Sara L. Wengerd

The Memorial Service for Sara Wengerd will held in 2 parts on Sunday, Jan. 9.

Click on the link below to view the YouTube video of the service.

Video of Service

https://youtu.be/ot5koCkj0jo

The second part, a Zoom gathering for sharing of memories will be at 8 pm.  The Zoom link will be open at 7:45 for people to enter the gathering.  Please use the following link for the Zoom gathering:

Zoom Gathering

Topic: Sara Wengerd's Memorial Service - Part 2 - Sharing of Memories

Time: Jan 9, 2022 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89250858257?pwd=Ym5raUE0RnRXSlZSV3Z2bEh5Zlp5UT09

Meeting ID: 892 5085 8257

Passcode: 852824

Sara L. Wengerd, 79, of Goshen, died Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at her home.

Sara was the first child born to Roman and Shirley (Erb) Gingerich in Iowa City, Iowa on August 23, 1942.

She is survived by two daughters, Heidi Wengerd of Christiansburg, Virginia, and Kristin (Jonathan) Friesen of Chicago, Illinois; as well as two grandchildren, Nathan and Caroline Friesen.

On August 27, 1965, she married John Wengerd. He died April 23, 1991, in a construction accident.

Sara’s siblings are James Gingerich of Maryland, June (Fred) Yoder of New Mexico, Carolyn (John) Johns of New Mexico and Charlotte (Burdette) Gunden of Michigan; as well as five nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Molly Riggs Gingerich.

Sara attended Goshen High School and graduated from Hesston Academy in Kansas in 1960. She is a graduate of Goshen College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She worked in obstetrics at Elkhart Hospital in the mid-sixties, taught nursing in Canada and was employed at Oaklawn for fourteen years.

John and Sara raised their daughters in Salisbury, Pennsylvania where they lived for twenty years. Sara traveled extensively, journeying with John around the world in eleven months. Their most memorable trip was by bus from Calcutta to London in the late 1960’s.

As a freelance writer, two of her books were published; “Crossings”, interviews of elderly people in Belfast about the conflict in Northern Ireland and “A Healing Grief”, an account of her husband’s death and what she and her family found helpful.

Sara also wrote poetry. She loved to read and invited friends to join a book group. She assisted in beginning Stephen Ministry at College Mennonite Church, led grief groups, and joined 8th St. Mennonite Church in 2018.

From 1998 thru 2001, she served with Mennonite Central Committee in Northern Ireland, living in Belfast and working first at the WAVE Trauma Center, then at An Crann/The Tree, an organization to collect stories of “The Troubles.” This assignment was the fulfillment of a long-term dream.

Sara was baptized at College Mennonite Church. Faith was foundational to her life, and she was especially inspired by classical and church music.  Singing in the church choir was spiritual refreshment for her.

A virtual memorial service will be conducted Sunday, January 9, 2022 at 7 p.m. (EST). A link for the service will be posted closer to the date.

According to her wishes, Sara’s body will be cremated and interred beside her husband at Springs Mennonite Church Cemetery, Pennsylvania at a later date.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Roman and Shirley (Erb) Gingerich Athletic Scholarship Fund at Goshen College, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, Indiana 46526, or to Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron, Pennsylvania 17501.

Yoder-Culp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. To view the service or share online condolences, visit www.yoderculpfuneralhom.com .