Mary A. Swartzendruber

She was born in Cecil, Ohio to Samuel and Anna (Plank) Aschliman and was the fourth child among eleven siblings.  The family moved several times and it was in Pigeon, Michigan that she met Edward G. Swartzendruber and they wed on April 2, 1939.  Daughter Kay was born in Pigeon and the family then moved to a farm southeast of Goshen, where son Douglas was born.

Mary is survived by Kay Montgomery, Palm Springs, California and Douglas E. (Rhonda Willems) Swartzendruber, Westminster, Colorado; four grandchildren, Anna Montgomery, Douglas, Nick and Rachel Swartzendruber; four greatgrandchildren, Silas, Noelle, Elias and Isabelle; brothers, John Aschliman, Goshen, Dale (Pat) Aschliman, Sarasota, Florida and sisters, Anna Belle Emmert, Goshen, Betty Lambright, Venice, Florida and Carolyn (Jim) Stephens, Venice, Florida.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers, Ervin and Walter “Archie” Aschliman and sisters, Ada Heller, Rose Grime and Dorothy Anklam.

As a long-time resident of New Paris and Goshen, Mary and Ed were involved in numerous family and community activities including establishing Edwamar (for Edward and Mary) Farms, south of Goshen.  They were generous supporters of individuals, College Mennonite church, Goshen College, especially the music program and facilities and a variety of additional charitable organizations.

Mary was a life long homemaker.  She was a highly skilled seamstress; a talented cook with a special gift for preparing large meals for many people; an accomplished crocheter, making prayer shawls for College Mennonite Church and baby hats for Goshen Hospital; a community and church volunteer; and a talented singer and a member of Saint John Singers, Middesingers and Lyric Choir.

She was particularly gifted with a keen memory for names, faces and events.  She was pleased to earn her GED as an adult since she had to drop out of school at a young age.  She loved to travel and visited many places in the USA including Hawaii and Alaska, the Caribbean, cities in Europe, China and New Zealand.

Friends may call Friday, March 9, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home where a memorial service will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m.  Pastor Phil Waite will officiate.

A private burial at Violett Cemetery will precede the memorial service.

Memorial contributions may be given to Ed and Mary Swartzendruber Music Scholarship Fund at Goshen College.