Obituary for Laura M. Heckman
Laura Meyers Heckman, aged 91 years 260 days, entered into the presence of her Lord Jesus Christ at the Brookview Health Care Center at Menno Haven on January 10, 2023.
Laura was born April 26, 1931, in St. Thomas Township to the late Amos and Minnie (Wenger) Meyers. She married Galen K. Heckman in 1950 and enjoyed 60 years of life together before he died in August 2010.
She was a loving wife and mother who lived a life of service and witness to her family, church and community. For many years Laura and Galen operated a farm south of Lemasters. It was there that they reared 3 children. Additionally, she had her own craft business. She loved her church and served alongside her husband with deacon responsibilities. She faithfully taught adult Sunday School, served on the church board as a steward, served with the women’s fellowship and helped restore the Brandts Church cemetery. Her service extended to the Southern District Church of the Brethren where she was on the board, worked at The Brethren Home at New Oxford and further extended the work of the Francis Leiter Center. Along with her husband and church family Laura served in disaster relief here in the United States and helped build churches in the Dominican Republic. She traveled internationally including Jamaica, Israel and Egypt. In the community Laura enjoyed her years with the Group 5 Farm Women organization.
Laura made the choice to move from the family farm to a cottage at Menno Haven 5 years ago, but this did not diminish her zeal for service. During the years in her cottage she sewed together nearly 4,000 comfort tops for disaster relief. Each one was carefully crafted and prayed over. She lived the Scripture which encourages us, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
Laura is survived by her 3 children, Carolyn Shuman of Greencastle; Teresa Smith and husband, Leonard, of Goshen, IN; Mark Heckman and wife, Brenda, of Mercersburg; 6 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by 9 brothers and sisters- Orville Meyers, Roy Meyers, Stella Meyers Brubaker, Anna Mary Meyers (infant), Verda Meyers Sollenberger Hawbaker, Martin Meyers, Martha Meyers Barnes, Harry Meyers and Albert Meyers. Her son-in-law, Rodger G. Shuman, passed in 2016.
Professional services have been entrusted to Fries Funeral Home, 47 N. Park Avenue, Mercersburg where friends are invited to a visitation from 6 pm to 8 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2023. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Roger Myers and Laura’s son in law, Pastor Leonard Smith at Brandts Church, St. Thomas, on Monday, January 16th, at 11:00 am. There will be a one-hour visitation at the church prior to her funeral.
Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be forwarded to the Good Samaritan Fund at Brandts Church, 8003 Brandts Church Road, St. Thomas, PA 17252.
The family thanks those who helped ease Laura’s home-going during her illness including the prayers of her church family, pastor, many friends and the professional staff at Menno Haven.
Laura was born April 26, 1931, in St. Thomas Township to the late Amos and Minnie (Wenger) Meyers. She married Galen K. Heckman in 1950 and enjoyed 60 years of life together before he died in August 2010.
She was a loving wife and mother who lived a life of service and witness to her family, church and community. For many years Laura and Galen operated a farm south of Lemasters. It was there that they reared 3 children. Additionally, she had her own craft business. She loved her church and served alongside her husband with deacon responsibilities. She faithfully taught adult Sunday School, served on the church board as a steward, served with the women’s fellowship and helped restore the Brandts Church cemetery. Her service extended to the Southern District Church of the Brethren where she was on the board, worked at The Brethren Home at New Oxford and further extended the work of the Francis Leiter Center. Along with her husband and church family Laura served in disaster relief here in the United States and helped build churches in the Dominican Republic. She traveled internationally including Jamaica, Israel and Egypt. In the community Laura enjoyed her years with the Group 5 Farm Women organization.
Laura made the choice to move from the family farm to a cottage at Menno Haven 5 years ago, but this did not diminish her zeal for service. During the years in her cottage she sewed together nearly 4,000 comfort tops for disaster relief. Each one was carefully crafted and prayed over. She lived the Scripture which encourages us, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
Laura is survived by her 3 children, Carolyn Shuman of Greencastle; Teresa Smith and husband, Leonard, of Goshen, IN; Mark Heckman and wife, Brenda, of Mercersburg; 6 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by 9 brothers and sisters- Orville Meyers, Roy Meyers, Stella Meyers Brubaker, Anna Mary Meyers (infant), Verda Meyers Sollenberger Hawbaker, Martin Meyers, Martha Meyers Barnes, Harry Meyers and Albert Meyers. Her son-in-law, Rodger G. Shuman, passed in 2016.
Professional services have been entrusted to Fries Funeral Home, 47 N. Park Avenue, Mercersburg where friends are invited to a visitation from 6 pm to 8 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2023. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Roger Myers and Laura’s son in law, Pastor Leonard Smith at Brandts Church, St. Thomas, on Monday, January 16th, at 11:00 am. There will be a one-hour visitation at the church prior to her funeral.
Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be forwarded to the Good Samaritan Fund at Brandts Church, 8003 Brandts Church Road, St. Thomas, PA 17252.
The family thanks those who helped ease Laura’s home-going during her illness including the prayers of her church family, pastor, many friends and the professional staff at Menno Haven.