Carrie Y. Diener

Carrie’s life journey ended June 27, 2020, at Greencroft’s Evergreen Place.  She was very grateful for her family, friends, caregivers, hospice and Creator for her quality of life.

Carrie was born February 26, 1917 to Mary L. (Wingard) and Henry H. Yoder.  After her mother and father died, she was nurtured by her siblings and stepmother, Celestia (Bontrager) Yoder.  Her three siblings, Beulah (Glen) Yoder, LeRoy (Florence) Yoder, Katherine (Yoder) Fireoved, parents and stepmother preceded her in death.

Carrie was married to Daniel Diener for 62 years.  He and their son, Herbie, preceded her in death.  She is survived by three children, Darrel (Leona) Diener, Karen (George) Thompson, and Maribeth (Howard) Friesen, all of Goshen; eight grandchildren, Daniel (Lynn) Diener and Denise (Gilberto) Perez Diener, both of Goshen, Davi (Joanna) Moyer-Diener of Rockingham, Virginia, Sarah (Jonathan) Nahar of Syracuse, New York; Mark Thompson of Westville, Amanda (Kyle) Detweiler of Bend, Oregon, Ben (Lindsay) Friesen of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Joseph (Ellen) Friesen of Madison, Wisconsin; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Carrie was an active member of Prairie Street Mennonite Church, Elkhart.  She and Daniel served with the Mennonite Board of Mission & Charities (now Mennonite Mission Network) in Calabar, Nigeria for two years and as a Community Home for Oaklawn, Goshen for 10 years.  They also volunteered at Menno-Hof, Shipshewana.

Carrie began her teaching in one room schools in Kansas and Indiana.  After graduating from Goshen College, she taught in the Jimtown, Concord, Shipshewana and Elkhart school systems.

Carrie’s approach to life resulted from being a lifelong learner.  Her reading, varied experiences and Christian commitment affected her acceptance of diversity and change.  Her cooking and hospitality were especially appreciated by her many guests.

Carrie actively lived her love for God and others.  She readily welcomed, accepted, appreciated, prayed for and assisted others.  During her life journey, she modeled how to keep “carrying on” by embracing life and death graciously.

A private graveside service and burial of Carrie’s ashes will be at Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart.

Memorial donations in Carrie's memory may be given to the Daniel and Carrie Diener Family Endowment at Bethany Christian Schools, https://www.bethanycs.net/donate , Prairie Street Mennonite Church, https://prairiestreetmc.org/donate, or Herbie Diener Memorial specified for ADEC through Elkhart County Community Foundation https://www.inspiringgood.org/giveonline/ .