Former Moorestown Friends Teacher Dies

Miriam Cosand Ward passed away Dec. 23 at the age of 96.

She was born Feb. 20, 1916, in Georgetown, IL, the daughter of Lyman and Nora (Carter) Cosand. As the daughter of a Friends (Quaker) minister, she lived in various Quaker communities as she grew up: Collins, NY, and Mooresville and Bloomingdale, IN.

After graduating from Earlham College, she taught in Indiana high schools while continuing her education, finally earning a master’s degree in Home Economics from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Miriam came to Moorestown in 1946 as a dietitian at Moorestown Friends School. In 1947, she married Edward Pedigree Ward. They lived most of their married life in Pennsauken, where they raised their two children. Miriam’s teaching career included substitute teaching in public schools, adult school classes, home economics at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) and nutrition and diet therapy at Helene Fuld School of Nursing in Camden.

As a faculty member of Rutgers’ Cook College she was county home economist in Camden County from 1970 to 1980.

After retirement, Miriam and Edward lived in Mount Laurel for five years, then moved to Medford Leas Continuing Care Retirement Community in 1988, where Edward died in 2001.

Miriam was a member of the Moorestown Monthly Meeting of Friends, and an active member of South Jersey Spinners and Weavers Guild. She enjoyed all kinds of needlework, donating much of her work for the benefit of Friends organizations. Miriam also did extensive genealogical research, culminating in her book, A Family History: A Long Time In the Making.

She is survived by her sister Charleen Cosand, brother-in-law Tom Ward, children Elizabeth Alexander and Robert Ward, daughter-in-law Grace Ward, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Medford Leas at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to The Reserve Fund at Medford Leas, 1 Medford Leas Way, Medford, NJ 08055.

Condolences may be left at  www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.

- Courtesy of Lewis Funeral Home

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