In Memory of Rhoda Elizabeth (Garber) Cressman

Rhoda Elizabeth (Garber) Cressman (93) passed away peacefully, in her sleep, on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Woodcrest Senior Living Community in Scottdale, PA. Born on December 24, 1932, in South Boston, VA, to the late John Fay and Anna May (Wenger) Garber, Rhoda was predeceased by Arnold Willis Cressman (1928-98), her beloved husband of 42 years.

After residing in the Harrisonburg, VA, area for most of her childhood, the family moved to Alma, ON, in 1946. Rhoda first met Arnold at Ontario Mennonite Bible School in Kitchener, ON. She taught school for one year at Alden Christian Day School in Alden, NY. Later, while attending Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, VA, Arnold's courtship with her developed, and they married on July 13, 1956, in Burton, OH. After living in New Dundee, ON, for a few years, Arnold and Rhoda moved to Scottdale, PA, in 1961, where they purchased what became a 62-acre farm they named Waldemere Ranch. Over decades, they renovated the farmhouse, built dams to make four ponds, put up a pole barn, and planted thousands of trees, a small apple orchard, and annual gardens of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. They remained lifelong members of Scottdale Mennonite Church, where Rhoda taught Sunday school, oversaw the children's library, enjoyed song leading, singing hymns, storytelling, and performing in plays. Over the many years, Rhoda brought her love of gardening to church in the form of her beautiful, seasonal flower arrangements.

Arnold and Rhoda, along with another couple, formed TourMagination in 1970. They led tours throughout Europe and other countries to study the Anabaptist heritage. As always, they were a very good team. Rhoda also served as its executive administrative assistant for 14 years until Arnold's failing health caused the couple to step away from the business in 1993. Rhoda became Arnold's primary caregiver as well as his avid and most effective health advocate. After Arnold's passing in 1998, Rhoda remained at her beloved Waldemere until 2016. Rhoda and her sister, Lois Lehman, coauthored the book A. D. & Annie in 2014, about the history of the Wenger family. In 2023, while living at Woodcrest, Rhoda also wrote a collection of Stories from Arnold's Life , which her sister, Rachel Garber, published.

Among her many qualities, Rhoda will be remembered for her creativity, wit, kindness, compassion, and generosity as well as her love of gardening and nature, particularly birds and wildflowers, which she seemingly knew everything about. She loved her family, friends, all children and dogs, family stories, reading, writing, singing, and antiquing.

Rhoda is preceded in death by her brothers Leonard W. Garber, John F. Garber Jr., and infant brother Ethan S. Garber; her sister Phoebe R. Hershey; her brother-in-law Wally Bless; and her sister-in-law Carol Garber.

She is survived by her three children: Jennifer Ruth Cressman (Gordon Baker), Huntsville, ON; Eric Arnold Cressman (Joyce), Chatham, MA; and Jonathan Robert Cressman (Kera), Mt. Pleasant, PA; by seven grandchildren: Katie, Colleen (Ian), Felicia (Francisco), Jasmine, Kyla, Kalan, and Kalista; by three great-grandchildren: Sebastian, Benjamin, and Alijah; by one brother, S. David Garber, Scottdale, PA; three sisters: Lois Lehman (Milton), Ephrata, PA; Esther Garber (Janet Worsham), Richmond, VA; and Rachel Garber (John Mackley), Sawyerville, QC; by two sisters-in-law: Doris (Leonard) Garber, Nanaimo, BC; and Edith (John) Garber, Twin Falls, ID; and one brother-in-law, John L. (Phoebe) Hershey, St. Louis, MO.

The family extends sincere thanks to our family and friends for the love, sympathy and support received throughout this most difficult time. The family also expresses gratitude and appreciation to the dedicated caregivers at Woodcrest and to Rhoda's hospice team. Due to extenuating circumstances, Rhoda's funeral service will be held at Scottdale Mennonite Church at a future date and time. Rhoda's cremains will be buried beside her beloved Arnold, at the Alte Menist Cemetery in Pennsville, PA.