Sara Jane (Weaver) Wenger

Sara Jane (Weaver) Wenger, 95, died early Friday morning, March 23, 2018. She died peacefully in the Lancaster home where she and her husband of 73 ½ years, Chester Lehman Wenger, have lived since 1966. She was actively engaged with family and friends until the end of her life. Sara Jane was born in Lititz, PA, to the late M. Lloyd and Sara (Oberholtzer) Weaver. She attended local public schools until she transferred to Eastern Mennonite School, Harrisonburg, VA, for her senior year of high school in 1939, and two years of college, earning a Virginia teaching certificate. During these years she met Chester who became the love of her life. Before they married, she taught school for two years in Chester’s home community in Virginia. Chester says, “They all fell in love with her, just like I did.” Chester and Sara Jane married July 2, 1944, during the more than four years that Chester was in Civilian Public Service in lieu of the military draft. In October, 1949, Sara Jane and Chester with their three young daughters, went to Ethiopia as missionary teachers, serving with Eastern Mennonite Missions, Salunga, PA. This was their primary home for the next 17 years. In addition to teaching, hospitality, ministry with women, students, and neighbors, and serving alongside Chester in a myriad of ways, Sara Jane devoted herself to their eight children, four born in Ethiopia and four in Chesapeake, VA. Of being a mother, she says, “I was a very happy mother. Not one of our children went unloved, and none was a burden. They were all welcomed.” (p. 142, Bearing Fruit: A Collection of Memories.) From 1967-1986 Sara Jane was a remedial reading teacher, mostly at Smoketown Elementary School. In 1974 she started a retail business selling plants and flowers at various Lancaster County farmers’ markets including many years operating as Tom’s Flower Garden at the Central Market. This was a family project. During this time Sara Jane served in volunteer leadership positions with Mennonite organizations such as the Women’s Missionary and Service Commission. Summing up her life in recent years, Sara Jane said, “All along the way I have held a deep desire to do the Lord’s will. I have wanted to serve him in every way possible, and I’ve wanted my life to be an expression of His love.” (p. 328, ibid.) Sara Jane loved to read. She spent hours daily reading newspapers, church periodicals, and her Bible. Family life played a defining role in Sara Jane’s life. Between her eight children, 16 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren, her home was often filled with visiting family and friends who were drawn to her sparkling smile, scripture-based wisdom, and infectious laugh. Many, warmed by her generous spirit, shared their personal stories with her. Sara Jane’s faith, family, and church formed her core identity, giving her life a rich and beautiful fullness. Chester and Sara Jane’s family: (1) Betty Wenger Good-White (Don White, and Nelson Good, deceased 7-13-05): Ryan Good (Hannah Dueck), Naomi Good; Deborah Good (Russell James Pyle); Jason Good (Bryn Mullet Good), James and Mara Good. (2) Margaret Wenger Johnson (Samuel Charles Johnson, deceased 8-17-2017): Bartholomew Johnson (Christina Burger Johnson), Sara and Anele (Annie) Johnson; Hannah Wenger Johnson. (3) Jewel (Wenger) Showalter (Richard Showalter): Chester David (Chad) Showalter (Deborah Shenk Showalter), Rachel, Jonathan, Nicholas, Jamie, and Hannah Showalter; Rhoda Showalter Miller (Keith Miller), Jadon, David, Michael, and Andrew Miller; Matthew Showalter (Colleen Miller Showalter), Joshua, Clay, Isaac, Nava, and Kenna Showalter. (4) Chester Wenger (deceased 11-16-2001) and Hilda Shirk (Wesley Farmer). (5) Sara Wenger Shenk (Gerald Shenk): Joseph Shenk (Amina Auezova Shenk), Ari and Jacob Shenk; Timothy Kennel Shenk (Michelle Kennel Shenk), Madeleine Kennel Shenk; Sara Margareta (Greta) Shenk Bucher (Matthew Bucher), Samuel Bucher. (6) Mark Wenger (Kathy Weaver Wenger), Regina Wenger, Charlotte Wenger. (7) Philip Wenger (Steven Dinnocenti). (8) Thomas Wenger (Keiko Kuniyuki), Yuji, Emiko, and Miako Wenger. Sara Jane is survived by her three brothers, Lloyd Weaver (Sarah Marie Yoder Weaver), Kenneth Weaver (June Marie Collins Weaver, deceased) and Samuel Weaver (Sarah Marie Alderfer Weaver, deceased) of Harrisonburg, VA, and a foster brother, Ronald David (Susan Pillsbury David). A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, 333 Delp Road, Lancaster, PA. The family will be available from 9:00-9:50 a.m. for a time of mingling and greeting of friends. There will be no viewing. A separate interment is planned for immediate family at Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Meserete Kristos College, LINK, Ethiopia, a ministry to train Ethiopian church leaders, and should be mailed to P.O. Box 1701, Harrisonburg, VA 22803. For on-line condolences, please visit Sara Jane’s Memorial Page at www.TheGroffs.com. (A memoir of Sara Jane and her husband Chester by Deborah Good and Betty Wenger Good-White, is available on-line at https://issuu.com/mennonitepressinc./docs/bearing_fruit_a_collection_of_memor