Rhoda M. Clemens, 98, of New Holland, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Garden Spot Village. Rhoda was born in Gap, PA, to her late parents, I. Eby and Ruth (Martin) Hostetter. Her husband, Edgar M. Clemens, passed away on September 3, 2006.

Rhoda lived a remarkable life. After attending college, she taught in a one room schoolhouse in Waterloo, PA. After she married Edgar in 1952, they settled in Ithaca, NY, where they raised seven children. Edgar taught chemistry at Ithaca High School and Rhoda worked as a homemaker. In Ithaca, she found community and fellowship while attending Bethel Grove Bible Church, where she taught pre-school for many years. She and Edgar hosted a monthly Mennonite Fellowship potluck at their home. She enjoyed teaching English to new immigrants and created lasting friendships in the process, authored several articles in Mennonite periodicals, was an avid reader, and traveled to Guatemala, Cambodia and Israel/Palestine. In her spare time, she enjoyed quilting, gardening and sewing. Most of all, Rhoda loved spending time with her family and friends.

Rhoda is survived by her children, Fredric L. Clemens, husband of Carol (Brimer), of Goshen, IN, and their six children; Rosa Clemens-Hines, wife of Thomas, of Philadelphia, and their three children; Jonathan Clemens, husband of Ruth (Keidel), of Baltimore, MD, and their four children; Marcia L. Ludwig, wife of Edmund, of DeRuyter, NY, and their two children; Conrad J. Clemens, husband of Andrea Gerlak, of Tucson, AZ, and their two children; and Andrea L. Zuercher, wife of Ian, of Goshen, IN, and their three children. Rhoda is also survived by seven great grandchildren, and her siblings, Milton Hostetter, Charles Hostetter, Ray Hostetter, Dale Hostetter, Mary Alice Hostetter, Sanford Hostetter, Nancy Gourley.

In addition to her husband and parents, Rhoda was predeceased by her daughter, Darlis, and by her siblings, Abram Hostetter, Isaac Hostetter, James Hostetter, and Grace Weaver.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Garden Spot Village Chapel, with Chaplain Karyn Nancarvis and Pastor Dawn Ranck-Hower officiating. Visitation is planned for 9:00 AM with Service at 10:00 AM, followed by a light lunch.

In lieu for flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions be made to Mennonite Central Committee, https://mcc.org/. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Groff-High Funeral Home, New Holland.