Mary E. Burgess, 83

November 14, 2015

Mary Burgess, 83, of Lancaster, PA, who died on November 14, 2015 is survived by her son, Scott Warner, Lancaster, daughter-in-law, Debbie Warner, Lititz, step-daughters, Brenda Bennett, Ashland, OH and Benay Adam, Reynoldsburg, OH, 4 step-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren, her nephew and great-niece, Harry and Victoria Schiding, Lancaster.
She was predeceased by her parents, Mattie S. Hillard and Harry Schiding, brother James Schiding, and her beloved husband Keith and elder son Tom.
She graduated from McCaskey H.S. in 1950, and earned a B.S. in 1972 and an M.S. in 1977 from Millersville University.
She taught reading at Conestoga Valley Jr. High 1972-3. As a Reading and Learning Specialist, she was privileged to teach “I.d.” students (they ‘learned differently,’ she claimed, refusing to call them learning disabled” for the Nonpublic Division of IU 13 and was assigned to Lancaster Country Day School 1973-90.
In 1986 her self-directed student text, “Explore: A Manual to Improve Learning,” was published and is still being used in some parts of the country. She was named the first Educator of the Year for the Nonpublic Division of IU 13 in 1989.
Mary worked as a secretary for Lancaster Newspapers and WGAL-TV from 1948-1952 and for Rev. John D. Long, Lancaster Church of the Brethren, 1958-62.
Following retirement, Mary conducted workshops for school districts and the IU and taught classes in F&M’s EtCetera program on learning styles, memory, creativity, poetry and writing. She tutored young and adult students from F&M, the inner city, and refugees of more than fifteen different cultures. Privileged to teach them English, she came to respect their courage, resourcefulness and resilience. These experiences are documented in her novel, “The Immigrants,” published in 2013.
She won poetry prizes in 2009 and 2011 for “Grocer’s Picnic, 1959” and “Grand Canyon Sunrise.” Her short story, “The Flowerbed,” won the WITF contest in January 2013.
In 2009 Mary’s children’s book, “Victoria,” and “Once Upon a Time…Two” about her sons were published. In 2013-14 more books were published, including a re-issue of “Handbook of Hope: First Aid for Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One,” “Odyssey of Hope,” her spiritual memoir, “Ballad for Jimmy Ray,” based on her relationship with her brother, “101 Poems & Philosophies for Geezers & Geezerettes,” “Nursing Tales from the ‘Hood and Suburbia,” “Boy Wonders,” “Desert Dreams” (an Indian trilogy), “Soon, the Roses,” sequel to “Odyssey of Hope.”
A member of Redeemer Lutheran Church since 1951, Mary served on Church Council, was a lector, taught Sunday School, sang in the Matins Choir, chaired AV & Publicity Committees, and led God’s Golden Girls for retired women. In 1976 she founded Divorce Adjustment Groups and from 1998-2007, she facilitated Grief Support Groups, open to anyone in the community. She worked with inner city children in the church’s Choices program for ten years.
Other volunteering included writing publicity for the Lutheran Task Force for Habitat for Humanity and Hempfield Meals-on-Wheels. Mary’s hobbies included reading and writing, swimming, needlework and photography. A dog lover, Mary enjoyed taking her beloved golden retriever Kula for long walks till health problems intervened.
Mary traveled widely with her second husband, Keith, in the United States and Europe. They spent their honeymoon in wintry Russia in March-April, 1978, before The Wall fell. They studied under college professors Christian Art and Architecture in the U.S., as well as Impressionism in the Sorbonne in France. They wrote and delivered slide lectures on Christian art and enjoyed sharing their home with many, including international students.
In 2011, Mary moved to St. John’s Herr Estate where she cashiered in the store, read to the blind, lectured, sang in the chorus, taught writing and memory courses and edited a seasonal publication to share class members’ work. In 2014, she moved to Homestead Village and quickly became involved in numerous activities, and most recently was teaching a memory course.
The most profound moments of Mary’s life were those when the deepest of losses and sorrows were transformed at holy moments into joy and hope, peace and love. Her belief became that only God can bring beauty out of sorrow. She deeply believed that we all, with the Lord’s help, can become wounded healers if we allow God to help us transcend and make meaning out of suffering.
Her sense of humor in later years inspired others as well. “I love being old,” she said, “I can flirt outrageously with anyone I want and they don’t take me seriously!” After surviving a series of stressful events with her son Scott in 2013, she said, “Truly God doth work in mysterious ways.”
Mary’s life will be celebrated at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 500 Pearl St., Lancaster, PA 17603, Friday, November 20, 2015, at 4 PM with the Rev. David Kreider officiating. After Mary’s body is used for medical study, interment will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church.