Elizabeth Garman Nissley, 79, the first woman ordained in Lancaster Mennonite Conference, died Sept. 25 after a 21-month journey with breast cancer.

Nissley graduated with a master of divinity degree in 2002 from Eastern Mennonite Seminary following a career in psychiatric nursing, which included working as a nurse and educator for nine years in Somalia with Somalia Mennonite Mission, a project of Eastern Mennonite Missions.

She was ordained in 2007 by James Street Mennonite Church in the Anabaptist conference now known as LMC. She was a full-time pastor at James Street, in Lancaster, Pa., retiring in 2013.

“Her psychiatric background and pastoral background are a mix you don’t see often,” said Stan Shantz, lead pastor at James Street, in a 2013 Lancaster Online article about her retirement after more than 10 years as associate pastor. “I benefited from that, and other pastors have reached out to her. That’s been important for this congregation and the wider church.”

Born in 1943, Nissley was married for 58 years to Kenneth M. Nissley and raised four children. She graduated in 1964 from Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing, and obtained a bachelor’s in nursing and master’s in psychiatric nursing in 1970 and 1989 from the ­University of Pennsylvania. Nissley was a ministerial guide for seminary students at Lancas­ter Theological Seminary for nine years, and an additional one and a half years as field education director.

“Elizabeth deeply believed in God close at hand with a love extending to all people,” stated her obituary. “She was a voice for women in her community. She believed in the ongoing mystery and possibility of healing and recovery, in this life and with the end of life.”

A memorial service was held Oct. 1 at James Street Mennonite Church.