Marjorie (Midge) Ida Kinder, eighty-three of Lititz, died in residential care at Moravian Manor Communities under Hospice Care on March 21, 2024, following a yearlong battle with a rare form of cancer. She is survived by her husband, Rick, whom she shared 61 years of marriage (sweethearts in college).

The daughter of Beatrice and Harvey Pries, Midge was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan, attended Albion College (MI), earned her BA with honors from Michigan State University and a master's degree (MAT – Masters in the Art of Teaching), specializing in early childhood and special education from Oakland University (MI). Midge was a gifted, intuitive, and highly respected educator in the field of special education.

Starting her teaching career in the Detroit suburbs, she founded and developed a pre-primary emotionally impaired program that received recognition by the Michigan Department of Education. During this time, she developed an astute awareness of well-being and a dedicated practice in yoga. Coming to Lancaster, she trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at UMASS Medical School. As a Registered Yoga Instructor, in the late 80's, she created the popular Mindful Yoga Class offered in Lancaster, PA.

In 2001, she co-founded and created a contemporary and student-based curriculum centered around mindfulness-based, the health and wellness program – Wellness Works in Schools. Taught by Midge and other Kinder Associates' educators in diverse classroom settings K-12, the Wellness Works program reached more than 10,000 students and 2,000 educators in her 15-year tenure.

Recognized locally, nationally, and globally as innovative, impactful, and needed, the program served predominately students and teachers within urban, special education and alternative education classrooms, as well as youth at Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center. Midge also trained teachers and co-authored (with daughter Wynne Kinder) "Peace Work – Mindful Lessons of Self-Regulation for the Early Years" in 2016. Wynne continues to expand Midge's educational legacy through the Wellness Works program, in mindful kids' books, and through content that she's created with GoNoodle and now SuperNoodle. Midge was able to see how her wisdom, caring presence, and educational efforts have reached children and teachers across the globe.

She loved to read, travel, exercise, hike, swim lengths, and practice yoga. Midge's love of the outdoors drew her to the ski slopes and to sail often-challenging waters with her husband and family. Starting on a small sailboat on Lake St. Clair (Detroit), she raced and cruised on their 20, 26, and 35-foot sailboats on weekends, summer cruises to the North Channel & Georgian Bay, as well as racing Bayview Yacht Club's 257 NM long-distance Port Huron to Mackinac Race.

Moving to Lancaster led to more cruising with Rick on the Chesapeake Bay and thirteen epic summers, living / thriving aboard their Baltic 38 and Sabre 402, navigating the coastal waters of New England, Maine, and Bay of Fundy. She cherished the well-deserved title of "Skipperess" of Pradel (the honored name of each of their vessels), and was a member of North Star Sail Club, Bayview YC, Susquehanna YC, Seven Seas Cruising Association, US Sailing, and International Lightning Class Association.

With love and devotion to her family, she is survived by her husband Rick, son Patt Kinder of Lancaster, and daughter Wynne Kinder (Chris Fenwick) of Millersville. She is cherished by two grandsons – Gralyn Kinder and Richard Kinder, four grand friends – Kristen Weldon, Kerry Weldon, Fen Alankus (Ashley Shumaker), Patrick Alexander Fenwick, and two great grandfriends – Madison Font and Ronnie Font. She will be missed by her family, long-time friends, and more recent friends at Warwick Woodlands in Moravian Manor Communities and Lititz Women's Club.

A private celebration of Midge's life will be held later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Moravian Manor Communities Benevolent Fund, 300 West Lemon St., Lititz, PA 17543 and Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17604.