Mary Alice (Miller) Hostetler

Mary Alice Hostetler, age 88 of North Bloomfield, OH, went home to be with her precious Lord on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Jon & Mary Beth Rhodes residence in North Bloomfield, OH after suffering with dementia for 9 years.

She was born March 15, 1937, in Uniontown, OH, a daughter of the late Atlee P. Miller and Susanna Cross Miller and enjoyed growing up with her 10 siblings.

In 1955, she graduated from Greentown Highschool and worked as a secretary till married. She was baptized at Grove Mennonite Church and later became a member at Hartville Conservative Mennonite Church where she sang in the chorus and went on several chorus tours all over the US, Canada and Mexico, which was one of the highlights of her life.  

She married Roman Hostetler Jr. on October 22, 1960, at Hartville Conservative Mennonite Church and was a loving wife and mother of five children.  They felt called to help care for the Saloma Hostetler Sommers Family for seven years.  Moving to Middlefield, Ohio in 1969, she became a member at the Pilgrim Mennonite Church and loved attending church and teaching Sunday School and VBS.  She had various jobs which included babysitting children in her home for many years, teaching first grade at the church school and teaching music at school and different Amish groups.  

Mary Alice loved Jesus and faithfully served Him all her life.  She also loved people and shared her Christian faith with many she met. She had friends at many businesses she frequented and was known to invite lonely friends and neighbors for holiday meals.

Roman and Mary Alice moved in to live with the Jon Rhodes Family in November 2013.  After her husband passed away in 2016, she had many loving caretakers: Marie Coblentz, Granddaughter Mandie Derstine Miller, Margaret Escobar, Franie Hostetler and Liz Kaufman Bockelman among others, who helped Jon & Mary Beth with her care.  In May 2022, she fell and broke her hip and was unable to walk and she was moved into Ohlman Family Living at Briar in Middlefield, Oh. The staff often commented on her thankful spirit, her strong faith and her love of singing. 

Spending time with her children and grandchildren was a joy she relished.  She insisted on family pictures and a time of singing that have produced many loving memories for the family.

 After falling ill, she was taken to the local hospital on Monday, February 16 where it was eventually decided to return her to Jon & Mary Beth Rhodes’ home on hospice the following Thursday where she was visited by family and friends until she moved, for the last time, to her heavenly home.

In addition to her parents, and stepmom Fannie, Mary Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Roman Hostetler Jr.  She was also preceded in death by two children, Nathan Hostetler and Miriam Hostetler, son-in-law Joe Derstine, granddaughter Daria Rhodes, four brothers, Bill, Wallace, Atlee Jr., Daniel, three sisters, Fannie Martin, Dorothy Weaver, Susan Weaver.
  
Mary Alice is survived by her daughter Dorcas Derstine (late Joe) of Pink Hill NC, daughter-in-law Miriam Gingerich Hostetler of Mesopotamia OH, Joel (Karen Mast) of Oskaloosa KS, Mary Beth Rhodes (Jon) of North Bloomfield OH, 21 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, brother Mahlon, sisters Irene Hershberger, Betty Mast and many nieces and nephews.

Calling Hours will be held on Friday, February 27 from 1-3 pm and 5-7 pm, at Zion Christian Fellowship 15474 Georgia Rd in Middlefield, OH.  
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 28 at 10:30 am at Cornerstone Bible Church,15029 Enterprise Way, Middlefield, OH 44062  with Ministers Aaron Mast and James Miller officiating.  Burial will follow in the Pilgrim Mennonite Church Cemetery at 16078 Old State Rd., Middlefield, OH with Minister Fred Byler officiating the graveside service.  

The family would like to thank the Pilgrim Mennonite Church, Zion Christian Fellowship, caregivers and friends for providing prayer support, food, supplies and loving care.  

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