Marcia Elizabeth (Pearson) Herath

Marcia Elizabth Herath, 82 passed away on Friday, September 8, 2023 surrounded by her family at her home. Marcia was born on April 12, 1941 in Joliet, IL to Verner and Esther Pearson. She married Richard Herath on June 9, 1963 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Joliet, IL.

Marcia was a licensed RN, her career began at the Evanston Hospital in Evanston, IL. where she had a love for working with preemie babies and as a surgical nurse. She had a big heart for always wanting to help others, she worked in the intercity of Kansas City. Marcia loved sewing, her motto was, “She who dies with the most fabric wins!”  She worked at Jo-Ann Fabrics for several years, where she loved to feel the fabric between her fingers. She was a  diehard fan of Days of our Lives, soap operas.   She had a servant’s heart for serving others, she was a mentor for 3, 4 and 5 graders at Hawthorne Elementary School in Elkhart with students that were struggling with life. She worked for Real Services where she served the elderly and shut-ins with a good hot meal. She enjoyed attending silent movies with her husband at the Lerner Theater and the Elkhart Jazz Festival. She and her husband are members at Trinity on Jackson Church.  Marcia enjoyed being part of Mary’s Circle and the Out to Lunch Bunch. She was very proud of her heritage, as she was a 2nd generation Swedish- American and to show her love, she enjoyed Lutefisk and liver and onions for dinner. Her absolute joy in life was spending time with her family and expressing the value of having a college education.

Marcia is survived by her husband of 60 years, Richard Herath of Elkhart, IN their three children, John (Margaret) Herath of Granger, IN and Amanda Herath of Rochester, IN; grandchildren  Elena (Ross) Sparenberg, Katie ( fiancée  Cory Canas) Herath, Sharon (Shane) Bennett, Geneva Isbell, Olivia Isbell, Adam Herath and Zach Herath; great-grandchildren August Bennett, Emily Sparenberg, Eleanor “Ellie” Bennett and Clara Sparenberg; and her brother Richard (Vickie) Pearson of Tarkio, MO. Marcia was preceded in death by her parents Verner and Esther Pearson and her sister Lynda (Bob) Olson.

Visitation will be from 1-3 pm on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Trinity on Jackson Church, 2715 East Jackson Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46516 where a memorial service will be held at 3pm.  Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, IN 46514 is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made to Marcia’s family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com Memorial donations may be made to Heart to Heart Hospice, 1178 Fremont Circle, Suite 2, Elkhart, IN 46516 www.hearttohearthospice.com