Ethel Abrahams
Ethel Grace Ewert was born
August 3, 1923, in Hillsboro, to Gerhard and Helena Peters Ewert. She passed
away on Tuesday (July 5, 2016) surrounded by family.
Ethel was baptized and joined
the Hillsboro First Mennonite Church in 1938. She attended Hillsboro Grade
School and High School and earned degrees in Art from Bethel College with a BA
and a MA from Wichita State University.
On September 26, 1944, Ethel
married her high school sweetheart, Norman E. Abrahams. They were blessed with
four children: Nan, David, Dwayne and Nadine.
Ethel worked as secretary to
put Norman through optometry school in Chicago. When they settled back in
Hillsboro, she enjoyed being an "at home mom" during the children's
formative years.
Ethel volunteered for
numerous organizations: Mennonite Library and Archives, Kauffman Museum, and
the Wichita Art Museum. She and Norman did several short terms with Mennonite
Central Committee in Akron, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Ethel accompanied
Norman on a number of international eye projects with VOSH. She served on the
following boards: Hillsboro Public Library, Kansas Women's Association,
Kauffman Museum, Kansas Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale, and Bethel
College Women's Association. In 1990, Norman and Ethel received the Bethel
College Outstanding Alumni Award.
In 1980, Ethel researched and
published a book on Frakturmalen and Schoenscreiben: German Mennonite folk art
of the 18th and 19th century.
In 1988 Ethel and Norman
moved to North Newton, where she began designing and stitching quilts,
researching crazy quilts and vintage doll quilts, as well as writing and
lecturing on these topics.
In addition to quilting,
Ethel enjoyed reading and gardening. She and Norman loved traveling in the U.S.
and Europe, as well as participating in many Elderhostel trips with their
friends.
Norman and Ethel joined the
Bethel College Mennonite Church in 1989. After Norman died, Ethel moved to Kidron
Bethel Village in North Newton, and later to Schowalter Villa in Hesston.
Her children, grandchildren
and great grandchildren were very dear to her. Surviving her are her children,
Nan (Don) Graber of Monument, Colorado, Dwayne (Ruth Regier) Abrahams of rural
Newton, and Nadine (Norm Epp) Abrahams of Lakewood, Colorado; grandchildren,
Dana Graber (Stephen) Ladek, Nichole Graber (Billy) Simmons, Nathan (Elizabeth
Weidner) Abrahams, Kristen Abrahams, Mark (Amanda) Abrahams, and Kaitlin
Abrahams; five great-grandchildren, including Kylan, Auden, and Eliana Ladek,
Jaden Graber Simmons and Jolene Abrahams.
Ethel was preceded in death
by her son, David, and husband, Norman.
Visitation with family will
be Thursday (July 7, 2016) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Chapel at Schowalter
Villa, Hesston.
Burial will be Friday (July
8, 2016) at 1:30 p.m. at Haven of Rest Cemetery, East of Hillsboro. The Life
Celebration service will be 3 p.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church, North
Newton, with a faspa/light meal following. Memorial gifts can be made to
Mennonite Central Committee or Kauffman Museum.
Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro,
is in charge of arrangements.
