Breaking Amish’ Alum Mama Mary Schmucker Dead at 65
Beloved Breaking Amish and Return to Amish star, Mama Mary Schmucker, has passed away at the age of 65 after a courageous fight with colon cancer.
According to reports, Mary died at her home in Pennsylvania on Friday, March 28, following a short hospital stay earlier that week. Her son, Andrew Schmucker, confirmed the sad news.
Mary was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. In the time leading up to her death, the disease had aggressively spread throughout her body. By November 2024, her condition had declined significantly, and she was moved into hospice care.
Rebecca Schmucker, Mary’s daughter-in-law and fellow Breaking Amish castmate, took to Instagram in late 2024 to share an update with fans. Alongside a heartfelt photo of Mary, she asked followers to send love and prayers during what she described as a deeply painful and challenging time.
“I’m making a prayer request for mom,” Rebecca wrote. “She’s not feeling good the last few weeks, can’t keep anything down, and she’s having trouble eating. She is on hospice now. Her pain has been so bad and they are helping with that.”
She continued by encouraging fans to lift Mary’s spirits: “Flood her with positive messages and pray for her to be comfortable and pain free. Thank you!”
The support from fans was overwhelming. Many expressed their love in the comments, calling Mary an inspiration and sending her messages of strength and healing. One fan wrote, “You’ve been such an anchor to your family and an example of unconditional love and support.”
Mary rose to fame through her appearances on TLC’s Breaking Amish and its spin-off Return to Amish. Initially introduced as a recurring character, she became a beloved fixture on the show even after her son Abe and his wife Rebecca stepped away from filming.
Mary publicly revealed her diagnosis in April 2022, sharing updates through Facebook. At the time, she was optimistic after undergoing surgery. However, her condition took a turn shortly afterward.
“When I did my surgery, they said they got all of the cancer,” she had written. “Two weeks later, they called and said, ‘You have to come in right away.’ Now they tell me I have stage three cancer, almost stage four. Chemo will not help on stage four. So, why should I even do chemo? But I’m not taking their word for it—I’m going for a second opinion.”
Despite the difficult road, Mary remained strong and hopeful, surrounded by her family and community. Her passing leaves a deep void in the hearts of those who loved her, both on and off screen.
