Mary Ann Shreiner

Mary Ann Shreiner, age 81, born March 31, 1943, in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, died April 28th, 2024, of Alzheimer's disease in Goshen, Indiana.

Born to Noah Leaman Hershey and Alta Mary Hershey, Mary Ann spent the first two decades of her life on the family farm in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania. The eldest of eight children, she helped care for her siblings and loved reading, working in the barn, and being outdoors.

Mary Ann graduated from Lancaster Mennonite High School in 1961. Her father was a minister and bishop in the Lancaster Mennonite Conference in Pennsylvania. Her mother was a homemaker and her spiritual role model. Mary Ann attended church, prayer meetings, summer Bible school, and evangelical gatherings with her parents. These experiences shaped her faith and led to her commitment to a life of service for others.

Mary Ann Hershey married Robert Lee Shreiner on May 30th, 1964. That same year, she graduated as a registered nurse from Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing. They started their married life as farmers, but two years later Bob decided to start pastoral training. They left the farm and began their 45-year career in pastoral ministry. They served at churches in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Indiana.

Mary Ann loved learning. When the children were older, she worked part-time as a nurse, but also continued her education studying at Biola College, Rosemead Graduate School of Psychology, and Eastern Mennonite Seminary. This additional training provided her career opportunities beyond nursing, including in substance abuse therapy and chaplaincies at Hatfield Mennonite Home and Dock Woods Retirement Community.

Mary Ann cherished trips to their northern Pennsylvania family cabin, vacations in their pop-up camper, and attending her children's and grandchildren’s events. She was an avid gardener. She was inclusive of all she met and especially enjoyed connecting with those often ignored by others. She modeled love, kindness, and the practice of daily meditation - reading, praying, and finding guidance through scripture.

Mary Ann and Bob had five children: Robert Shreiner II (Katharine), Timothy Shreiner (Cheryl), Lori Shreiner (Jude), William Shreiner (JoAnn) and Cheryl Shreiner (Wendel). They have 12 grandchildren: Conrad Shreiner, Evan Shreiner, Noah Shreiner (Maggie), Rachel Shreiner (Landon), Jacob Shreiner, Benjamin Shreiner, Nicole Caugherty Han (Harry), Ian Shreiner Barger, Raina Shreiner Barger, Michael Shreiner, Quinn Shreiner Landes, Cora Shreiner Landes, and two great-granddaughters, Sage, and Mayla and one great-grandson, Caden.

Family visitation will be on Sunday, May 5th, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Yoder-Culp Funeral Home in Goshen, IN.  No local memorial service is planned.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 18th, at 4 p.m. at Parkesburg Mennonite Church in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania. The burial will precede the service at 1 p.m. at Bossler Mennonite Church in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

The family thanks Greencroft Goshen Retirement Community for their exemplary care during Mary Ann’s eight years there and asks that any memorial contributions go to the Greencroft Communities Foundation at Donation Form (donorperfect.net).