Miralda Poeder's Obituary
Miralda Poeder of Palmyra, NJ passed away May 13, 2025. She was 95 years old.
Miralda was born to Eva Oeselg and Peeter Poder in Saaremaa, Estonia. In November 1944 following invasions by the Russian and German Armies, she went into hiding with her family until their capture, when they were placed in a German displacement camp and it’s where she met her future husband, Johannes. Miralda and Johannes married in 1947, then following their release from the camp with help from the Lutheran Church, they immigrated to Texas in 1950 to work for one year on a cattle ranch. Heading north with brief stays in Baltimore and Delanco, in 1954 the Poeder family settled into their “forever home” on Garfield Avenue in Palmyra, NJ.
While Miralda worked for many years as a seamstress at Century Mills in Riverside, her family was always her first priority. She attended countless events, concerts, games, plays and graduations for all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, always with smiles and cheers of encouragement. She also was a shining star in the kitchen keeping her family extremely well fed with incredible soups, Estonian specialties, and her special “Runaway Pancakes” named by her grandchildren. Her small stature was eclipsed by an enormous, loving heart that she shared with all who knew her. When the pandemic started, she worried that her friends and family would “get soft”, so Miralda held an on-line ZOOM meeting every day for “Exercise with Grandma”. These exercise sessions continued daily right up until Monday.
Miralda is predeceased by Johannes and survived by her five children Lembit Jack Poeder (Cheryl), Linda Patton (Seth), Marianne Shattuck (Alden), Tiiu Diane Sillard (Peter), and Eva Lisa Eckhardt (Mark). Her legacy also includes 17 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren, all of whom loved her dearly. There is no measure for how sorely this very special lady will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Miralda's name may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, 617 Morgan Avenue, Palmyra, NJ, 08065. https://www.bethanypalmyra.org/
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held 9:30 – 11:00am Monday, May 19th at Givnish Funeral Home, 1200 US-130 N., Cinnaminson, NJ 08077. A service will begin at 11 am. This will be livestreamed: https://www.viewlogies.net/givnish/ssp1LGhOZ?pin=345961
Burial will follow at Bethel Memorial Park, Pennsauken.
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