Hyacinth June Mordey Imhof
Hyacinth June Mordey Imhof
May 27, 1926 – January 16, 2024
Hyacinth June Mordey Imhof, 97, of Fort Washington, passed on to be with her Lord on January 16, 2024. She was the wife of the late William Imhof.
Hy was born in the Bronx, New York to the late Alfred and Catherine (Stolzenberger) Mordey. She grew up in Harrison, New York and graduated from Harrison High School. In 1956, Hy graduated from Wagner College in Staten Island with a degree in English.
A year later Hy attended Biblical Seminary in New York City with a special emphasis on training to be a missionary. At age 32 she became a missionary of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to Argentina.
Answering a call to ministry, in 1975 Hy graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. She was ordained as a minister in her home congregation St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Port Chester, New York.
Hy was a pioneer of women pastors in the Lutheran Church in America being only the 24th woman to be ordained. Her ministry began at Bethel Lutheran church in Philadelphia where she served for 13 years.
In November 1984, at the age of 58, Hy married William Imhof. They were married for ten years until Bill’s passing.
Pastor Hy loved being a pastor and served as an interim at area churches including her now home church Christ’s Lutheran in Oreland. In 2009, she retired after 34 years in ministry.
Hy had a lifelong love of music. She was an organist at her church in New York. She also gave annual piano recitals at Christ’s church for over ten years.
She is survived by her sister Iris Seymour; nieces Marjorie Kenney and Christine Grenell, stepdaughter Martha Frantz (John); stepson Paul Imhof (Phyllis), grandchildren Brian Frantz (Christine), Karin Clark (Dan), Mark Frantz (Kim) and John and Laura Imhof; and great grandchildren Matthew, Jacob, Ben, Grace, Justine, Abby, Emily, Maddy.
There will be a celebration of Hy’s life on Saturday February 10th at Christ’s Lutheran Church 700 E Pennsylvania Ave, Oreland, PA. 19075. Visitation with the family will begin at 1:30 pm. The service will be at 3 pm and will be followed by her inurnment at the church.
The service will be streamed on the church’s website: www.christs-oreland.org
In lieu of flowers donations in Hy’s memory may be made to Christ’s Lutheran Church.
Martha, John and Family,
We are saddened to hear of Hyacinth’s passing.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Donna and Joe Mondile
I knew Hyacinth when my husband and I were missionaries in Argentina from 1966-1970. She was a delightful person and a lovely pianist. I was a singer, and we did several recitals together on the campus of the Lutheran seminary in Jose C. Paz where my husband Manfred was a professor. Her cheerful spirit was always a source of joy and a beacon of hope in an often challenging ministry.
I attended Bethel Lutheran Church from 1980 – 1985. Pastor Hy was such an incredible mentor to me during those early pre-teen and early teen years. I was a budding singer and she encouraged me in my musical pursuits. Including having me sing with the choir for the Spanish service. Of all of the cherished memories I have of Pastor Hy, the one that I remember so clearly was the morning of her wedding when she asked me to fill in as soloist. I learned “Entreat me not to Leave Thee” all morning to sing it for the wedding in the afternoon. I was terrified and elated at the same time. She was brave to entrust such a task to a 13 year old!
I will always cherish my memories of Hy and all that the Lord has done in our lives through hers.
Rest in the eternal love of the Lord.