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Saturday, October 26, 2019

One of My Favorite Heroes Just Passed Away

A recent time with my  remaining sisters. Now Fannie Mae
(on the right) is gone.
Today I wrote a draft of an obituary for a greatly admired and loved older sister who died just after 6 this morning after a long illness. 

I arrived at the Mountain View Home not long before the folks from the funeral home came for her body for Tuesday's burial.

Fortunately, I was in time for the Home's traditional "Respect Walk" for a deceased resident. As my sister's blanket-draped body was moved from her room to the hearse outside, some twenty staff members and voluntary service workers, some off duty, lined the hallway in silence and then sang "In the Sweet By and By" in beautiful four-part harmony as they followed my niece, one of the Home's RN's, and I to the vehicle outside.

Needless to say, we were moved to tears.

Here's the obituary copy:
Fannie Mae Yoder, 88, formerly of Staunton, died peacefully at the Mountain View Nursing Home at Aroda, Virginia, on October 26, 2019.

She was born August 15, 1931 in Hutchinson, Kansas, a daughter of the late Ben and Mary Yoder. Together they moved their family from Garnett, Kansas to Stuarts Draft, Virginia in 1946.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by siblings, Mary Beth Shifflett and husband Harven of Free Union, Lovina Yoder and husband Ernest of Rustburg, Esther Yoder and husband Robert of Long Island, Lucy Schrock and husband Alvin of Staunton, Eli Yoder and wife Ruth of Floyd who survives.

Survivors include an adopted daughter, Nina Ruth Yoder, a sister, Magdalena Schrock and husband Alvin of Cumberland; brothers, Harvey Yoder and wife Alma Jean of Harrisonburg, and Sanford Yoder and wife Martha of San Carlos, Costa Rica. She also leaves many beloved nieces and nephews.

Fannie Mae spent much time of her adult life in service and mission assignments, not only in the states but in Newfoundland, Belize and Paraguay, where she served as a nurse-midwife and delivered over 200 babies. While in Paraguay, she was instrumental in helping Nina, a special needs child, being brought to the states for care and whom she later adopted as Nina Ruth Yoder.

Fannie Mae received an RN degree from Eastern Mennonite College and Riverside Hospital in 1964. She was employed by Riverside Hospital and Mountain View Nursing Home, where she recently became a resident after having first been in assisted living at Blue Ridge Christian Home in Raphine. She enjoyed music, art, gardening, reading and writing.

She was an active member of Pilgrim Christian Fellowship of Stuarts Draft, where a service will be held in her memory at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 29, 2019, led by ministers of the church. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Pilgrim Brotherly Aid Fund, Duane Weaver, Treasurer, 65 Milmont Drive, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477.

Here's a link to some other blogs about her 
https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/search?q=fannie+mae

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