Genevieve Ada Hatheway

Genevieve Ada (Elmer) Hatheway went home to be with her Lord on April 24, 2017 at the age of 88 years. She was born in Glen Arbor, Michigan on August 4, 1928 to Forest and Ada Elmer. Her childhood was spent in the Glen Arbor area. Genevieve's love of children began as the oldest sister in a large family. After graduation from high school she earned a teaching degree. Her first teaching position was in a one-room schoolhouse. In a later teaching job, one of the students introduced an older brother, Elnathan (Pat) to Genevieve. In 1948, Genevieve and Pat were married and moved to Mansfield, Ohio following his discharge from the U.S. Army. They raised their family in Mansfield and were active in the St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Genevieve taught children's classes at the church and was the director of the church pre-school program. In 1978, Genevieve saw a public service announcement on television seeking foster parents in the Mansfield area. She and Pat applied and were approved, beginning thirty-six years of service to children in their home and advocacy programs in the court system. During those years, she and Pat spent many relaxing summers at their cottage in Glen Arbor, allowing the foster children to enjoy the beauty of Glen Lake and Lake Michigan, and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Genevieve and Pat were honored in 2014 by Richland County Children's Services for their kindness and dedication. She was preceded in death by her husband in December 2010. She is survived by their two children, William Hatheway and Eva (Michael) Harp. She was the proud grandmother of six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She is also survived by siblings Eva Dennis, Mary Smith, Alice Schmidt and Jim Elmer. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 28th at Werner Gompf Funeral Services, 1106 PAE Rd (corner of Stewart and Rt 430) from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held after visitation, at 12:00 p.m. with burial at Memorial Park in Mansfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Timothy Lutheran Church (1262 Ashland Road, Mansfield OH 44905) or Richland County Children's Services (731 Scholl Road, Mansfield OH 44907). Online condolences may be made at www.wernergompf.com To send a memorial gift to the family of Genevieve Ada Hatheway please visit our Sympathy Store.

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