Beloved ‘Breaking Amish’ star Mama Mary Schmucker dead at 65 after colon cancer battle

Mama Mary Schmucker, one of the stars of TLC’s hit reality show “Breaking Amish,” has died at age 65 after a three-year cancer battle, according to her family.Schmuker died at her Pennsylvania home on Friday after battling colon cancer since 2022, her family announced, according to TMZ.The mother of five entered hospice care in November 2024, an Instagram post from her daughter-in-law, Rebecca, revealed, as she asked for prayers for Mary’s pain.After becoming a fan favorite on the TLC show’s first season — and starring in its spinoff, “Return to Amish” — Mary went on to amass 35,000 Instagram followers, for whom she would regularly livestream before her illness took a bad turn.Her last post was in September 2023, which has been flooded with heartfelt comments from fans after her death.“RIP Queen.

We will miss you so damn much!! The world is definitely a darker place without you,” one follower wrote, while another commented, “Sweet dreams Mary.

Thank you for being a light in our lives.”“Breaking Amish” was a reality show starring five young Anabaptists — including Schmuker’s son, Abe — who moved to New York City to taste life before deciding if they wanted to return to their cloistered communities.

It ran on TLC for 44 episodes from 2012 to 2014, with Schmucker heavily featured during Season 2 in 2013.Mary is survived by husband Chester and five children, including Abe, Katie Ann and Andy, who also appeared on the show..