Maria "Mitzi" Emde, 90, passed away at 7:10 p.m. Friday, June 29, 2012 at Alton Memorial Hospital. She was born March 17, 1922, in Wattenscheid, Germany, to the late Bergmann Johann Karl and Amalia (Reineck) Heinz. She married Ewald Henry Louis Emde on Jan. 26, 1946, in Bad Salzuflen, Germany, and he died Jan. 25, 1993. She arrived in Alton Dec. 26, 1947, and became a naturalized citizen of the USA on Jan. 18, 1954. She was a packer for Owens Illinois Glass in Alton, assembly line worker at Alcan in Alton, worked for St. Anthony's Hospital in Alton and was a volunteer at Alton State Hospital. She is survived by one son, Harold Emde of Bethalto; four grandchildren, Christian and Mary Emde of Alton, Linzy Emde of Fredericktown, Mo., Rebecca and James Robbins of Fredericktown, Mo., and Robbie Castile of Oakgrove, Mo.; 10 great-grandchildren, Gabrielle, Kara, Patrick, Adyson, Adyon, Crystal, Levi, Andrea, Justice and Justin; two nieces, Gisela and Jim Morgan of Havanna and Ursula Emde of Alton; two nephews, Friedhelm and Ranate Kamrowski of Germany, and Karl Jurgen Walzanburg of Germany; a godson, Dennis Morgan; and special friends, Jim and Diana Thipps of Jacksonville, Ill. In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by three sisters, Josephine and Bruno Emde, Christina and Robert Walzanburg, Gertrude and Franz Kamrowski; and three brothers and her twin who died at birth, Gustav and Zissiz Stackowicz, Heinz Stackowicz. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 2, at Gray Funeral Home in Wood River. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 3, at Gray Funeral Home, with pastor Bill Vieth officiating. Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.