Faith Evelyn (Kretzing) Bentzel

Faith Evelyn (Kretzing) Bentzel, age 94, passed from this Earth to join her Heavenly Father on October 23, 2020.  Born on December 10, 1925 at home to the late Paul R and Effie May (Long) Kretzing, Sr. of Saville. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

In addition to her parents, Faith is preceded in death by her husband, William Bentzel, her son, William Bentzel, Jr., three brothers:  Paul Kretzing, Jr. of Washington DC, Jacob Kretzing of Middlesex, and Larry Kretzing of Loysville, and five sisters:  Kathryn Noss of Loysville, Ann Bonsall of Millerstown, Thelma Neagley of Elliottsburg, Alice Geib of Lancaster, and Martha Crull of Landisburg.

Faith is survived by four children:  Cheryl Rhoads, and husband Randall, of Mechanicsburg, Sharon Ryberg, and husband David, of Shermans Dale, Douglas Bentzel, and wife Susan, of Duncannon, and Beth Wagner, and husband Mark, of Shermans Dale.  Known by the family as “Neenaw” or “Nanee”, Faith considered her children-in-laws as children-in-love.  That loving acceptance of all without judgement was a constant throughout her entire life.

Nanee was the prayer warrior, confidant, advice provider, speaker of the truth in love, and huge example of forgiveness personified to her six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.  Listing in order of age of grandchildren, the great-grandchildren will immediately follow their parents in parentheses:  Crystal and Jack Hoffman (Taylor and Joshua) of Dillsburg, Jonathan and Christie Rhoads (Judah, Levi, Asher and Crosby) of Flemington, NJ, Erik and Dianne Ryberg (Kristen, Garron, Molly, Carli and Violet) of Liverpool, Emily and Jacob Murphy of Oxford, UK, Kaitlin Bentzel and Lee Henwood of Mechanicsburg, and Victoria Wagner of Shermans Dale.

Faith lived her faith in God.  She was a member, and taught Sunday School to teens, at Bethel Assembly of God in Carlisle.  In addition to raising a Godly family, Faith worked as a caregiver to whomever needed her.  She took care of and ministered to family and neighbors. She never got her driver’s license and after her children were adults, she began to enjoy the more adventuresome side of life.  She explained that she had to wait until the children were adults before she could take risks like riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, all of which she loved.  She lived independently until the age of 90, and has visited all 50 states, with the exception of Hawaii, and all provinces of Canada.

A private graveside service will be held Thursday, October 29, with Pastor Chuck Kish officiating.

Memorial donations may be made in Faith’s name to support children worldwide at World Vision, PO Box 9716, Federal Way, WA  98063.  Online giving can be done at https://www.donate.worldvision.org.

Arrangements entrusted to Nickel-Lochstampfor Family Funeral Home, Inc.

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