Mary Lynch Fuller Hintzel Eulogy

The Rev’d Stephen E. Stults
February, 2011

”Celebration of Mary Lynch Fuller Hintzel”

“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost….”

“My mommy has gone home to be with Jesus.” These are the simple and ringing words uttered by a little boy whose mother had just departed this earth. These are words full of faith and hope, said with all the fullness of youth and hope.

What could inspire a five-year old to say such a beautiful, yet profound statement? How could he have such a simple, yet sincere faith that speaks volumes to the adults around him? When you consider whose son he is, the answer is apparent.

That boy is Perry Hintzel, son of Mary Lynch Fuller Hintzel. We honor her memory today as we commemorate her entry into everlasting life. She who had suffered long is now enveloped in the loving embrace of Jesus. This is an embrace she will enjoy forever, world without end. Amen.

It was my extreme honor and privilege to know Mary, if only for a short while. Soon after my tenure began as Vicar of St. Barnabas, her health began to seriously decline. Yet, even for those short months that we were acquainted, my life experience was enriched.

Mary was a founding member of St. Barnabas Anglican Church. She was instrumental in helping her father, whom you all know, due to his long service in educating the young people of Bellville, into taking a leap of faith.
This leap of faith involved planting an orthodox expression of historic Christianity here in Bellville. Bill often mentions that Mary was especially desirous to be known as one of the first members of our church.

You all knew Mary Lynch Fuller Hintzel as an outstanding student, a fine musician, and a young person of excellent character. Unfortunately, she never fully completed her education, due to her untimely illness and eventual demise. I talked with Mary on several occasions, and was always impressed by her mental acuity, deep insights, and of course, her vibrant faith. In that regard, she lit up those around her with her belief. She was a devout Christian and a very Spirit-filled young woman.

It is to that deep, rich, abiding faith in Jesus Christ that we speak today, especially because of Mary and in the context of her last three years upon this earth. As you know, Mary was visited with a mysterious ailment that baffled the doctors. It was something that took her earthly life away, but not her indomitable spirit and faith.
As the months went by, and operation after operation was performed, Mary never once lost faith in a cure; then, as the months crept by and that cure became more elusive, she never lost hope of her eternal destination. Through thick and thin, she remained hopeful and strong, inspiring those around her and lending credence to St. Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 12:10 “ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” While no one could ever claim Mary took pleasure in her infirmities, for not of one here could do that, it is certain that as her body grew weaker, her spirit waxed stronger and stronger in Christ. She often told her father and mother, “I’m not afraid to die.”

What a wonderful declaration of faith and trust! What a ringing testimony to her vibrant and dynamic faith in Jesus Christ! Finally, what a witness for all of here today….

How could Mary Lynch Fuller Hintzel be possessed with such sure and certain knowledge of her resurrection in Jesus Christ? How could one so young be blessed in such a way? As her bodily health began to decay, how was it that her faith didn’t? Not only did her faith not decay, nor did it falter, but it grew stronger, even as her health failed her. How many of us here could do the same? It is not an easy question. One of Mary’ favorite contemporary songs was by a group called the Dillards. She especially like the lyrics of this song, from which she drew inspiration:

Jesus, come and hold my hand
While I walk this rocky road,
Traveling to a better land
Where my friends will meet me I know.
Oh, I'll soon be on my way.
Seems every time I kneel to pray
I hear my friends calling me.
In the home above happy I'll be.
I'm so tired and all alone,
But I must keep traveling on.
I'll keep going until I die;
I'll meet my friends up there on high.
When I reach that home on high
And bid my troubles on earth goodbye,
I'll be glad this life is o'er;
This rocky road I'll walk no more.

This is touching and profound. Yet, asking again how was it that her faith didn’t leave her, as her bodily strength did? As one of our former presidents once said, “The answer is simple; it’s just not easy.” Mary Fuller worked at her faith. That is, she did three things: she immersed herself in the Word of God; she worshipped regularly with fellow believers as long as she was able, and she prayed daily. Her reward here was a faith that was so deep and rich that it not only gave her comfort during her sickness, but it also strengthened her to the very end of her earthly life.

You see, Mary’s God is your God, if you want Him to be. Her Jesus is your Jesus, just for the asking. Her Holy Spirit is your Holy Spirit, to facilitate your faith. Her Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost is your Holy Trinity, there to strengthen you, guide you, comfort you and inspire you. Her Lord can be your Lord, if only you desire it.

Mary is in bliss now; of that we are certain. She is most certainly home, in the truest home one can ever imagine. C. S. Lewis tells us that Heaven will be the place we always wanted to get to, but were unable to imagine. We will simply know it when we get there. It will be like we have always been there and will always be there. Why? Simply because Jesus Himself told us: (John 14:2) 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” What wonderful words, so full of love and joy. This is our God. He goes to prepare a place for us, for you and me.

Christ also said, Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
This is our Christ: standing, as it were, at the door of Heaven, with His arms wide open, beckoning us to come it and be with Him.

For another, more glorious picture of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us picture Him on His throne in Heaven, being adored by millions of faithful souls who are at home in His Glory. This is the same Jesus who was born as one of us, who taught us, healed us, reproved us, corrected us, and finally died for us on the Cross in Golgotha. This same Jesus loves Mary more that she could ever know while she was on this earth. This same Jesus loves you more than you can possibly imagine. This same Jesus loves us also much that He gave literally everything so that you and I might be with Him forever.

Let us ponder this momentous and powerful thought for just a minute. Let us try to imagine a love so deep, so genuine, and so profound that it literally fills you completely completing every imperfection and every need, forever.

This is the love that Mary Lynch Fuller Hintzel is now experiencing. It is the love that she will know for all eternity, world without end.

If she were with us in body today, she would wish that all of us claim that blessed hope and high calling that is ours just for the asking. She would want us to have what she now has in everlasting abundance. She would want all of us to know the complete and utter love that is hers forever.

Let us pray:

Lord, we give thee hearty and heartfelt thanks for the life of Mary Lynch Fuller Hintzel. We thank thee for lending her to us, even for so brief a time, as she enriched all of our lives and helped us all to feel more alive. We bless thee, Lord, for showering on Mary the love that only Thou can give. Most of all, dear Lord, we thank thee for the knowledge of our life in Thee. Help us to love Thee more and more, and, as we grow in age, help us to grow in grace. Finally, Lord, we ask for the help of Thy Holy Spirit every day of our lives to grow closer to thee, until finally, in the fullness of time, we stand before thee, not in fear, but in the sure and certain confidence that thou art our Intercessor, our Mediator, and our eternal Friend. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, are one God, world without end. AMEN.


“Thine O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou are exalted as head above all.”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.