Elsie Cressman

1923 - 2012  (89 years)

• Name	Elsie Cressman
  Born	1923	Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Interesting	medical, story
  Residence	1969	, Tanzania, Africa
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-90866
  Died	11 Sep 2012	New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Buried	Nith Valley Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I90866	Generations
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2025

  
  

  Father	Rev. Bishop Curtis Clement Cressman,   b. 31 May 1894, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 25 Aug 1971, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Amanda Ethel Byler,   b. 29 Apr 1893, Pulaski, Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States ,   d. 11 Aug 1956, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 63 years)
  Family ID	F19983	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  CRESSMAN, Elsie Passed away on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at her residence, Nithview Community. She was born 89 years ago and was the daughter of the late Curtis and Amanda (Byler) Cressman. Dear sister of Lillian Bean of New Hamburg and sister-in-law to Gladys Cressman of New Hamburg. She will be sadly missed by her many nieces and nephews. Elsie was predeceased by her brothers Howard Cressman, one in infancy, sisters Ruth and husband Clifford Strubhar, one in infancy, brother-in-law Gordon Bean and sister-in-law Margaret Strubhar. Elsie attended Grace Mennonite Church, R.R. # 1 New Hamburg. Elsie was a missionary nurse in East Africa for over twenty years and she received the Order of Ontario for her pioneer efforts in establishing midwifery in Ontario. Family and friends may call at the Mark Jutzi Funeral Home , 291 Huron Street, New Hamburg on Friday, September 14, 2012 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 3: 00 p.m. at Nith Valley Mennonite Church, New Hamburg with Pastor Howard Bean and Pastor Earl Koch officiating. Interment in Nith Valley Mennonite Cemetery. On line condolences and donation information available at: www.markjutzifuneralhomes.ca. The Waterloo Region Record 12 Sep 2012 __________________ Elsie Cressman, a native of Wilmot Township, was a well-known pioneer in the development and practice of midwifery. Locally, she was a key person in the establishment of St. Jacob's Midwives. Cressman's pioneering work in having midwifery accepted as a profession laid the groundwork for midwifery programs at several Canadian universities. In Ontario, McMaster, Ryerson and Laurentian Universities all now offer Bachelor of Science degrees in midwifery. Internationally, Cressman was instrumental in establishing and running a number of heath clinics in East Africa. Elsie organized a leprosarium on the shore of Lake Victoria at Shirati, Tanzania where she is credited with integrating leprosy patients back into their communities. Later, she started what became known as the Tom Mboya Memorial Health Centre, Kenya. Cressman was awarded the Order of Ontario in 1994 and Oktoberfest Woman of the Year - Lifetime Achievement in 2010. Past and Present Inductees. (2017). Waterlooregionmuseum.ca. Retrieved 25 June 2017, from https://www.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/en/exhibits/past-and-present-inductees.aspx ____________________ Missionary Returns From Africa Canada is the best place to live is the opinion of Miss Elsie Cressman, R.N., misionary-on-furlough from Tanzania, East Africa. Miss Cressman has arrived at the home of her father, Bishop Curtis C. Cressman after a five year stay in a Leporsariuim in Africa for a possible two year leave. She spent a month touring the countries of Egypt, Italy, France, The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, and was met at New York Port by her sister, Mrs. Gordon Bean and Mr. Bean. While she finds her work interesting and worthwhile, as she has had most encouraging results, Miss Cressman also feels the need of a holiday rest. When in Africa she has contact with twenty dive tribes. With regard to climatic conditions it is only at mid-day that the heat is extreme where she was stationed, and she did not see any snow covered ground throughout her tour until she arrived in Canada. The only exception were the mountain tops in Switzerland. Upon her arrival she was the guest of honor at a family gathering of approximately fifty people, Which was held at the Blenheim Mennonite Church. A Fellowship Turkey Dinner at which about 100 people attended was given for her at the Biehn Mennonite Church. She was also honored by a birthday supper at the home of her brother, Howard Cressman and Mrs. Cressman on Monday night. New Hamburg Independent 17 Apr 1959

  
  

• Sources

  [S602] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - The Waterloo Region Record (March 2008- ), Obituary of Elsie Cressman - 12 Sep 2012.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1923 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 11 Sep 2012 - New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Nith Valley Mennonite Cemetery, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth