Lederach, Mary Mensch (1898-1980)
Mary Mensch Lederach, a shepherdess in the Mennonite Church (MC) was born 24 January 1898 in Skippack, PA to Jennie D. Heckler and Abraham B. Mensch. Graduating in 1914 from tenth grade, she entered Millersvile State Normal School, completing her studies there in 1918. She taught five grades at the Iron Bridge Public School in Rahns, PA, then in 1919-1920 taught at Hesston College in Kansas. Returning in 1921 to nurse her mother and grandmother, Mary married Willis K. Lederach. That year, the Lederachs moved to Norristown, PA to assist the Franconia Mennonite Conference Board of Missions (MC) in its first mission, where they served until 1928. Throughout southeastern Pennsylvania Mary became known as an excellent public speaker, making over 200 appearances to church and civic groups, giving family-life talks in a manner that was both commanding and engaging. She embraced plain dress and modesty, and for over three decades gave talks on human sexuality. Secretly she donated all her income as a post office worker and real estate agent to assisting needy people. Her children are Paul Mensch Lederach, Ruth Mensch Lederach Rittgers, Mary Jane Lederach Hershey, and John Mensch Lederach. She died 16 July 1980.
Bibliography
Rich, Elaine Sommers. Mennonite Women: A Story of God's Faithfulness, 1683-1983. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1983: 98-100.
| Author(s) | Joyce Clemmer Munro |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1987 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Munro, Joyce Clemmer. "Lederach, Mary Mensch (1898-1980)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1987. Web. 18 Dec 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Lederach,_Mary_Mensch_(1898-1980)&oldid=88944.
APA style
Munro, Joyce Clemmer. (1987). Lederach, Mary Mensch (1898-1980). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 December 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Lederach,_Mary_Mensch_(1898-1980)&oldid=88944.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 515. All rights reserved.
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