Celia Mae Hevener

CELIA MAE HEVENER nee ACHENBACH

1934-2025

On May 29, 1934, Celia Mae Achenbach was born in windswept Pen Argyl,

Pennsylvania, the eldest child of Steward and Miriam (Locke) Achenbach.

Her parents were farmers and mechanics (yes, even her mother, who

rebuilt car engines with her tiny hands). They endowed her with the

ability to comprehend things mechanical, a gift which she, in turn,

passed on to her children, Dennis and Yolanda.

While attending a Christian academy in Maryland, she met Fillmer

Hevener, Jr. She was a high school girl. He was a college boy. She was

the love of his life, He was the love of hers. They waited to wed until

she graduated from high school and he finished college.

They spent a year in Uganda, engaged in mission work. Then they moved to

Michigan, Maryland, and California, pursuing Fill's teaching career,

until he finally received an offer to teach English at Longwood College.

He was Virginia-born and bred. She graciously became a southerner. They

bought a farm in Farmville and established a generational homestead.

When he retired from teaching, they started a church and she became a

pastor's wife. Her greatest grief was that she had to spend the last

eight years of her life without him by her side.

She was an outstanding vegan cook and organic gardener, her plump

vegetables rivaling her iris garden in awesomeness. She sang for years

in the Commonwealth Chorale and played piano in church. She earned a

degree in Social Work, was a faithful friend to many, and a humble

servant of God.

Celia was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her younger

brother, Carl Achenbach. She is survived by two siblings, Ronald

Achenbach and Barbara Tobias, and 10 nieces and nephews.

She leaves bereft her beloved children, Dennis Hevener (Fe) and Yolanda

Scheib (Frank), her precious grandchildren, Ross Hevener (Katharine),

Brittany Schesser (Chris), and Kelli Yoder (Sergey), and a passel of

great-granddogs and cats.

On Dec. 1, 2025, she fell asleep in Jesus. She was 91 years old.

We will see you again, Mom, when Jesus comes. Maranatha

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------