Dr. Brenda Darlene (Hostetler) Kimmett, PhD

Dr. Brenda Darlene Kimmett, PhD, 57, of Hampden Township, Mechanicsburg, PA went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the U.P.M.C. West Shore Hospital, Mechanicsburg.

She was born February 10, 1966, in Greensburg, PA the daughter of the late Alvie Samuel and Mary Kathryn (Lewis) Hostetler.

Brenda graduated from Kiski High School in 1984. She also graduated from Northeastern Bible College in 1988 where she played basketball and after years of research, she received her PhD in Psychology from Seton Hall in 2000. During her time at Seton Hall, she worked as a Research Assistant and wrote a dissertation on her studies. Brenda additionally worked in Chilton Hospital during the time of her PhD as a resident psychologist in their psychiatric ward. Following the birth of her two sons, Brenda spent time as a substitute teacher for the Cumberland Valley School District. She then went on to work for the State Correction Institution in Camp Hill as a clinical psychologist until retiring in 2015.

Brenda enjoyed faithfully attending the churches she was involved in throughout her life, and especially Christian Life Assembly, through being an active member of their Victory Seekers support group in her later years. Throughout her life she has spread her love for Christ through ministry to numerous listeners from various walks of life, including a mission trip to the Philippines as well as to troubled youth, who were in juvey. She also greatly cherished spending time with her two children and supporting them in their pursuits from school to sports and everything in between. She can often be quoted saying that being a mother was the greatest part of her life as she loved her two boys deeply. Brenda was incredibly gifted at music, having excelled in playing the piano and trombone during her school years. For the latter of these instruments, Brenda was awarded the Johnny Murphy music award, which was given to the best instrumentalist in the band. Her love of faith influenced her family and musical background from sharing daily devotionals to singing hymns in the home often. She demonstrated many great qualities throughout her life and the most significant was that she always put others before herself, which is a trait that her family will always remember her for dearly.

Brenda is survived by her two sons, Brian T. Kimmett and Eric S. Kimmett both of Mechanicsburg; her siblings,  Dr. Alvie Samuel Hurray, DPM (Jan) of Royal Oaks, CA, Kathy Joy Cappo of Avonmore, PA, Mary Lou Swiscoski (Bill) of Pembina, ND, Keith Alvie Hostetler of Goshen, IN; a niece, Alyssa Hostetler of Goshen, IN; a nephew, Jeff Hostetler, Sr. (Teresa) of Delta, UT and his children Jayme Wright (Carl), Mikki Jo Jenson (Kyle), Jeff Hostetler, Jr. (Chelsea) and their children. She was preceded in death along with her parents by a brother, Alvie Samuel Hostetler (Laverne); and a nephew, Thomas Parks.

Services will be held Monday, November 13, 2023, at 11:00 am at her church, Christian Life Assembly, 2645 Lisburn Road, Camp Hill. A viewing will be held Monday from 10-11 am at her church. Both the viewing and service will be held in the Youth Center Sanctuary. Enter the church grounds using the west side parking lot and enter the building marked Youth Center. Burial will be held in the Dillsburg Cemetery-Golf Course Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cocklin Funeral Home, Inc., 30 N. Chestnut St., Dillsburg, PA 17019 to help defray funeral expenses. 

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