Peters, Anna Reimer (1880-1971)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1971 Oct 6 p. 31

Birth date: 1880 Sept 27

text of obituary:

ANNA PETERS

(Mrs.) Anna Peters, wife of the widely known Mennonite Brethren minister, Rev. C. C. Peters, was born on September 27, 1880 in Franztal, Molotschna, in southern Russia, the daughter of Nikolai and Maria Reimer. In her childhood the influence of the village teacher, Bernhard Fast, and in particular the Bible stories he told, influenced her greatly. During her youth, her parents moved to a Mennonite daughter colony, the Terek settlement.

The beginning there was difficult as the new settlers brought the land under cultivation and introduced irrigation to the land. However, for Anna this was the place of her conversion and here she also was baptised and accepted into the Mennonite Brethren Church. As a young woman was able to go to Riga to study nursing and midwifery. As a result she found a position as nurse to Mrs. H . Schmeder, the ailing wife of an estate owner, for five years. Later she came to Jekaterinowka, in the province of Jekaterinoslaw, where she worked as midwife. Here she also met her husband, C. C. Peters, who was teaching in the same town. He became a widower during this time and through the providence of God they were brought together in marriage. These were difficult years, as Russia went through the convulsions brought on by the Revolution and as severe famine set in. Her husband was a teacher but was forced to leave his chosen profession. Finally, in 1925, they were able to emigrate to Canada. Here they began a new life on the farm and later in an itinerant ministry, In 1947 her husband was called to a ministry in South America where they worked in the schools and churches for 12 years, in Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay. After returning to Canada they again took up a variety of ministries in conference institutions and churches. They retired to the Tabor Home in St. Catharines in 1969. On August 8, 1970, they were privileged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. They had six children, all married; 28 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. She passed away at the Tabor Home on August 9, 1971,in her 91st year.

Mrs. Peters is survived by her husband, Cornelius C. Peters; two daughters, Mrs. Martin (Justina) Durksen, Vineland, Ont., Mrs. Peter (Anna) Bargen, Edmonton; and four sons, Dan, San Jose, Calif., Corney, Toronto, Peter, Ottawa and Frank, Kitchener. The funeral was conducted from the Scott St. Mennonite Brethren Church, St. Catharines, on August 12 with the brethren Henry P. Penner and Jacob Neufeld ministering.