Ingeburg Hathaway

Ingeburg H. Hathaway, 86, Noblesville
Born February 8, 1928 in Gera, Germany our Mom passed February 15, 2014 and oh how we are going to miss her.
Growing up in Germany with her parents and two older brothers, who all spoiled her terribly; she studied to be a kindergarten teacher and childcare nurse. She had a flare for fashion and color and loved to copy the dresses worn by famous people that resulted in a love hate relationship with the sewing machine. She was until the day she passed naturally beautiful with high cheek bones, flawless skin and soft and gentle eyes. Outwardly she was beautiful but inwardly she was a thousand times more so.
As a young woman wanting for a better life, Mom left her family and escaped occupied Germany. She had experienced bombings and air raid shelters, helping those in need to run faster for their survival. It was a hard life during and after the war but Mom and her parents worked tirelessly to provide for themselves and to help those less fortunate with food and anything they could spare. This explained why our Mother scraped every drop of oil from the wax paper packaging the butter. Mom lost her brother Hans in the war and she forever wondered if he was still alive. Uncle Kurt wore an eye patch after the war as shrapnel took his sight in one eye. Mom lost her last living relative in Germany about five years ago.
After the war in West Germany, Mom met the most handsome American soldier, Richard Hathaway. Dad remained the love of her life...no matter what that man did to challenge her devotion. A day doesn't go by that we don't miss him too. He passed in 2007. Being a career serviceman we traveled to many interesting places around the world and Mom was in charge of packing our home and then recreating another cozy atmosphere. She was a master at making ends meet. She could make a delicious meal out of few ingredients and she kept us in the latest styles with that awful sewing machine. When times were hard and bills piled up Mom found a way to once again make us debt free. She was amazing.
Mom was a homemaker always but she did devote 33 years as a furrier for Davidson Fur Company in Indianapolis. She insisted that a fur was practical in that it would keep you warmer than any other coat. As kids, when we were sick, we slept on the coat she made for herself. She would sit on the couch, lay the fur under us and then softly rub our heads on her lap. She was the proud grandmother of Ashley, Christopher and David. She was especially close to Ashley since they lived next door to one another and having her to care for enriched Mom's life and certainly Ashley's as well.
After Dad passed we spent more time with Mom and noticed her memory was severely declining. The real proof that Mom had an issue was when everything was not spotless and in its place. Mom was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. We were all in denial, with again Mom leading the charge in this effort, but we and she soon came to silently accept this would be Mom's journey. Mom moved to Prairie Lakes Health Campus in Noblesville where a group of caregiving angels worked with us to provide Mom the best of care for three years. Mom never changed and remained the kind, giving and gentle soul she will forever be. She did not suffer as pneumonia took her last ounce of strength.
As Mom aged she certainly didn't look her age. Just recently a new nurse and a family member of a resident were commenting on her beauty. Throughout her life Mom was embarrassed but secretly loving all the compliments. We think her favorite compliment was when she was asked "are you sisters" and she said "oh no....(trying to hold back a huge grin).... I'm her mother". We would find ways to repeat compliments to her because it made her light up with a happiness that she deserved. She was delightful, insightful - always one step ahead of us kids, and she was forgiving. We are looking forward to the day when the tears stop and the memories bring us the strength and the smiles we could always count on as a result of our Mom. We will gather as a family to say goodbye to Mom. If you would like to honor Inge please do so by giving to a charity or cause that is dear to your heart. Helen, John and Mark
Services will be private.