Penner, Mary Schroeder (1910-1980)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1980 June 27 p. 37

Birth date: 1910 July 7

text of obituary:

MARY PENNER

(Mrs.) Mary Penner of Chilliwack, B.C. passed away on April 14. She was born in Main Centre, Sask., in 1910 and committed her life to the Lord at age 17. After completing her public school education in Saskatchewan, she attended Bible school in Hep- burn and Winkler and received missionary medical training in Winnipeg. She worked with the Western Children's Mission for several years, going into full-time work with the mission in 1939, and attended the Missionary Medical Institute in Toronto in 1943. She was ordained as a deaconness in Main Centre Mennonite Brethren Church and then went to Colombia as a missionary in 1946. She worked there for six years and took further training in chiropractic during her furlough. In 1953 she met and married John Harder of Reedley, California. They served among the Spanish- speaking people in Parlier, California until John passed away in 1956. Mary married Henry Penner in 1958. Together they ad- ministered a nursing home in Reedley, California until their retirement in 1971. They moved to Chilliwack, B.C. in 1974. Mary always remained active in visiting the sick and bereaved and through many years, she did extensive work and research on two family genealogies. Predeceasing her were two sisters and three brothers . She is survived by husband Henry; two step- daughters; (Mrs.) Evelyn Saggart and (Mrs.) Lydia Christian; one step-son, Albert Penner; and eight grandchildren. The funeral took place April 18 at East Chilliwack MB Church with pastor Ed Hamm officiating.