Giesbrecht, Aganeta Giesbrecht (1900-2001)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Jan 11 p. 23

Birth date: 1900 Oct 7

text of obituary:

AGANETA GIESBRECHT

Aganeta Giesbrecht of Abbotsford, B.C. passed away Oct. 16. She was born Oct. 7, 1900 to Bernhard and Lena Giesbrecht in Georgsthal, Fuerstenland, Ukraine. She was one of 17 children; only 9 children survived. She began working as a babysitter at 13. At 23, she married Kornelius Federau. They left Russia in 1928 and went to Paraguay in 1930. During a severe storm at sea, she surrendered her life to God. They encountered many difficulties in the Chaco. She and Kornelius were baptized and joined the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1965 they immigrated to Canada. They had difficulty finding work but earned a living. She was a member at Culloden MB Church in Vancouver, then Clearbrook MB Church, Abbotsford. She enjoyed gardening. Kornelius was diagnosed with cancer in 1976 and died Oct. 18, 1977. In 1982 she moved to Tabor Home. She married George Giesbrecht in 1985. He died in December 1992. She seldom complained, was cheerful, made many friends at Tabor Home and visited the sick as long as she was able to walk. In 1995 she became confined to a wheelchair and learned to master it well. She longed to go home. Predeceased by Kornelius and George, 3 sons, 1 daughter, 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, she is mourned by children Lena Wall, John, Margaret Rode, Abram, Liese Duerksen, Mary Neufeld and Frieda Duerksen; 36 grandchildren; 105 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; and 1 sister. The funeral was Oct. 20 in Clearbrook MB Church, with Art Isaac, Eldon DeFehr and John E. Klassen ministering.