Mary Jane Carpenter

Mary Jane Carpenter, 88, formerly of Elkhart, passed away Monday, May 18th at Heritage Pointe, Warren, IN.

She was born March 20, 1927 in Winchester, IN to Harrison and Merle (Roush) McLaughlin. She married Rev. Donald D. Carpenter on Aug. 8, 1953. He survives with a daughter, Kimberly Lynne (Daniel) Porter of Muncie; 2 sons, Kristin B. (Mary) Carpenter of Elkhart and the Rev. Kelly P. (Lyn) Carpenter of Winston-Salem, NC; 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and a sister, Barbara J. Updike of Anderson. She was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Banning and 3 brothers, Robert Lee and Willard and William McLaughlin, and her daughter, Karen.

Mary Jane graduated from Winchester High School and earned her B.A in education from Olivet Nazarene College. An elementary teacher for 17 years, and a social worker for 25 years, she served as the director of Church Community Services in Elkhart. Mary Jane served in many churches as a teacher, children’s choir director and librarian. Singing was central to her faith, a source of inspiration and a way to proclaim the gospel message through music. Mary Jane loved lighthouses, birds and tea parties with her grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6pm to 8:30 pm on Thursday, May 21st at the Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home in Elkhart, and from 1 pm to 2:30 pm Friday, May 22nd at the Southlawn United Methodist Church in South Bend. Following the visitation, a Service of Death & Resurrection will begin at 2:30 pm, with her son, the Rev. Kelly P. Carpenter officiating.

Memorials may be given to Church Community Services of Elkhart. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.