TERESA MARIE NITCHMAN went home to be with Jesus Sunday, 11/28/2021. Born December 8, 1950, to Melvin Ward Johnston and Helen Maxine (Naugle) Johnston. She was 70 years, 11 months old, but much younger in heart and spirit.
Teresa is loved and missed by her husband of 48 years, Kenneth E.; her children, Autumn Marie Nitchman of Bristol, Connecticut; Adam Nitchman, of Lancaster, PA; Andrew Nitchman, husband of Eileen Beredo, of Seattle, Washington; Angela Nitchman, of Portland, Oregan; Amy Nitchman, of Sedona, Arizona; Amber Nitchman, of Hazelton, Brittish Columbia, Canada; and Alan Nitchman, of Lancaster, PA, and her grandchildren, Azalia & Quinton. Her oldest sister, Nancy I (Barry L) Nenninger, preceded her in death. She is survived by her older sister, Barbara A (Mrs. Jay) Lehman.
Teresa loved her children and grandchildren dearly. She always enjoyed hearing from them, and especially delighted in photos and videos showing their recent events or activities. Teresa was an excellent cook. She had many recipes that were handed-down to her from her mother and mother-in-law. Throughout her life and even in the earliest stages of her marriage, Teresa liked to invite others over for meals. She would usually make more than enough, and would often give away portions to neighbors, friends, and church members. She loved to bake everything from home-made pizza to cakes, pies, and breads. She also liked trying new recipes she found from the internet: Raisin bread, whole wheat bread, apple-craisin bread, etc.
Teresa enjoyed sewing and was very helpful at making and repairing clothing for her family and friends. She most recently enjoyed making a set of matching pirate outfits for Halloween for three local children from her church whom she had befriended: Gia, Rayna, and Zorel. She also made a number of pillows and pillow cases in response to requests from friends. She had a giving nature and whether cooking, sewing or gardening, she was much happier giving to others than keeping for herself. Teresa loved gardening. She and her husband built square-foot gardens in their yard for her many herbs and vegetables. She designed her very own butterfly garden from plants that she purchased from the Penn State Master Gardeners here in Lancaster. From early spring to late fall, she was always hopeful of seeing butterflies as well as humming birds enjoying the flowers she planted for them.
Above everything else, Teresa, loved God. She prayed for her children and others daily, morning and evening. She was a good and loving mother, though she was hurt by her own failures to be (or to have been) a better mother. She was aware of hurts in her own life that had originated in her childhood, so a major focus of her prayers for her children was that God would heal them of their hurts and bring wholeness, manifesting the promises in His Word for them. She had written out prayers for each of her children, focusing on Autumn on Sunday, Adam on Monday, Andrew Tuesday, Angela Wednesday, Amy Thursday, Amber Friday, and Alan Saturday. Prayer was at the center of her days right up to the end at Lancaster General Hospital. May Father God answer those prayers out of His grace in Jesus.
Cremation Services of Lancaster 717-273-6283