Hilda Maevers

Hilda Helene Maevers, 97, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, May 8, 2003, at her home.

Hilda was born Sept. 11, 1905, at Tilsit, daughter of Gustav Adolph and Bertha Kamp Zeller. She was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Her primary education was at the former Immanuel Lutheran School in Tilsit and the former Burfordville School. She graduated from Moler College of Beauty Culture in St. Louis in 1926. She then moved to Jackson and opened Mary Estelle Beauty Shop in 1927, the town's first beauty shop.

She was married to Albert Christian Maevers April 26, 1930, at Immanuel Church parsonage in Tilsit. They made their first home in Jackson and moved to Cape Girardeau in 1931. Hilda sold her beauty shop in 1935 to devote herself to homemaking and raising their children.

Hilda loved gardening and sewing. Her special talents were growing flowers, strawberries and raspberries, making quilts, and tatting.

A lifelong member of Immanuel Church, she was also the congregation's oldest member and was a member of Quest Club more than 50 years.

Loving survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, James Lee and Reva Maevers of Whitewater; a daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn J. and Larry A. Lusk of Cape Girardeau; and a sister, Mrs. A.J. (Olga) Nabers of Waterloo, Ill.

Also seven grandchildren, Janet Maevers of St. Louis, Brad Maevers of Altenburg, Mo., Deborah Workman of Denver, Colo., Bill Tedder of Whitewater, Sara Lusk Moll of Norfolk, Va., Heather Lusk Kyle of Waynesville, Mo., Amber Lusk of Cape Girardeau; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert, in 1996; an older brother, Paul H. Zeller of Chicago; and younger brother, Edward M. Zeller of Jackson.

Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit, with the Rev. Mark Boettcher officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Immanuel Lutheran Church or Cemetery.