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Presbytery honors Women of Faith This year's Women of Faith honorees (from Wayne County) are Lois Dewitt, Amelia Engels and Diane Wheeler. DeWitt attends First Presbyterian Church, Williamson. She has served as a church Elder, in all offices of Presbyterian Women in her church, as Co-Moderator, Enabler and Enabler Coordinator and Search Committee member. She is a model of Christian faith for others, especially in the recent accidental death of her husband, Doug.
Wheeler, Western Presbyterian Church, Palmyra, served as Clerk of Session over 20 years and as president of the Women's Association for many years. She is a gifted leader serving on many committees. To quote her, there's great stuff in helping other people; you help yourself more than you help others. Also nominated was Priscilla Gifford (pictured), Park Presbyterian Church, Newark. Born and raised a Presbyterian, she and her family moved to Newark and joined Park Presbyterian Church in 1964. Her husband Paul died in 1975 from cancer. Her children, Anne and Mark, grew up in the church and now live in Colorado and Rochester, respectively. Priscilla was elected an Elder in 1968 and served one term (68-71). The last 20 years she has been a guiding light in the congregation: a member of the adult choir, the Congregational Life Committee (adult education), the Enriched Housing Committee, the 175th Anniversary Committee, Presbyterian Women's Steering Committee, and is a hard worker for the rummage sales and bazaars. She is an important participant in the progressive dinners, Circle of Six program, Tuesday luncheon discussions, and the annual women's retreat. The Enriched Housing program started by Park Church in 1987 with the receipt of a bequest. She was on the original committee that bought Park Place into being and presently she serves as co-chair. Gifford has given steady and creative leadership to this mission project. Professionally, Priscilla was a social worker, retiring from Wayne County Nursing Home as the head of the Social Work Department. She retired early to devote more time to her antique and collectible business. Mary Jane Paschke, First Presbyterian Church, Williamson exhibits vibrant, life-transforming faith through a deep, personal relationship with a loving God, and a consistent devotion to serving others. She is an Elder and demonstrates her faith while presenting her opinions in a loving manner. She actively supports many areas of helping others in her church. She also practices her faith in the rest of her life at the workplace, which is not always an easy task. All this and more she does while raising two children as a single parent.
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Engels, of First Presbyterian Church of Lyons, has been a Deacon and Elder and taught Sunday school for many years. She is a woman of great faith and a woman of great energy, according to Pastor Cynthia Huling Hummel. This 80-year-old woman, for many years now, has been the organizer and liaison to World Vision and has involved members of the congregation in support of a youngster in a Third World country. She served on the membership and evangelism committee and planned outreach events.