Marian Louise Mueth

Marian L. Mueth, nee Faller, 97, of Belleville, IL in East St. Louis, IL died peacefully surrounded by family at her residence at the Shrine of Our Lady of Snows in Belleville, IL. She was born June 6, 1926, and died May 15, 2024.

Marian graduated high school from St. Teresa’s Academy in East St. Louis in 1944. At 18 with one year of college, she began her elementary school teaching career at a one room schoolhouse a few miles west of St Libory, IL. She eventually taught over 30 years at St Libory CSD 30 while having 6 children and going to night school at McKendree University to complete her degree. Students and colleagues fondly remember her as a great teacher and friend. In the early 1960’s she participated in a research program collecting children’s teeth to test for radioactive strontium from atmospheric testing.

She seemed to have boundless energy. Even while teaching, she worked at Faller’s Store, a small grocery store in Belleville owned by her parents. Also, while teaching she worked for 10 years as a ward clerk at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. She often worked 7 days a week. Marian retired from teaching in 1988, but retirement did not equal inactivity. She continued at St. Elizabeth’s and the family store and later worked various jobs for Vantage Homes, Anchor Windows and HR Block during tax seasons. Although the jobs seem unrelated they were all in customer service, which allowed her to do what she did best; meet new people. She stopped working in her 80s only when her macular degeneration caused her to give up her driver’s license.

Marian also served as a volunteer for many years and in various capacities for the Western Catholic Union – St Louis District. Her volunteerism continues even after death because Marian donated her body to the Washington University School of Medicine.

Marian was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Francis, her mother Jacqueline Faller, nee Eichele, her father August Faller, her sister Rosemary Middendorf, and son in law Todd Schifferdecker.

Marian, who was a 25-year colon cancer survivor, moved to the Shrine in 2013. She thrived there because she joined and energized a thriving community. Marian was grateful the Shrine facilitated her ability to live independently for the rest of her life. She seemed to rarely sit down. She tended the vegetable gardens, and she added numerous flowers to the grounds of the Shrine. She also had a mini forest outside her apartment door. She participated in all the exercise programs, went on outings, (particularly if there was a restaurant included). She attended educational and social programs, played beachball volleyball and even played kazoo in the Shrine residents’ band.

The Shrine also allowed her to maintain her lifelong love of Catholicism through the Mass, Eucharist, and the Rosary. Despite macular degeneration rendering her legally blind she was able to greet the staff and her fellow residents by name as she kept busy throughout the day. Her family remains baffled how she did it, but she identified them without fail.

Marian had numerous nieces and nephews whose birthdays she had somehow memorized. She would send birthday cards to all of them and when her sight failed her call them with birthday wishes.

Marian was an accomplished soprano vocalist. She sang for countless weddings and funerals throughout the area. Her choir even sang for the Pope in 1989. Her signature song was the “Ave Maria”. Her children feel that her version is incomparable. She is also known for baking cakes for birthdays, significant events and for Shrine fundraisers. In total she baked over 700 cakes while there.

Surviving Marian are her sister Jacqueline (Jackie) Whiting, six children, David (Deb) Mueth, Paul Mueth, Mary Mueth, Lyn Martin, Michele Schifferdecker, and James (Shelah) Mueth; her grandchildren Sarah (Mike York) Mueth, David (Dr. Rosanna Gray-Swain) Mueth, Daniel (Erica Irwin) Mueth, Elizabeth (Joe Williams) Mueth, Zach (Ashley Taylor) Martin, Mike (Kaki Albritton) Martin, Katie (Justin Alberti) Martin Alberti, Alex Schifferdecker, and Leah Mueth.

Marian loved playing with her grandkids and later her great grandchildren who are Sally Gray Mueth and Oliver Gray Mueth, Otto, Joslyn and Margot Mueth, and Colin and Finn Martin.

Special thanks to all of Marian’s doctors and nurses especially the staff at Memorial East Hospital. We would also like to thank the residents and staff at the Shrine for the prayers, comfort and support they provided to Marian and her family in her final days.

Memorials can be made to Queen of Peace Parish, the Shrine of Our Lady of Snows and to the American Cancer Society.

A Memorial Mass will be held Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 5923 N Belt West, Belleville, IL 62223 at 10:30 on Saturday, June 1st. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 prior to Mass.

A celebration of Marian’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on June 1st at the Edge located at 701 S Belt West, Belleville, IL 62220.