Editing Janzen, Lena F. Friesen (1904-2000)

''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' obituary: 2000 May 26 p. 29

Birth date: 1904 Sep 24 

Text of obituary:

<center><h3>LENA F. JANZEN</h3></center>

Lena F. Janzen of Abbotsford, B.C. passed
away Apr. 1 of cancer
and a broken hip. She
was born Sept. 24,
1904 to David B. and
Helena Friesen in Tiege
#8, Sagradowka, Russia. She grew up in AItonau, where she sang
in the choir. As the oldest of 7 children, she
set a good example. In
Altonau she accepted
Christ. In 1920 she was
baptized in the Inguletz River. In 1926
she married Jacob
Franz Janzen. She had
prayed for her futu re
husband before she
met him; he had survived narrow escapes
from danger during 7
years as a soldier before becoming a Christian. They immigrated
to Saskatchewan in
1926 and opened a
grocery store. In 1932
they moved to Yarrow,
B.C. They started a
grocery store in Greendale, B.C. She helped
in the store as well as
raising 5 children and
being active in Greendale MB Church, MCC
and the Red Cross. She
loved sewing dresses
for the Red Cross. Her
hands were never idle.
Hospitality was a way
of life. They hosted visiting preachers and
quartets and boarded
Bible school teachers.
Their home was open
to many friends. She
was a born storyteller,
telling stories, singing
songs and playing
games with her children. Their hardware
store (Greendale Electric) was damaged in
the 1948 flood, and recovery was difficult.
When Jacob retired,
they baked and
cooked together. In
1976 they moved to
Abbotsford. She sorted
yarn at the MCC store
and crocheted over
600 afghans for MCC
and some for her family. She taught herself
to type. Her story Journey of Courage was
published in 1995. She
made her last 2
afghans and continued
typing after moving to
Menno Home in
March 1999. The
move was difficult, but
she made new friends.
Predeceased by Jacob
in 1978, son Johnnie, a
great-granddaughter,
1 sister and 3 brothers,
she is mourned by
children Lena Harder,
Nettie Anne Yeske,
Rosella Wiebe and
Fred; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; 1 brother and 1 sister. The funeral was Apr. 8 in Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford, with Ross
Johnston and Don Enns
ministering.

[[Category:Mennonite Brethren Herald obituaries]]