Jean M. Kraybill, 97, died March 25, 2026, at Greencroft Healthcare, Goshen, Ind. She was born Jan. 8, 1929, in Lansdale, Pa., the only child of the late Aaron Bower Metz and Mamie Frederick (Kulp) Metz. 

She graduated from Eastern Mennonite College in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She married Paul N. Kraybill on Dec. 22, 1951. She raised five children in Landisville, Pa., while her husband traveled extensively overseas, first for the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities and then for Mennonite World Conference. When the children were older, she traveled with Paul on many of his overseas trips, visiting Europe, Africa, India, Asia and Central and South America. After Paul’s death, she continued to travel with friends, both in the United States and internationally. 

She worked as a secretary for various organizations and retired from Mennonite Foundation, Goshen, in 2003. She was a member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen, where she was active as a volunteer and sang in the choir. She loved traveling, music, gardening, cooking and spending time with her family. 

She is survived by four daughters, Mary Jean (Daniel Meyer) Kraybill of Chicago, Linda (James) Histand of Goshen, Carol Krebiehl of Amelia, Ohio, and Karen (Andrew) Linn, Topeka, Kan.; daughter-in-law Ann Kraybill of Glenfield, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and her faithful cat companion Solomon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in 1993 and her son, Dale Kraybill, in 2024.