Memorial Service for Zelda Rothenberger

We gather today for two purposes.  One is to glorify God, as He is the author of life.  The other is to celebrate the life of Zelda Rothenberger. 

On behalf of the Central Schwenkfelder Church, deepest sympathy is extended to Zelda’s children: Dale and Cathy, Brenda, Dan and Lori, as well as Zelda’s eight grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

This morning, we turn to the Scriptures to shed light on our situation. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 states,

“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- A time to give birth, and a time to die… .”

This passage might give us the impression that death is something natural, just because it is expected.  After all, the Scripture attributes a time for everything under heaven.  There is a certain inevitability associated with death.  But it is never to be thought of natural in the purest sense. 

Death entered our world for a reason.  That reason is due to the presence of sin.   Romans 5:12 states,

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned… .” 

As a result of the Fall and our disobedience to God, humankind suffered the sentence of death.  All people die because all sin. We are told in Hebrews 9:27 that

“...it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment… .”

Every human being has an appointment to appear before the sovereign God of the universe and give an account for his/her  life. 

But as frightening as this situation may sound, it was for this reason that Jesus Christ came to this earth as God incarnate so many years ago.  Christ died and rose again to abolish death for those who trust in Him.  Note Christ’s words in John 11:25,

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.”  

The believer possesses the sweet knowledge and anticipation of life after death, because Jesus arose from the dead.  The Christian lives in this world knowing that his real home is not of this world.  Rather God has prepared a place for him. 

So how can we access this gift of life after death?  It is not through being a good person or adhering to a moral code.  Rather, it is through the gifts of repentance and faith.  Jesus preached at the outset of His ministry throughout the villages of Galilee:

“The time is fulfilled; the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe in the gospel.”

Repentance is a change of heart and mind.  It means we go from your way of living to God’s way of living.  It is implied in the act of confession, when a person comes before the Lord and seeks His forgiveness for the offensive things he has done.

And there’s faith.  Faith is not just believing that there is a God.  Most people believe that there is a God.  Faith, rather, is embracing God and following Him.  Jesus said:

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny Himself; take up His cross and follow Me.” 

Death is a transition from one state of life to another.  The apostle Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 5:1:

“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 

And, that when we are “…absent from the body, we are …at home with the Lord.” 

This is good news for the Christian, especially when he finds himself in a world where there is so much death. 

So there is urgency for all to repent of their sins and place their trust in Jesus Christ, in order to possess heaven as their home.

We are also here to reflect upon the life of Zelda Ione Rothenberger.

Zelda was kind, generous, forthright, thoughtful, humorous and a lovable lady. She loved her children and adored her grandchildren. She had every one of their birthdays recorded on an elaborate calendar.

Brenda remembers her mother as always being very helpful. She did many things for the benefit of others and was extremely family-oriented.

Marriage

It started with her marriage to Lowell. They were united in marriage on June 15, 1955 at Wentz’s Church and set the course for a 52 year union that gave them three talented and strong children: Dale, Brenda and Dan. Lowell completed his battle with cancer on March 18, 2007. Zelda was by his side through it all.

It was said that they were made for each other. Zelda kept Lowell on task. They were always there for each other. Lowell did everything he could to make Zelda happy. Their disagreements were private, which is how it should be. They were a team.

A special time was had on their 50th wedding anniversary. Norm Lepping sang a wonderful solo. Their vows were renewed in front of nearly 100 family and friends. They enjoyed traveling to places like Hawaii for Dale’s triathlon or Brenda’s wedding to Scott in Punta Cana.

Mother

She was also a disciplinarian with her kids. “Wait until your father gets home!” she often said. And Zelda made the rules and expected them to be followed.

Lowell was often working, so Zelda would transport her kids to their swimming lessons and competitions, football games, wrestling matches and majorette events. “Mom spent her time caring,” it was said.

Her pride and joy were her eight grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She treasured her relationship with each of them. She would always share pictures on her cell phone.

She would take her grandchildren to Hershey Park and savored one on one time with each of them. There were funny memories and there were meaningful memories. Zelda was thoughtful. No granddaughter went without a cabbage patch doll.

Zelda was generous and hard working. She worked for J.C. Penney for 31 years. Before that, she was employed by the North Penn School district. She wanted her kids to take advantage of her JC Penney employee discount.

Faith

Zelda’s faith was very important to her. She and Lowell attended church nearly every Sunday- first at Lansdale Schwenkfelder, then at Central. In these latter years, she looked forward to the day when she could be reunited with her husband and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thoughtful Friend

Zelda was a focused person who paid attention to detail. Holidays were a special time. Lowell would have his train set up in the sun room. Zelda had a beautiful Christmas tree and food that was exceptionally delicious. Santa cookies, broken glass cake, etc.

I remember often enjoying her roasted pork and sauerkraut meals complete with potato filling. And her fruit cake was unlike anything you’ve ever had. Hers was exceptional.

Zelda was a social person. Lowell and Zelda enjoyed playing pinochle and dominoes with good friends from Central. She also liked to read and frequent Ocean City, New Jersey with the family.

Zelda spoke her mind. She would tell you if you were too thin, or too fat.

Investments

She invested many superior qualities in her children; things like respect for others, a solid work ethic, love for family, and belief in God.

She was proud of all three of her children. Dale has served 41 years at Hartwick College in New York as a Health and Physical Education professor, as well as the Aquatics Instructor and Head Coach.

Brenda works for Kidde Corporation in Florida and Coordinates their Sales Department.

Dan has served in the US Navy for 22 years, then another 22 in federal service.

Brenda said: “Without Mom and Dad, I would not be a Christian.” Brenda has made it her habit to place the church as a high priority in her life. Because that is what she saw modeled in her home growing up.

She would liked to be remembered as doing things for family and friends.

I have so many happy memories of Zelda. She was like a grandmother to my three children. My son, Noah, shared these words.

“She was an incredible lady, treated us like we were her own. I remember we would see her every Thanksgiving. And she gave me a Navy mug from her son when I was sad about not being able to join. I remember playing in her yard as a kid with Nate and she had this John Deer bicycle that looked like a tractor that we would ride around.”

As you say goodbye to her today, may the Lord grant your His grace to trust Him for comfort and strength. Amen.