Mary Edna Hostetler

Mrs. Mary Edna Hostetler passed away on January 20, 2017.  She was born on October 3, 1926 in Souderton, Pennsylvania to the late David D and Mabel (High) Swartley Derstine.  She has lived in Goshen, Indiana since 1991, moving there from Lafayette, Indiana. Prior to that, she spent many years in Topeka, Indiana.

A graduate of Goshen College and Grandview Nursing School, Mary Edna pursued her passion for helping others as a nurse. She worked for a Topeka doctor in his medical practice, as a school nurse at Topeka Elementary School and for many years in LaGrange Hospital’s emergency room and obstetrics unit.  Before retiring, she served at Westminster Village, a retirement community in West Lafayette.  After retirement, she generously gave her time, including volunteer work with Oaklawn in Goshen and Home Hospital in Lafayette. Always active in her churches, she served as a Sunday school teacher and as an elder. She was a member of the College Mennonite Church at the time of her death.

She is survived by two daughters - Debra Dietrich of Highland Park, Illinois, and Lisa Hostetler-Steppe (Gil) of West Grove, Pennsylvania; a grandson Erik Dietrich (Amanda) of Wheeling, Illinois; two sisters, Thelma Swartzendruber of Telford, Pennsylvania and Naomi Hunsberger (Arlin) of Goshen, Indiana, a brother, Joe (Rachel) Cressman of Oak Park, Illinois and a sister-in-law, Maxine Derstine of Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Mary Edna was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Hostetler and two brothers, Howard Swartley and David Derstine.

Mary Edna was beloved for her compassion and caring, and for her devotion to her family and friends. She never missed an opportunity to celebrate special days with her nieces and nephews and her many great nieces and nephews. She was a wonderful cook and hostess; her home was always open to all. While living in Lafayette, she became a passionate Purdue sports fan and loved to have family and friends come to watch football games. She was known for her generosity, thoughtful actions and commitment to others and we are blessed to have shared our lives with her.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18th at the College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the service begins.

Memorials may be directed in her name to Goshen College Department of Nursing , 1700 South Main Street, Goshen, Indiana 46526 or www.goshen.edu/give/online or to the Mennonite Central Committee, 21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501-0500 or https://donate.mcc.org/registry/mary-edna-hostetler