Elaine F. Hostetler

Elaine F. Hostetler, 76, of Goshen died Monday evening, September 10, 2018 at Elkhart General Hospital, after a long journey with pulmonary fibrosis.

She was born April 5, 1942 in Wakarusa to Maynard and Edna (Weaver) Weldy.

On August 1, 1964 she married Merle D. Hostetler at Kern Road Chapel, South Bend. He survives along with two children, Eric (Lissette Gonzalez) Hostetler and her grandchildren Evan and Siena of Collegeville, Pennsylvania and Greg (Jennifer) Hostetler and her grandchildren Emily and Kaitlyn of Newark, Delaware; and a brother, Leland (Sigrid) Weldy of Elkhart.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Paul Weldy and Loren Weldy; a sister-in-law, Barbara (Roth) Weldy; and twins (by miscarriage).

Elaine graduated from Wakarusa High School in 1960 and attended Goshen College. Elaine was a dental assistant both in Elkhart and after marriage, in New York City. She was a paraprofessional in both the Carmel-Clay school system and in the Elkhart Community Schools. She retired in 2008 from Elkhart Community Schools.

She was a faithful Christian and member of Belmont Mennonite Church. She loved and adored working with young children in the educational setting.  She cherished time with her grandchildren and loved being with friends and family.  Elaine enjoyed and loved the wonders of nature and saw them as “God’s second Bible”.

In recent years she enjoyed knitting prayer shawls for the church prayer shawl ministry, scarves for the local homeless shelter and for Mary Beck School children in Elkhart.

Visitation will be from 2-4pm and 6-8pm Thursday, September 13, 2018 at Belmont Mennonite Church. Burial will be at 1:00, Friday, September 14, 2018 in the Olive Cemetery, Wakarusa, followed by a celebration of life service at 3 pm at Belmont Mennonite Church, 925 Oxford St., Elkhart.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made out to Belmont Mennonite Church for Mary Beck School.