Hostetler, Hazel Esther Schrock (1920-1951)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Mar 8 p. 9, 10

Birth date: 1920 Jan 15

text of obituary:

MRS. HAZEL HOSTETLER

Hazel Esther Schrock, second child and oldest daughter of Noah J. and Jennie Hooley Schrock was born at Protection, Kansas on January 15, 1920, and departed this life on Tuesday, February 20, 1951, at the F. W. Black Community hospital in Lewistown, Pa. Her life was but 31 years, one month, and five days.

She was united in marriage to John Andrew Hostetler on Jun 4, 1949, at her home congregation, the Maple Grove Mennonite church, Topeka, Indiana. In her sudden and unexpected departure she leaves her husband and most loved companion, her sorrowing parents, her sisters Beulah and Margaret of Gulfport, Mississippi and her brothers Franklin, Orval, and Lyle, of Topeka and vicinity

Accompanying her into the great beyond is her daughter Susan Jane, born a few hours before her death. She is the first of the 19 intimate classmates in her profession of nursing to break the circle. Besides she leaves many loved friends.

As a child she accepted readily the Christian ideals as taught by her mother and father. Early in her childhood days she heard the Lord’s call to Christian service as a missionary or worker in the Lord’s Kingdom in the capacity of a Christian nurse. She confessed Jesus Christ as Lord of her life and ambition at the age of 11, and walked with him in daily life. Throughout her Christian growth and nurture she was grateful for a few intimate friends and consellors, and especially for the kind and sympathetic help of Bishop Sanford C. Yoder.

She attended elementary school at Yoder, Kansas, and at Topeka, Indiana and vicinity, and completed her secondary instruction at the Topeka high school in 1937. Her call to prepare for Christian service led her to attend Goshen college for three academic years 1942, 1943, and 1944, working her way through school as best she could. She was graduated from La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing in 1947, and enjoyed a period of work in assisting Dr. K. M. Lehman, of Topeka, Indiana, in serving the community.

Her ambition was to be a good wife, a mother of children—which she greatly loved—and to enjoy the blessings of building a cheerful Christian home. Her married life, spent largely at State College, Pa., where her husband was engaged in study, was a constant source of deep satisfaction to her companion. She was exceptionally fond and appreciative of her own parental home, and for the fellowship of her brothers and sisters. Her constant devotion to her Lord and her many thoughtful deeds speak loudly still. With her husband she shared everything. Her companion and family are deeply appreciative to Almighty God for her life and testimony and commit her to the care of her Lord.

A few days before her departure she with her husband offered themselves for foreign service in the near future, but this was not so to be.

The funeral was held on Friday, February 23, at the Maple Grove Mennonite church, Belleville, Pa., with the sermon by Bro. Aaron Mast, and the Scripture reading by Robert Eads, pastor of the University Baptist church, in State College, where she attended church regularly during the winter months. Texts: Romans 8, I Corinthians 5, and I John 3:2-4. The congregation joined in singing a hymn at the close of the service. The body was sent to her parental home near Topeka, Indiana, where a short service was held at 4:00 p.m. on February 24, with Bishop Sanford C. Yoder and H. S. Bender in charge. Interment was in the Maple Grove Mennonite cemetery, Topeka, Indiana.

It was requested that flowers be omitted at the funeral, but contributions of sympathy were placed in a fund for the education of nurses who wish to enter missionary or Christian service, for which cause she was much interested.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Apr 19 p. 3

text of obituary:

Establish Fund in Memory of Mission Candidate

WILL PROVIDE NURSING SCHOLARSHIP IN MEMORY OF MRS. HAZEL HOSTETLER

La Junta, Colo.—Friends who were saddened by the unexpected death of Mrs. John A. Hostetler, of State College, Pa., are now giving tangible experssion [sic] to their sympathy and their Christian faith by establishing a living memorial.

A Memorial Fund is being invested with the Mennonite Board of Education for the purpose of yielding scholarships for senior students at the La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing, from which Mrs. Hostetler (Hazel Schrock) graduated in 1947. As it was her purpose to give her life in Christian service the scholarships will benefit student nurses who have a similar vision of service in the Church.

This memorial is a tribute from her many friends who believe Jesus' words, “Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

Contributions may be sent to: Hazel Schrock Hostetler Memorial Fund, La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing, La Junta, Colorado.