Thelma (Hershey) Kreider

Thelma (Hershey) Kreider, 82, of Palmyra, ended her long journey through Alzheimer’s Disease on Christmas Day, 2015 at Arden Courts of Susquehanna in Harrisburg.  She was born Thursday, February 16, 1933 in Paradise to the late John C. and Grace E. Hershey.  She was predeceased on Saturday, December 20, 2014 by her loving husband of 59 years, Elvin Leaman Kreider.

Thelma loved her family, her community and her church.  She was a loyal friend to many and was generous with her time and attention and always willing to lend a helping hand.  She especially loved children and she delighted in watching and hearing about the activities of her grandchildren and neighbor children.  She had a playful fun-loving spirit, an infectious laugh, and she loved playing games with her family and friends.  She spent many years serving Stauffer’s Mennonite Church in a variety of ways, including youth ministry leader, Sunday School Teacher and nursery worker.  After graduating high school, she worked for Goodville Mutual Insurance Company for several years before marrying her sweetheart, Elvin.  In addition to helping on the farm, tending vegetable and flower gardens, keeping the books for the family dairy farm, and taking care of the household, she found enjoyment working outside the home in various jobs.

Thelma is survived by a son, Glenn Kreider and wife Janice of Cedar Hill, TX; two daughters, Joan Buckwalter and husband Leon of Harrisburg, and Linda Metzler and husband Ray of Greeley, CO; six grandchildren, Jeneec Martinez and husband Johnny, S. Michael Kreider, Joshua Buckwalter, Shayla Buckwalter, Nathan Metzler, and Karina Metzler; one great grandson, Dallas Buckwalter; one great granddaughter, Marlo Martinez; one brother, Elvin Hershey and wife Patty; two sisters, Martha Yoder and husband Jay, and Helen Kreider and husband Paul.  She was predeceased by three brothers, Leon, Paul, and Harold Hershey.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 2nd at 11:00 AM at Lebanon Valley Bible Church, 1482 Horseshoe Pike, Lebanon, PA 17042 with Pastor John Hunt and Dr. Glenn Kreider officiating. Burial will follow in Stauffer’s Mennonite Church Cemetery, Bachmanville. Family and friends are invited for viewing on Friday, January 1st from 6 to 8 PM at Rothermel-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 25 West Pine Street, Palmyra, PA 17078 and on Saturday from 10 AM until time of the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Alzheimer’s Association Greater PA Chapter, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110 www.alz.org/pa or Mennonite Disaster Service, 583 Airport Road, Lititz, PA 17543 www.mds.mennonite.net or Heartland Hospice, 1200 Walnut Bottom Rd #302, Carlisle, PA 17015 www.heartlandhospice.com/Carlisle.  Condolences and memories may be shared at www.rothermelfuneralhome.com

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