Obituary of Janette L. Wenger

Janette L. Wenger went home to be with Jesus on December 17, 2024. She was 96 years old. Janette was the beloved wife of Melvin S. Wenger for more than 78 years. They met on March 4, 1945, when Janette was only 16 years old, and were married on October 12, 1946. They always said it was God who brought them together and who blessed them so abundantly throughout their marriage.

Janette was born on September 6, 1928, near Hershey, PA to the late Aaron R. and Katie Lehman Kreider. She was born and married in the same house outside of Campbelltown. She graduated from Hershey High School in 1946 as valedictorian of her class.

During their first five years of marriage, Janette worked as a private secretary. Then for more than 20 years, she was a full-time stay-at-home mom and was very involved in the activities of her children.

Janette was a member of Mellinger Mennonite Church since 1998. Prior to that, she was a member of Lititz Mennonite Church. Throughout her life, she was involved in church work, served on many committees, taught Sunday school classes, served as a shepherd and greeter and was secretary of Lititz Mennonite Church for 25 years. She was Director of Warwick Released Time Religious Education during its formative years and worked at Mennonite Information Center giving tours of the Tabernacle Reproduction for 25 years.

Janette’s happiest times were when the children, grandchildren or great grandchildren came to visit. Extra special times were when the entire family got together for picnics or holiday dinners.

In addition to her husband Melvin, she is survived by four children: Kenneth (Kathy Duvall) Wenger, Lititz; Jay (Suzanne Shenk) Wenger, Lancaster; Janet (Donald) Sell, Southaven, MS; and Sheri (Gordon) Wenger, Lancaster. There are six grandchildren: Jessica (Anthony) Oriti, Lancaster; Bethany Wenger (Travis) Moore, Minneapolis, MN; Michael (Nicole Drawbaugh) Wenger, Elizabethtown; Kira (Jordan) Kauffman, Lancaster; Katie Wenger, Harrisonburg, VA; Rein (Jenna Lapp) Wenger, Lancaster. Also, four step-grandchildren: Douglas (Erin Long) Sell, Lancaster; Dean (Lindsey Miller) Sell, Thompsons Station, TN; Dana (Aaron) Benedict, Windsor, CO; and Dawn (David) Boulter, Annandale, VA. There are fifteen great grandchildren: Arabella and Luca Oriti; Makenna and Sasha Kauffman; Alice and Colin Sell; Chloe, Liam and Willow Sell; Brek, Ella and Hunter Benedict; and Kai, Tobin and Zion Boulter. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters: Ada (Norman) Wine and Mildred (Daniel) Wenger; and also her stepfather, Edgar F. Schnee.

A private family burial was held at Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at Mellinger Mennonite Church, 1916 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA on Saturday, January 18 at 2:00 PM. The family will receive guests from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, financial contributions in memory of Janette can be made to Camp Hebron, 957 Camp Hebron Road, Halifax, PA 17032. To express a condolence with the family or for additional information, visit www.spencefuneralservices.com.