Tadeo, Vanita Mae
Orrville — Vanita Mae Tadeo, age 86, of Orrville, died Sunday, June 26, 2022, at LifeCare Hospice in Wooster, following a period of declining health.
Vanita was born on August 22, 1935, in Dalton, Ohio, to the late Ray and Rhoda (Burkhart) Horst and graduated from Dalton High School in 1953 and earned her degree as a registered nurse from Salem City Hospital in 1956. In 1957 she moved to Mathis, Texas to serve for a year in the Voluntary Service (VS) program of the Mennonite church. She worked in the maternity clinic that served Hispanic migrants. While in Texas she met Raul Tadeo, who was also serving in the VS program. Vanita married Raul in 1959. He survives.
Vanita worked in the maternity ward at the Harrisonburg, Virginia hospital while Raul finished his college studies. She also worked at the Alice, Texas hospital while Raul pastored a church in that city. She followed this with a stint at the Goshen, Indiana hospital while Raul worked on his master’s degree at the Elkhart Mennonite Seminary.
In 1969 she joined her husband in the mission field of Sinaloa, Mexico. In the village where they lived, she was recognized as the village nurse.
In 1991 after serving 23 years in the mission field the Tadeos returned from Mexico and purchased a home in Dalton, Ohio. During the following years Vanita worked at the Mount Eaton Care Center, retiring in 2013. She also served as a translator with Open Arms Ministries, translating for Hispanic women arriving in Wayne County from Mexico and Central American countries. In 2019, Raul and Vanita moved to the OrrVilla Retirement Community. That year they also celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Vanita was a member of Sewing Circle, Homemakers in Church, and the Mennonite Nurses Association. She was an avid prayer warrior; there was no one that she wouldn’t say a prayer for. Vanita was also passionate about sending cards to friends and family for holidays and special occasions; it became one of her personal ministries. She enjoyed baking, canning, and simply cooking meals for everyone in her life.
Surviving are daughter, Jeanette M. (Paul) Weaver of Pandora, OH; son, Ken A. (Dawn) Tadeo of Middlebury, IN; two brothers, Willis (June) Horst, Mervin Horst; sister, Emma (Paul) Kauffman; sister-in-law, Eva Jane Horst; six grandchildren, Elizabeth Weaver, Alex Weaver, Ben Weaver, Brennah (Caleb) Yoder, Braden Tadeo, Brienne Tadeo; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Leonard Horst; sister-in-law, Ardella Horst; and brother-in-law, Paul Kauffman.
Friends may call on Friday, July 1, 2022, at Auble Funeral Home, 512 E. Oak St., Orrville, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at Maple Grove Memorial Park, 7012 Back Orrville Road, Wooster, at 9:30 am. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 am on Saturday, at Sonnenberg Mennonite Church, 14367 Hackett Rd, Kidron, with Pastor Haroldo Nunes officiating.
Memorials may be made to Open Arms Hispanic Ministry, 1305 W Market St., Orrville, OH 44667, http://www.
