fair Queen. She graduated 4th in her class academically. Following high school, Marie worked for Henry O. Davis, CPA, in Fredericksburg. On June 12, 1955 she married her sweetheart Paul Senff in her home congregation of Trinity Lutheran Church in Stonewall. Paul called her his Yellow Rose of Texas.
Marie and Paul moved to Columbus, Ohio for Paul's seminary, where Marie attended a one-year parish secretarial course at Capital University. During that time, she worked at Skilken Construction Company in Columbus as a bookkeeper.
Paul and Marie moved to Lewiston, Idaho for Paul's pastoral internship and this is where Tanya was born. Sadly, Marie's mother died two weeks before Tanya was born so she was unable to attend her mother's funeral. Her mother's loss was overwhelming as she greatly missed her love and companionship.
After Paul finished seminary, they moved to Otwell, Indiana where they served at St John's Lutheran Church, and were warmly embraced. Miriam was born during this time. Grace was born at their following parish in Abilene, Texas. While they were serving at Grace Lutheran Church in Abilene, they were called to Papua New Guinea to serve as missionaries.
In 1964 Marie and Paul and their three daughters traveled to Papua New Guinea to work under the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea. During their 34 years working in PNG, Marie and Paul worked as a team to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Living at Raipinka, Kainantu and Ogelbeng, Marie was actively involved in the lives of the people through fellowship, Christian ministry, first aid, sewing classes, hospitality, friendship and many other day to day relationships. These relationships that were formed over many years were dear to her and Paul all their lives.
In addition, she practiced a great deal of hospitality with meals and lodging to many travelers. She was warm and welcoming. She was also a frequent voice on the mission radio "sked" (schedule) that kept the remote missionary stations in touch with each other with necessary information and communication. Marie served on the board of the Katherine Lehman School in Wau where her daughters had attended. Marie kept Paul's paperwork, communication and life organized, such as, she was the typist and editor for his doctoral dissertation.
Marie was a wonderful mother. She made holidays extra special, especially Easter and Christmas, with lots of baking and decorating. She taught her girls the true meaning of these holidays. Going to church was a big part of this. Although her daughters had to go to boarding school, she missed them very much. Being physically separated from her children in PNG and later in Texas, she was loyal in writing weekly letters, showing her love and care.
Marie welcomed, first the sons-in-law, then grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She had a special bond with each one. The family will always treasure their times spent together baking, sewing, reading and playing table games such as Texas 42. In later years her piano playing led the family gatherings and worship. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren remember her as singing and happy, with joy pouring out of her.
Marie was a person whose faith in Christ was the air she breathed and the life she lived. It shaped her humble service and selfless giving of herself to her family and those along her life journey. She would say that her life was truly blessed by God, yet those she left behind would say they were truly blessed by Marie.
Marie is preceded in death by her husband Paul Senff, her parents Henry and Emma Meier, siblings, Edwin, Walter, Elsa, Viola, Albert, Alfred, Margareta and Lydia. She is survived by daughters and their husbands: Tanya and David Mayer of Stonewall, Texas, Miriam and Dean Bunn of Sydney, Australia, Grace and Jay Payne of Lakeway, Texas; grandchildren and spouses: Natasha (Mayer) and Adriel Schoenhals, Luke and Livia Mayer, Joel and Jaymi Bunn, Andrea (Bunn) and Russell Date-Chong, Ryan Payne, Bailey Payne and Matthew Payne; and great-grandchildren: Enoch, Tirzah, Gideon and Elisha Schoenhals; Malakai, Hazel and Zachary Date-Chong.
Funeral services for Marie Senff will be held on Saturday October 29th at 10:30 a.m. in Holy Ghost Lutheran Church with Rev. David Priem officiating.
Graveside services and interment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery.
The family will greet friends from 9:30 to 10:30 in Holy Ghost Church prior to the Service.
Please check back for a complete obituary.
Arrangements are by the Schaetter Funeral Home
Expressions of sympathy may be sent at www.schaetter.com