Obituary of Erma Hawthorne Kreider

Erma Hawthorne Koser Kreider, 92, of 544 North Penryn Road, Manheim, PA, formerly of Lebanon County and Manheim, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday morning, August 17, 2013 at Pleasant View Retirement Community after living with a diagnosis of cancer she received five years earlier. Born April 21, 1921 near Maytown, PA, she was the daughter of the late David H. and Mary Susan Hawthorne Koser. She was the wife of the late Caleb A. Kreider for 60 years prior to his death in 2002. Erma was a member of White Oak Church of the Brethren in Manheim. She was an avid gardener who shared her bounty with family and friends. Her hospitality and baking were also appreciated by many. Erma attended the former Ebenezer School and she lived at the "Star Barn" property from about 1937-41. It was there that Caleb proposed to her. She worked at the former Farm Diner east of Elizabethtown. She is survived by five daughters, Mary, married to Kenneth Ober, of Towanda, PA, Ruth, married to Kervin Hoffer, of Bainbridge, PA, Jean, married to Clair Mummau, of Mount Joy, PA, Erma, married to Robert Bruckhart, and Elizabeth, married to J. Lester Heistand, both of Manheim; a son, Caleb L., married to Connie Keller Kreider, of Manheim; 21 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Frazer of Chambersburg, PA and Jean Zell Fisher of Elizabethtown; and a brother, Wilbur Koser of Maytown. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Keith Mummau; five sisters, Mary Martin, Florence Gibble, Esther Aldinger, Fannie Buckwalter, and Edna Landis; and two brothers, David Koser and Victor Koser. A funeral service will be held on Thursday morning, August 22, 2013 at 11:00 AM at White Oak Church of the Brethren, 1211 North Penryn Road, Manheim, PA with Ministers J. Marvin Shenk, Carl Groff, and Samuel Cassel officiating. Interment will be in the adjoining church cemetery. The family will receive friends at Hoffer Auditorium of Pleasant View Retirement Community, 544 North Penryn Road, Manheim, PA on Wednesday evening from 6-8:00 PM and at the church on Thursday morning from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. If desired, contributions may be made in her memory to Bible Helps, PO Box 391, Hanover, PA 17331. A webcast of the service will be available beginning the day following the service at www.spencefuneralservices.com.