Lila Mae Mertens

Lila Mae Mertens, 84, of Grand Island died Tuesday, March 7, 2023. 

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island. Fr. Marty Egging officiated. Burial followed at 2:30 p.m. at the Nelson Cemetery. A visitation was held from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday at the church with the vigil services beginning at 6 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. All Faiths Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.giallfaiths.com . 

Lila Mae Mertens was born on June 15, 1938, in Guide Rock, to Charles and Fern (Kent) Seefeld. She grew up in rural Webster County on the family farm and received her education from Nelson High School. 

On Oct. 22, 1960, she was united in marriage with Joseph Mertens at St. Stephen's Catholic Church of Lawrence. To this union, they were blessed with three daughters, Maria, Betty and Mary. 

Lila was employed by Norden Pharmaceutical, in Lincoln, where she worked with animal medicine before becoming a full-time farm wife. She prided herself on being a farmer's wife and kept busy. Lila was known throughout the county for her homemade pies to which the recipes were kept safe in her memory. Lila was also known as the "Egg Lady" and could be found delivering eggs every other week in Superior. 

Aside from baking, Lila had many other enjoyments including, gardening, canning, sewing and making her children's clothes. She planted a big garden every year and enjoyed flowers. She was a Brownies leader and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nelson where she taught Catechism and helped with the Altar Society. 

Those left to cherish her memory include: her children, Maria (David) Pitfield-Perry of Morgan, Minnesota, Betty (Kyle) Holen of Grand Island, and Mary (Rick) Albro of Ridgecrest, California; grandchildren, Sydney (Richard) Lidstrom, Nick (Kristine) Hatreiter, Jessica (Austin) Libke, Trevor Holen, Meghan Albro; great-grandchildren, Riese, Ember and Quinn Lidstrom, and Gabriel and Thea Nelson; and brother, Joseph Seefeld of Omaha.

Lila was preceded in death by her husband; parents; her four sisters, Norma Greisner, Viola Remmerreid, Virginia and Betty June; and brothers, Myrl, Homer, Robert and John.