Miriam Hiestand Kraybill

With gratitude to Miriam for helping write this remembrance. Miriam Hiestand Kraybill, 99 years, of Londonderry Village, Palmyra, PA, went home to be with the Lord, and reunite with her husband, on February 8th, 2024. Miriam was born on July 28, 1924, in Conoy Township, Lancaster County, PA to Christian J. and Anna S. Hiestand. She went to Wickersham school through 8th grade and graduated in 1942 from Maytown High School, where she played field hockey and accompanied various music ensembles on piano. She was the first in her class to get a job after graduation – at Savoy Shoe Company in Elizabethtown for $16/week. She attended college for a year at Eastern Mennonite in Harrisonburg, VA – her favorite classes being biology and astronomy. Best of all, she met her future husband, Benjamin S. Kraybill, there. They were married on December 22, 1945. While raising three children, Miriam worked as a bookkeeper at Hiestand Inc., a family-owned feed and farm supply business, for over 20 years. She later worked for Adcock Brothers in Lancaster for 4 years. Miriam was a woman of deep faith, loyalty, generosity, and integrity. She enjoyed playing and listening to music and had a lovely aesthetic touch. She was an encourager for family, friends, and others. Miriam was as exceptional cook. She and Ben hosted numerous gatherings in their home with delicious, nourishing meals and stimulating conversation. She was a prolific baker of pecan pies, many of which she gave away. Miriam was a lifelong member of Community Bible Church (CBC) of Marietta. Miriam and Ben attended the Evangelical Free Church of Hershey and GracePoint in Londonderry Township after their move to Londonderry Village. She is survived by her three children, Donald Eugene (Elizabeth Loux), Harleysville, PA; Joy Kraybill Hickethier (Wayne Hickethier), Hershey, PA; and Kenneth Hiestand (Beth Miller), Seattle, WA. She had seven grandchildren, Matthew (Ingrid), Micah (Marion), Ashley (Ben), David (Sarah), Darin, Sarah (Andrew), Jacob, and ten great-grandchildren. Miriam was preceded in death by her husband (Benjamin S. Kraybill), four siblings (John, Paul, Christian, Martha), and daughter-in-law (Elizabeth Loux Kraybill). Service of Remembrance at Londonderry Village chapel, Palmyra, PA on Friday, February 16th (viewing at 10am, service at 11am, reception to follow). Private burial at Kraybill’s Mennonite cemetery.

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Miriam Hiestand Kraybill

July 28, 1924 - February 8, 2024