Marsha Marilyn Larid
Marsha Marilyn Laird, née DeHeve, 78, died November 3, 2022, at her home in Chatham, surrounded by her children. She was born December 30, 1943 to Angelo and Hedwig Lubrant DeHeve and was raised in Auburn, IL.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Laird, and her parents.
Survivors include her three children: Daniel (Anne) Laird of Longmont, CO; Christopher (Isabelle) Laird of Louisville, CO; and Theresa (Curtis) Cunningham of Monona, WI; eight grandchildren: Simon, George, Oscar, Charlotte, and Sophie Laird; Allison, Vivian, and Frederick Cunningham; two brothers: David (Shirley) DeHeve of Colorado, and Jack (Ellen) DeHeve of Springfield; two sisters: Pat DeHeve and Diana Tull of Springfield; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She thoroughly enjoyed and cherished her childhood and friends in Auburn. She was always happy to regale her children and grandchildren with tales of her youth and nostalgia during driving tours through Auburn.
In 1965, she was working at Franklin Life Insurance Company when she married the love of her life, Marvin Laird, on April 24. They had three children and were happily married until his death in 2020.
Marsha was a hairdresser for 10 years, then retired from the State of Illinois after 18 years.
Her Roman Catholic faith was foundational to her life. She and her family were active parishioners at Little Flower Church and School and later at Sacred Heart and St. Joe’s in Chatham.
She was a driver for CareGivers for 15 years and was passionately Pro-life. She was also a member of the Legion of Mary for nine years. Marsha truly lived her faith and never sought recognition for the kindness and acts of service that she bestowed on others. In fact, she rarely told anyone she was doing them.
Her immediate family and extended family were truly her priorities. One of Marsha’s favorite sayings was that “you may not be able to do great things but you can do small things with great love”. This embodied her. Marsha had a big family with many nieces and nephews and she loved them and their kids unconditionally. Many have reached out to her to express how much her love and kindness has meant to them over the years.
She was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and watched nearly every game in recent years. Earlier in life, she would listen to the games on the radio and she took it personally when a favorite player was traded to another team. She also enjoyed watching the Fighting Illini. She loved watching and going to musicals, especially the ones that featured dancing. Gene Kelly was her favorite.
Marsha was rare. It would be difficult to find a warmer, more humble, compassionate, loving person. She was selfless, often putting the needs of others before her own. She was truly happiest when she was with her family and friends and she was deeply loved. The impact she made on those around her was great and she will be deeply missed. We were so lucky to have her.
Visitation: 9 – 10:30 am, Monday, November 7, 2022 at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield with a eulogy at 10 am.
Funeral Mass: 11 am, Monday, November 7, 2022 at Sacred Heart Church with Rev. Kevin Mann officiating. Burial will follow as Auburn Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Little Flower School.
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