Mary Krempels

Mary Catherine (Garns) Krempels, 91, passed away peacefully at home on Monday August 4, 2008.


She was a long time member of Bethel Assembly of God Church, now LIFEhouse Church Bethel, of which church her mother was a founding member.  Mary was born, in Hagerstown, to Luther W. and Laversa E. Garns.  She was the seventh of ten children and has been preceded in death by her three brothers: Reverend Edward Garns, Paul and Samuel, and her six sisters: Gail Bast, Ruth Mowen, Reverend Miriam Garns, Reverend Esther Harrup, Berta Hershman and Reverend Bernice McDearmid.  Mary died of Alzheimer's disease - as had four of her sisters before her.


After graduating from Hagerstown High School, she studied at Washington County School of Nursing and in 1938, graduated with two top honors.  Shortly before graduation she was appointed to supervise the maternity floor of Washington County Hospital.  This she did until enrolling in Eastern Bible Institute, now Valley Forge Christian College, in 1941.  There she graduated in 1944, representing her class as women's speaker.  Shortly before this graduation, she received appointment to serve as dean of women and nursing instructor in the next school year. In these capacities and as matron she served intermittently for the next nine years.  She is an honorary member of Delta Epsilon Chi.


In 1944, she married Robert A. Krempels, a classmate and faculty colleague at Eastern Bible Institute.  Following their teaching years, Mary ably supported Robert's pastoral ministry at three churches in Winnipeg, Canada, Somerville, New Jersey, and Methuen, Massachusetts, respectively.  Upon his retirement and their move to Hagerstown, in 1988, she served as a volunteer in Mount Hope Prison Ministry.  Mary is survived by her devoted husband of 63 years; by their three children, Douglas and his wife, Wendy, of Tennessee, David and his wife, Mary, of New Hampshire and Deborah McAfee and her husband, Kevin, of Maine; and their three grandchildren, David and Craig Krempels and Lynnea (Krempels) Moncofsky and her husband, Scott.


The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the Bast-Stauffer Funeral Home, Boonsboro.  A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at LIFEhouse Church Bethel, Hagerstown.  The Reverend Dr. David Garns, her nephew, will officiate.  Following internment in Rose Hill Cemetery, there will be a fellowship meal at the church where an "open mic" will enable friends to share memories.


In lieu of flowers, in memory of Mary, donations may be made to the LIFEhouse Church Bethel, Missions Fund, 515 E. Wilson Blvd., Hagerstown, MD 21740.


While Mary will be remembered for many things - her in-depth Bible knowledge, her vast store of memorized hymns, her skill and joy as a hostess, her mouthwatering apple and rhubarb pies - she will be recalled especially as a woman of devotion and faith.  She died with a firm assurance in the words of Jesus, "Because I live, you too shall live."


Online condolences may be made to the Krempels family at www.baststaufferfuneralhome.com .