Adella Hazel Jantz died on Monday (May 23, 2011) at Schowalter Villa in Hesston at the age of 98.
She was born on Jan. 28, 1913, to Daniel and Anna Mae Steiner Jantz at their home in rural Hesston.
Adella was the first-born of 11 children. She grew up on the farm near Hesston, where she lived until 1978, when she and her sister Roma moved with their mother to a new home in Hesston. They cared for their mother there until her death, and Adella lived at that house until 2009, when she moved to Schowalter Villa after Roma's death.
Adella missed her sister greatly, but Adella's kind and gentle spirit made her much loved by the Villa staff, and she received compassionate and respectful care throughout her stay.
Adella committed her life to God and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ at Hesston on Jan. 4, 1937, where she was a faithful member to the end.
Adella received her education at Maple Grove School northeast of Hesston, and in 1972, she and Roma also completed their GED requirements in the Adult Basic Education program in Newton.
She worked as a housekeeper for the Love family in Wichita, for Hehr International in Newton, and retired from Sterling Drug Company in McPherson. After retirement, Adella accumulated more than 3,000 hours of volunteer time during her almost 21 years of service with the Hesston Area Senior Center, the Et Cetera Shop in Newton and the Mennonite Central Committee.
Adella always kept busy and enjoyed quilting, gardening and canning, and taking bus tours with her sister. Anytime a meal for company was served, whether it was just a couple of visitors or a large family gathering at the holidays, you could always count on delicious food. She was a wonderful aunt and great-aunt to her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, remembering them with birthday cards and Christmas presents, and babysitting the ones that lived the closest, Micah and Malachi Wallace, and Ben and Jacob Fulk.
Family left to cherish her memory are sisters and brothers, Bernice Nightingale of Ingalls, Marion Jantz and wife, Evelyn of Horton, Mo., Jason Jantz of McPherson, Donald Jantz and wife, Eva May of Butler, Mo., and Emily Nachtigal and husband, Harry of Hutchinson; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents, two sisters, three brothers, two sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, two nieces, two nephews and two great-nephews.
Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday at Miller-Ott Funeral Home in Hesston, with family greeting friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Meridian Church of God in Christ in Hesston.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Meridian Church of God in Christ. Ministers Franklin Wenger, Eldon Wenger and Shawn Giesel will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to either Christian Service International or the American Heart Association, in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, 107 S. Lancaster, Hesston, KS 67062.
