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Laura Mae KreiderLaura Mae Carpenter Kreider, 77, died peacefully on May 9, 2019. Laura Mae was married for nearly 58 years to Lester M Kreider who died on January 1, 2019. She is survived by 3 children: Jay (Kimberly Belzner); Rose; and Pearl (Michael Smith); and three grandchildren: Stacy (James Durborow II); Joshua; and Niko.
Laura Mae was
preceded in death by her three brothers: Stanley (Thelma Landis); Sidney (Lena
Kurtz); and Sterling (Rachel Wenger).
Laura Mae was
the daughter of the late Leroy R. Carpenter and Mary G. Musselman Carpenter
Graybill, and was raised on the family farm in Manheim, PA. Laura Mae's father
died when she was 11, and she moved to Bareville when her mother married Floyd
Graybill. After graduating from Lancaster Mennonite School, she and Lester
married in 1961, before going to Washington, DC for Lester's 1-W/VS service. She
worked as a nurse's aide at Washington Hospital Center.
During their
16 years in Baltimore, MD, Laura Mae was a stay-at-home mother who canned produce
they raised in their garden and sewed clothes for her daughters and herself.
She was an active member at Baltimore Mennonite Mission which later became Wilkins
Avenue Mennonite Church. She was part of
a women's Bible study, taught Sunday School and summer Bible school, and
participated in a women's prison ministry. In 1979, the family moved to Lancaster county,
where she was an active member of Erisman Mennonite Church. She enjoyed working
with preschool children in their LIFT program. Later, she treasured her time
with her grandchildren.
Laura Mae
loved music and made sure her children learned to play the piano as well as
another instrument, in addition to singing in the chorus at school. She often
played the piano while the family sang together. She organized regular family
gatherings, where her children and grandchildren enjoyed her homemade whole
wheat bread, strawberry jam, and creamed corn, along with many other treats. Laura
Mae loved learning, developing various skills such as flower arranging and
calligraphy. She often saved newspaper articles she thought family members
would find interesting. Each family member looked forward to these 'clippings,'
as her knowledge of their interests showed her care for them. Her family and
friends will miss the love and support she expressed through her encouraging
phone calls and cards. Laura Mae was
active in the prayer shawl ministry and gave generously to many charities.
She enjoyed
connecting with childhood friends, when she once again joined East Petersburg
Mennonite church in which she was raised. She greatly appreciated the support of the East Pete community during
her and Lester's illnesses this past year. Laura Mae dealt with chronic back
pain and osteoporosis for decades before her health declined rapidly following
surgery in April for a broken hip.
In the days
before she passed, she told multiple visitors that she wanted to go home and
wanted to see Lester. Over the nearly 60
years between their first and last dates, they fell in love, laughed together,
prayed together, sang together, and supported each other through health and
sickness. Their first date was around
1959 on a Sunday evening at Carpenter's Mennonite church. Their last date was lunch at Oregon house
followed by some time at the model train display on Christmas day 2018.
We are deeply
grateful to the staff at LGH, and Landis Homes, especially Cedar House and Conestoga
House, for their expert and gentle care for Laura Mae and her family over the
past months.
A memorial
service will be held at Landis Homes West Bethany Chapel, 1001 E. Oregon Rd.,
Lititz, on Saturday, May 18 at 3 p.m. There will be two opportunities to greet the family: Friday, May 17 6-8
p.m. and Saturday, May 18 2-3 p.m., both at the West Bethany Chapel. Interment will be held at the convenience of
the family. In lieu of flowers, please
consider a gift to Mennonite Central Committee, Eastern Mennonite Mission, and
Camp Andrews, Holtwood, PA.
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