Editing Giesbrecht, Helen Janzen (1898-1975)

''Mennonite Brethren Herald'' obituary: 1975 Apr 04 p. 39

Birth date: 1898 May 13

text of obituary:

<center><h3>(MRS.) HELEN GIESBRECHT</h3></center>

Helen Giesbrecht. eldest daughter of
Jacob and Anna Janzen. was born May 13.
1898 in the village of Nikolaifeld. Suworowka
in Russia. She was the eldest of ten children
,and felt a deep kinship with her family. She
was privileged to be a member of a pious
family . in which the parents were concerned
about their children's spiritual welfare.
At the age of 14 she came to a saving
knowledge of the grace of God. She wrote in
her testimony-" I found the Lord and he
found me." In the same year. 1912. she was
baptized. Her faith was to her a sacred
commitment which grew into a blessed
relationship with her God. It was her often
expressed desire to live as a trophy of his
abounding grace.
In 1919 she was married to John Giesbrecht. To this marriage were born nine
children. Three children and her husband
who passed away in 1961. preceded her ~
death.
In 1929 the family immigrated to Canada
and under adverse circumstances established
a home. Despite the difficulty of changing
cultures. and in the face of the impending
depreSSIOn. there were many precious times.
It was her concern that the spiritual dimension in her home should receive due attention.
In 1948 the family moved to Yarrow. B.C.
where she was at home until her most recent
stay at Chilliwack General Hospital. On
March 6 she passed away and was forever
released from sorrow and pain.
Rev. A. L. Klassen spoke at the funeral
from II Timothy 4:6-8. Her stay on earth
could be summed. "a life without regrets."
She is survived by one daughter. Anna in
Yarrow; five sons and their wives: John and
Helen in Haney. B .C.• Peter and Katherine
in Vancouver. Henry and Joanne in Salmon
Arm. B.C .• William and Marie in Surrey.
B.C.• David and Betty in Clearbrook. B.C.;
one brother and sister-in-law. Jacob and
Agnes in Richmond. B.C.; and as much as is
known. by her youngest sister Sarah and two
brothers , Peter and John. in Russia; 11
grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

[[Category:Mennonite Brethren Herald obituaries]]