Mom was born on Tuesday, November 2,1926, the 4th of 15 kids to David & Susan Klassen (Heinrichs) of Halbstadt, MB. She was raised on the farm in the area until 1938 when the family moved to Homewood.
She is survived by her children; daughter, Lillian (Ron ) Hiebert of Headingley and their three children, Curtis (Tracy), Tanya (Alex) Suelzle and Scott (Savannah); son Terry (Betty) of Carman and two children, Kelly (Jenna) and Andrea; son Glen (Terri Lynn) of Carman and their three children, Britni (Carson) Callum, Stephanie (Sean) McIntosh and Taylor (Maizy); and daughter, Marilyn (Guido) Faralli of Winnipeg and their two children, Benita (Steven) Heide and Carmen. She also leaves behind 15 great grandchildren and brothers, Ernst of Toronto, John (Alice) of Vancouver, Charles (Margaret) of Melbourne, Australia, and Victor of Valle de Bravo, Mexico, and sisters Katherine and Susanna of Toronto, sister in laws; Anne Klassen, Dona Klassen, Lona Klassen, Margaret Dyck, Ina (Walter) Friesen and numerous nephews and nieces.
Mom’s parents left Halbstadt and moved to Homewood to start the Mennonite church but she stayed behind to finish school that year and then moved to Homewood. When she was a teenager her parents were very busy with pastoral care which left mom in charge of her four youngest brothers. She has fond memories of looking after them and the feeling was mutual as her brothers often mention she was like a second mom.
There she met the love of her life, James Dyck, through church in 1938 and started dating in 1945 and were married on November 2, 1947. They raised their children on the family farm until 1980 when they moved to Winnipeg but then came back to Carman the next year.
Mom’s life was her family and faith. Mom became a Christian at 15 years of age and grew stronger in her faith every day. She was very active in the Homewood Mennonite Church and at Bethel in Winnipeg, later in life. She loved to care for the babies, teach Sunday School and help with food. Mom was always willing to help lend a hand to anyone in need whether it was through food, a ride, prayer or by being a friend. She was known in our family as our prayer warrior and will be missed greatly.
Throughout Mom’s life she worked at many different jobs and always gave it her best. Besides being a mother and farmwife, she sold real estate, was a receptionist at Parkland Floor Covering and sold life insurance. Her hobbies included sewing, baking, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and walking. Her last few years in Carman you could find mom pushing her walker around town from the Towers to the Co-op or Syl’s, no matter the weather.
Mom and Dad enjoyed 57 years together and she missed him very much when he passed away on January 28, 2005. They had travelled extensively working with Mennonite Disaster Service, attending Mennonite Conferences all over the states, the Flying Farmers and to Hawaii and Europe with family and friends. Visiting with friends and family was a huge part of their lives.
Mom loved her family and all the little ones that came along. She seemed more protective of her grandchildren and their safety than her own kids. Every time a grandchild or great grandchild was born they were added to her prayer list. It brought her much joy to see any of her great grandchildren and would talk endlessly about them to whoever called or visited.
Mom went to be with her Lord and Saviour on Friday November 18th at 3:30 am at the Middlechurch Care Home. She was predeceased by her husband, James, her parents David D. and Susan Klassen and sisters, Anna Hiebert, Henrietta Driedger, Elsa Neufeld and brothers Aaron, Erdman (Ed), William, Paul, and Stanley; by several brother in laws and sister in laws, six nephews and by granddaughter Daniela Faralli in 1988 and 1 great granddaughter Pearl Dyck in 2015.
We the family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, calls, visits and support during this last year of Mom’s life. It was difficult and we did our best to keep mom happy and comfortable. A special thanks to the doctors and nurses at the Carman Hospital, Notre Dame Personal Care Home, Misericordia Health Centre and Middlechurch Care Home for the wonderful care mom received.
Thank you to Pastor Rudy Franz for presiding over mom’s funeral. Thank you to Doyle’s for their help in this part of the journey.
There will be a viewing at Doyle’s Funeral Chapel, Carman, MB on Sunday November 27th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Burial will be held on Monday, November 28th, 2022 at 1 pm at the Greenwood Cemetery, with funeral service to follow at the Carman Mennonite Church at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Union Gospel Mission Winnipeg.
