Cecilia Mertz

Cecilia Lown Mertz, 82, of Indianapolis, went to be with the Lord on December 07, 2023.

Cecilia was born on February 10, 1941, to Stewart S. and Margaret N. Lown, in Bradford PA and was the oldest of 4 girls.

Cecilia married Frederick Mertz on December 21, 1965.

She was a wonderful mom to her 6 children, a thoughtful aunt, and an incredible Nana.

Cecilia was a long-time member of Burge Terrace Baptist Church where she served as a librarian and counseled women for many years. Most recently, she was a member of Castleton Community Church where she loved hosting her small group at her home. She and Frederick traveled to Ukraine as missionaries and worked with Baptist International Evangelistic Ministries to share the gospel and raise support for the ministry in the United States. They also ministered in Guangdong, China as missionaries sharing the gospel by teaching English as a second language. She loved to travel and sought adventure, and she and Frederick traveled around the country and internationally as often as possible.

Cecilia was a gifted hostess and a wonderfully generous and compassionate woman. She loved to host Bible studies, book clubs, Good News Clubs, youth groups from the church, neighbors, small groups, missionaries, strangers, and friends alike. She spent many years volunteering at Wheeler Mission, the local food bank, CEF, helping the homeless, and supporting single moms. Her home was a welcoming place for all.

Cecilia Mertz is survived by four of her children and their spouses, Jennifer (Mike) Cooksey, Jonathan (Amy) Mertz, Kimberly (Shaun) Swingle, and Natalie (Stephen) Lagger; her sister, Jan (Howard) Huzzard; 24 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Frederick Mertz (2021), her parents, her sisters Mary Mooney (2008) and Eunice Fisher (2019), two of her children Monica Pryor (2008) and Gwendolyn Holt (2017).

Viewing will be on Monday, December, 18th from 1:00pm – 3:00pm, with a memorial service starting at 3:00pm. The viewing and memorial service will be held in the Harry W. Moore Chapel: Indiana Funeral Care, 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250.

She will be buried at Marion National Cemetery in a private ceremony on Tuesday December 19th.