Mary Elona Carder

February 24, 1931 - October 30, 2017

Mary Elona Carder, age 86, of Albia, passed away Monday, October 30, 2017 at the Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa. Mary was born on February 24, 1931 to Joe and Irene (Stoffa) Rebarcak on the family farm in Bluff Creek Township in Monroe County. She attended Garfield School in Bluff Creek. She enrolled in Albia High School before transferring and graduating from the Eddyville High School. On July 2, 1950 she was united in marriage to Keith Carder at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Albia. To this union, three children were born, Jim, Connie and Kenny. Mary and Keith spent 43 years of marriage together until his passing in December 9, 1994. Mary was a stay at home mom until her youngest, Kenny, started Kindergarten. She worked at Trophy Glove in Albia for 41 years. At 82 she had no plans to retire but the factory closed. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Albia. Mary enjoyed reading, cooking, baking and spending time with family and friends, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mary is survived by her children, Connie Clark of Oskaloosa and Jim (Janet) Carder of Russelville, MO; and a daughter by heart, Lana (Steve) Helm of Ottumwa; nine grandchildren, Dr. Chris Clark, Kevin (Katie) Clark, Dr. Kylie Clark (Dr. Harris Tran), Mallory (Brian) Taulbee, Whitney (Chris) Distler, Kellen (Heiki) Kiisler, Donavon Helm(Kat Herschberger), Taylor Helm (Jordan Boyenga) and Connor Helm; six great grandchildren, McKale, Lucy, Rosie Elona, Mia, Micah and Noah; a sister-in-law, Beverly Rebarcak and special friends, Sandy, Norm, Taylor and Jacob Major. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and godchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Keith Carder; a son, Kenny Carder; a son-in-law, Steve Clark; her parents, Joe and Irene Rebarcak; two brothers, Joseph and John Wayne Rebarcak and two sisters-in-law, Bonnie Rebarcak and Olive Beal. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 5, 2017, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Albia, with Pastor Nancy Reed officiating. Burial will follow the service at Oak View Cemetery in Albia. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, November 4, 2017, at Tharp Funeral Home in Albia with Mary’s family present from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. to greet family and friends. Visitation will re-open an hour before service time at 1:00 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Albia. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Youth Program.