Jennifer Lorane Yoder, 52, Nappanee, passed away at 3:38 a.m. Feb. 25, 2017 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, due to a blood clot in her brain.
She attended Woodlawn Mennonite Church, Goshen. Aside from her love for her family and friends, Mama’s greatest love was her home country of Belize. She was born and raised in the tiny village of Isabella Bank and moved in 1997 to what Belizeans called ‘states’ (Indiana). She thoroughly enjoyed finding bargains at garage sales, curing illnesses with cayenne pepper, making soap, and writing down many of her favorite Bible verses. But most of all she enjoyed and celebrated people. Many daily calls were made to family and friends, to check in and make sure everyone was okay. Her house was always open and she provided many meals of delicious rice and beans and recardo chicken and a warm bed to the hundreds that came through her door. Many lovingly referred to her as ‘Mama’ and ‘Miz Jenny.’ She never refused to lend a helping hand and was always worried that there wouldn’t be enough. Mama’s grandchildren benefited from her hugs and home remedies and she always said ‘nu worry man, bring de,’ even if she already had two or more grandchildren running around. She understood that people and being relational were more important than her personal time and convenience.
Jennifer was preceded in death by her father Horace Hulse; her daughter April Yoder; and her granddaughters: Amani Cross and Amara Yoder.
Jennifer will be greatly missed by her husband, Steven Yoder; her 11 children: Teresa (Arseniy) Grechenkov; Gordon (Lauren) Yoder; Eden (Randall) Mast; Hannah (Matt) Yoder; Stevie (Heather) Yoder; Micah Yoder; Brittney (Mahlon) Hershberger; Theodore Yoder; Brianna Yoder; and Esther Yoder. Also surviving are grandsons: Aiden Yoder, Zane Yoder, Beckman Mast, Augustine Yoder, Sailor Yoder; and granddaughters: Adoré Yoder, Sapphire Yoder, and Adaline Grechenkov. Jennifer is also survived by her mother, Inez Hulse; and her five siblings: Zonya (Salas) Hulse, Steve (Bertha) Hulse, David (Marcia) Hulse, Zelah (Laban) Kropf, and Peter Hulse.
Family and friends may call on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday from 5 to 8 pm at Fairhaven Mennonite Church. The funeral service will be held Thursday at 10 am at Fairhaven Mennonite Church, 13513 State Rt 4, Goshen, IN 46528. Burial will be held at Woodlawn Mennonite Church Cemetery.
Arrangements are with Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee.