REMEMBERING

Marianne Rhoades Pittman, a long-time member of and leader in Illinois/Wisconsin and beyond, passed away Saturday, March 15, at her home in Dublin, Ohio. She was 94.

Marianne grew up in Astoria, Ill., graduating from high school there and going on to Manchester College in Indiana, where she graduated with a degree in secondary education and home economics. She married Bob Pittman in July 1955 in Astoria and then moved to Champaign, where they were members of Champaign Church of the Brethren. They had three children. Marianne taught in Kansas and Illinois, and while the family lived in Champaign she served for two decades as a campus minister at the University of Illinois. She later served as interim pastor at Springfield First and pastored the Good Shepherd congregation in Blacksburg, Va.

She and Bob were heavily involved in Brethren Disaster Ministries and served as co-interim directors of the organization in 1999. She also served the district and the denomination in a variety of leadership roles. Late in life she returned to Astoria for a time and was part of the Woodland congregation before moving to Ohio to be closer to some of her family. As her obituary noted, "Shaped by her deep and expansive faith, Marianne embodied servant leadership and the gift of hospitality."

Funeral services were held March 21 in Astoria, with interment at the Woodland Church of the Brethren Cemetery. The full obituary can be found at Obituaries - Shawgo Memorial Home. 

On Saturday, April 12, Chicago First (3560 W. Congress Pkwy., Chicago) is hosting a celebration of life service for Lois Snyder, who spent much of her life as a member of the congregation. She died Oct. 5 in North Manchester, Ind. The service will take place at 11 a.m., followed by a visitation time at noon with a light luncheon. The graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. at Oakridge Cemetery in Hillside. An additional service will be held at 2 p.m. April 13 at Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester. Our prayers are with her family.