Archie Aydt

Early on the morning of Monday, March 27, 2023, Elizabeth "Archie" Aydt went home, a place she longed for, to be with her mother, father, five siblings, husband and son, to share eternity with Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Archie Aydt

Archie Aydt

Just recently turning 101 years of age (born March 8, 1922), she was full of vim and vigor, was always spunky, was never too tired to sing a song or spin a story or put someone she felt was out of place back in it.

She was known for her delectable, iced sugar cookies, potato rolls and some of the finest meals her family would ever enjoy — the special ones for all the holidays, but wonderful home-cooked meals every night and especially every Sunday. There was never a Fourth of July or Labor Day without homemade ice cream and a barbecue.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Dubois Hatcher, whose passing left a void in her family during the Depression, and a young brother, Glynn Hatcher, who died early in his young life. She and her three sisters — Mary Jane O'Shea, Dora Grindler and Ruth Carrington — and her brother — Bob Hatcher — went to work as teens or even younger and supported their mother, Alice Petit Hatcher, during these lean years, before heading out into their own lives. All of her siblings preceded her in death.

Archie married Louis Aydt on Nov. 19, 1945, and entered into the Catholic faith soon thereafter.

Archie was an excellent homemaker, a loving mother and a wonderful wife. She could manage their lean family budget wisely and fairly. Louis sold shoes for a living and knew no strangers. He died at age 78 over 30 years ago. They were blessed with three children, Elizabeth A. Pace, Thomas (Rosana) Aydt and Sarah Aydt (Michael Jedlinski). Thomas and Rosana preceded Archie in death. Archie also leaves six very loved grandchildren, Dr. Scott (Anne) Pace, Stephen (Brandy) Pace, Maria (Shawn) Borchardt, Jon (Teri) Aydt, Dr. Matthew (Taylor) Jedlinski and Andrew Jedlinski; and eight great-grandchildren.

Archie was involved with lots of parish activities at St. Patrick's Catholic Church at Cairo, Illinois, loved to play pinochle with the Luther Ann's and to play the piano by ear, singing her genuinely spicy songs. She loved being with her entire family for almost any reason. She and Louis resided their entire married life in Cairo. After his passing, she learned to drive at age 63, under her daughter's mostly patient instruction, and then moved to Cape Girardeau to help care for her grandchildren selflessly. She always attended whatever events she could for all of her grandchildren, and was even known to play a little roller hockey with them sometimes. She always said she would never "buy her ticket" to get to the other side until after she was a 100 years old and, as usual, she was true to her word.

Her life will be celebrated with a visitation from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The Rev. Allan Saunders will celebrate a funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. Interment will follow at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Illinois.

The family extends sincere gratitude to all health care workers at Chateau Girardeau for five years of kind service to Archie.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family appreciates contributions to the Alzheimer's Association at www.act.alz.org or to Saint Francis Medical Center Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab of Archie's obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.