Editing Hajer, Mathilde Kliewer (1918-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2001 Nov 23 p. 24

Birth date: 1918 Mar 21

text of obituary:

<center><h3>MATHILDE HAJER</h3></center>

Mathilde Hajer passed
away in fall 2001. She
was born Mar, 21,
1918 to Franz and Wilhelmine Kliewer in
Sitzk, Poland. The family attended the MB
church in Wymyschle,
She married Willi Hajer
Mar. 12, 1941, Two
children were born to
them. He was drafted
into the German army,
but was captured and
placed on a farm. He
died july 30, 1945 in a
hospital near Prague,
Czechoslovakia, after
being struck by a
horse, Mathilde did
not learn of his death
for several years. In
1944 she and her children tried to flee
Poland, but were
stopped by Russian
troops. They fled a second time, on jan. 18,
1945, arriving in a
refugee camp in Gettinger, East Germany
Mar, 23, 1945, The
family was eventually
relocated to Esbeck,
West Germany. With
the assistance of Uncle
Henry Kliewer of Oklahoma, she immigrated
to Canada in 1948,
staying with the Riesen
family in Mission, B,C.
Two years later, they
bought a farm in
Arnold, B.C. In 1949
her parents immigrated and joined her on
the farm, She worked
on the farm and was a
housemaid in Vancouver while her parents
looked after the children. In 1963 she
moved to Clearbrook,
B,C. She later started
working in the dorms
at the University of
British Columbia. She
moved to Vancouver
in 1968 and continued
working at UBC until
retirement in 1983,
She enjoyed working
in the dorms and related well to young people. She kept cards
and notes of appreciation. In retirement, she
spent many happy
years volunteering at
the MCC thrift store.
She made trips to Europe, Hawaii, Florida
and Wymyschle reunions. She loved
Canada, was grateful
for her blessings and
took a keen interest in
provincial and national
events. She loved the
church and her God.
She was a hard worker,
was generous and enjoyed social gatherings. She was determined to provide a
better life for her children, including a good
education. Humour
and hospitality were
evident in her life. In
1996 she was diag"
nosed with Alzheimer's,
She moved in with her
sister Martha for ayear-and-a-half, then
moved to Pinegrove
care home. Predeceased by Willi, 2
brothers and 1 sister,
she is mourned by son
Frank; daughter Heidi
Funk; 4 grandchildren;
5 great-grandchildren;
and 1 sister.

[[Category:Mennonite Brethren Herald obituaries]]