Mildred
Mildred Eby Mcguigan
Mildred Eby McGuigan, 92, known for her beaming personality and bright smile, died Tuesday morning, March 22nd, at Landis Homes Retirement Community, where she had lived for 27 years.
The youngest of five daughters of David Hostetter and Katie Nissly Eby, Mrs. McGuigan was born March 19th, 1919. She grew up on her father’s farm in Donegal Township and later moved to Mount Joy. She graduated from East Donegal High School in 1937. Thanks to the support of their parents, all five sisters completed higher education. Mrs. McGuigan was herself a proud member of the Lancaster General Hospital Nursing School’s Class of 1940, whose reunions she tried never to miss.
After her graduation, she worked at the hospital in the operating and emergency rooms. In 1945, while she was at work as the emergency room’s Assistant Night Manager, her then-fiancé, Chester Retzer McGuigan, returned from the European theater to surprise her. They were married a week later and remained married until his death in 2002. After her daughters were grown, she returned to work as a nurse for Dr. Joseph Hess in Lancaster before retiring in 1977. She then continued to serve as a volunteer at Lancaster General Hospital for the next 25 years.
Mrs. McGuigan and her husband particularly enjoyed traveling, and together visited all fifty states, Mexico, Canada, and parts of Europe, often taking their children. Her favorite destination was Alaska, because there was “so much variety and difference from anything I had ever seen or visited.” Her other hobbies included attending concerts and travelogues, reading, crossword puzzles, and knitting. She was a lady of great class and broad interests, but it was obvious to all who met her that the greatest joy and pride in her life came from her family.
In addition to traveling and volunteering, Mrs. McGuigan enjoyed participating in a variety of community groups and activities. Over the years, she has been an active member of Silver Threads, AARP, and the Lancaster General Hospital Nurses’ Alumni Association. Until her last illness, she continued to volunteer at Landis Homes, where she served on the Board of Directors from 1997 to 1999. From 1945 to 2003, she was an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Lancaster; more recently, she joined the Oregon Community United Methodist Church. In all things, she strove not only to observe, but also to exemplify, the Golden Rule.
She is survived by her three daughters, Pat Bradbury, Betty Thompson (husband David), and Peggy Martinsen (husband Bobby); five grandchildren, Elaine Passman (husband Corey), Robin Van Houten (husband Merle), David Bradbury (wife Russelle), Elizabeth Thompson (husband Ken Knotts), and John Thompson; and great-granddaughter, Katie Passman. In addition to her husband Chet and her sisters, Anna Mae Eby, Ruth Eby, Elizabeth Hottenstein, and Vivian Denlinger, she was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Ray Bradbury.
A Memorial Service will be held at Landis Homes’ West Bethany Chapel at 3 o’clock on Saturday, April 16th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her memory be made to the Caring Fund, Landis Homes Retirement Community, 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA 17543-9206.
Arrangements by the Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home. For other information or to send an online condolence to the family, visit our website at: ww
w.kasnyderfuneralhome.com
The youngest of five daughters of David Hostetter and Katie Nissly Eby, Mrs. McGuigan was born March 19th, 1919. She grew up on her father’s farm in Donegal Township and later moved to Mount Joy. She graduated from East Donegal High School in 1937. Thanks to the support of their parents, all five sisters completed higher education. Mrs. McGuigan was herself a proud member of the Lancaster General Hospital Nursing School’s Class of 1940, whose reunions she tried never to miss.
After her graduation, she worked at the hospital in the operating and emergency rooms. In 1945, while she was at work as the emergency room’s Assistant Night Manager, her then-fiancé, Chester Retzer McGuigan, returned from the European theater to surprise her. They were married a week later and remained married until his death in 2002. After her daughters were grown, she returned to work as a nurse for Dr. Joseph Hess in Lancaster before retiring in 1977. She then continued to serve as a volunteer at Lancaster General Hospital for the next 25 years.
Mrs. McGuigan and her husband particularly enjoyed traveling, and together visited all fifty states, Mexico, Canada, and parts of Europe, often taking their children. Her favorite destination was Alaska, because there was “so much variety and difference from anything I had ever seen or visited.” Her other hobbies included attending concerts and travelogues, reading, crossword puzzles, and knitting. She was a lady of great class and broad interests, but it was obvious to all who met her that the greatest joy and pride in her life came from her family.
In addition to traveling and volunteering, Mrs. McGuigan enjoyed participating in a variety of community groups and activities. Over the years, she has been an active member of Silver Threads, AARP, and the Lancaster General Hospital Nurses’ Alumni Association. Until her last illness, she continued to volunteer at Landis Homes, where she served on the Board of Directors from 1997 to 1999. From 1945 to 2003, she was an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Lancaster; more recently, she joined the Oregon Community United Methodist Church. In all things, she strove not only to observe, but also to exemplify, the Golden Rule.
She is survived by her three daughters, Pat Bradbury, Betty Thompson (husband David), and Peggy Martinsen (husband Bobby); five grandchildren, Elaine Passman (husband Corey), Robin Van Houten (husband Merle), David Bradbury (wife Russelle), Elizabeth Thompson (husband Ken Knotts), and John Thompson; and great-granddaughter, Katie Passman. In addition to her husband Chet and her sisters, Anna Mae Eby, Ruth Eby, Elizabeth Hottenstein, and Vivian Denlinger, she was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Ray Bradbury.
A Memorial Service will be held at Landis Homes’ West Bethany Chapel at 3 o’clock on Saturday, April 16th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her memory be made to the Caring Fund, Landis Homes Retirement Community, 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA 17543-9206.
Arrangements by the Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home. For other information or to send an online condolence to the family, visit our website at: ww
w.kasnyderfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mildred Eby Mcguigan, please visit our flower store.
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