The building where Rhoda was born, baptized, we were married and commissioned for service. The building is no longer standing.
My wife Rhoda was born to D. Stoner and Frances (Miller) Krady on November 7, 1926. She died in the early morning hours of January 3, 2012 If she had lived on she would have been 90 years old on November 7. 2016.
Rhoda and Grandson Zach
The roots of Rhoda’s Krady family are traced to one of the 30,000 German soldiers conscripted to fight on the behalf of the British in the Revolutionary War in America. According to Wikipedia, many captured German soldiers were held in camps around Lancaster, Pa. The Pennsylvania Dutch speaking people of the area were kind to the German soldiers who responded by not returning to Germany. Check the Wikipedia story by clicking here. The Krady descendants were integrated into the Brethren and Mennonite churches. Rhoda’s father was pastor of the Vine St. Mennonite Mission in Lancaster. The Krady family were liveing in the family quarters attached to the auditorium.
Rhoda and granddaughter Diana
In 1926, November 7 happened to fall on a Sunday. That evening the pastor opened the Sunday evening service for children, then excused himself. Later, he returned to announce that the family had been granted a little daughter that they had named Rhoda. She was born, baptized, married to me and we were commissioned for mission service in this same Vine Street Mennonite Mission, Lancaster, Pa.
About 10:00 p.m. on January 2, 2012, I reminded her how late it was and she shortly went to our room. About an hour later I realized that she had not called me for our bedtime rituals. So I went to the room and found her slumped on the floor.
Rhoda enjoys her reading
I immediately shouted for Rachel and Eldon. They ran down the stairs and since her heart was beating and she was breathing. We called 911 for help and she was taken to the Goshen hospital. Rachel and I were there when she took he last breath at about 12.30 a.m. She had no struggles and no pain and we grieved for our loss and rejoiced for her gain of perfect hearing, perfect sight, and perfect pitch. Soon we were joined by Conrad, Diana and Zack, Eldon, Dan and Phil. We had holy moments as we spoke to each other of our love for this wise and wonderful woman who had left us forever so quickly.
College Mennonite Church annually celebrates All Saints Day on the first Sunday in November. The most recent service was timely on this past Sunday. I invite you to watch and listen to songs of hope sung by the congregation. Learn with the children about passing on love, confidence, and the reality of being cared for and caring from one generation to another. Struggle with the children to understand resurrection. Be moved by an unusually timely sermon by Pastor Phil and the visual memory of the members who died since last All Saints Day. His sermon prepared us for the election results. Click here and listen.
Loved ones live and die
Memories are seared in love
We hope and believe.
Thanks for the photo of Vine Street church. My family attended there for a number of years, and I was baptized in that church by Bishop Frank Enck.
Duane
Everytime I see a photo of Rhoda, I know that I saw her in person, somewhere, sometime. Did she attend one of our old Mennolink reunions with you at one time?
Yes, but I’m not sure she was with me. I met you at the Kennels, as I recall. Did you tell me that you have a picture of that event?
Yes, Martin, in fact I have a video which my husband took at that event—I am a bit reluctant to admit it, but there are still two large boxes of movie tapes, sitting in my one large closet. I can’t believe that I am here for over a year and still have not done anything with them. My son is urging me to take them to a production company which can turn them into CDs I am glad you mentioned that, because I am going to call Jay (my son) this week and let him help me find someone to do that. You and I are no spring chickens anymore and I want so much to have you see them before either of us leave this earth.
Why do I remember you and not your husband? You must have been the more beautiful to my bisexual eyes. I am convinced that at least for most of us our sexual orientation is innate, not a choice.