Martha Catherine Lyons, 105

January 05, 2014

Having been the oldest resident of The Mennonite Home, Martha Catherine Lyons, 105,
formerly of Hess Boulevard in Lancaster, passed from this life Sunday, January 5, 2014. Born in East Donegal Township, she was proud to have been the first of two daughters and of nine sons of Hiram Engle and Martha M. Musser Wolgemuth, and the descendant of original anabaptist, German-Swiss settlers. Martha’s beloved husband of 54 years, Clarence Eldon Lyons, died in 1996.

A graduate of Messiah Academy and Bible College, now Messiah College, and St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, she worked as a Registered Nurse for St. Joseph Hospital, then in private duty nursing, and finally for Brethren Village. Maintaining her certification, Martha gave of herself to care for dying family members in her and Clarence’s home, to volunteer at Messiah Village in Grantham, and to be the source of knowledge for ill family members. Her joy in life was her family for whom she enjoyed creating everything from doll clothes sewn from feed bags, to sweaters knit of intricate designs, and to afghans vibrant with color. Martha was an excellent cook and will remain known for her unequaled pies. She was a former member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Mount Joy.

Martha is survived by her son Barry L. Lyons, husband of Jamella of Strasburg, and her
daughter Pamela R. Neville of Lancaster; three granddaughters, Kelly L. Lyons of Pequea, Amy E. Antonucci of Lancaster, and Dulcey A. Antonucci of Lancaster; and three great-grandchildren, Sarah C. Schaeffer of Pequea, Xandro R. Martin of Lancaster, and Ansel R. Martin of Lancaster. Martha was preceded in death by her sister Mary E. Martin and her nine brothers, Michael, Christian, Daniel, Irvin, Hiram, Eli, Joseph, Abner and J. Musser Wolgemuth.

Family and friends are invited to attend Martha’s Funeral Service on Monday, January 13, 2014, at 11:00 am, at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543, with Chaplain Dorcas J. Martzall officiating. A visitation will take place from 10:00 to 11:00 am on Monday at the funeral home. Immediately following the service, interment will be in Cross Roads BIC Cemetery, Mount Joy, PA. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Martha’s name to the Mennonite Home Benevolent Fund, 1520 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601.