Sawatzky, Lydia Niessen (1912-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Jun 21 p. 27

Birth date: 1912 Oct 11

text of obituary:

LYDIA SAWATZKY

ia Sawatzky of Tabor Manor, St. Catharines, Ont., passed away Dec. 14. She was born Oct. 11, 1912 to Peter and Maria Niessen in Ab- erdeen , Sask. As a teen, she would babysit her oldest sister's children and en tertain them with storie s. Sh e was a great sto ryt ell er and en - joy ed a good joke. Sh e taught Su nday school and Vaca tion Bibl e Scho ol and later served in the baby clinic in Vir- gil, On t. She accepted Chri st in her yout h, wa s ba ptized and joined Ab- erdeen MB Church. Sh e and other young peo- ple wanted to study God 's Word in a more st ructured way; they asked BW. Sawatzky to teach them, starting a Bible school in his home. She married Cor- nelius Sawatzky Aug. 4, 1934. They moved to a farm in Coaldale, Alta. in 1947 and to Virgil in 1955. She enjoyed knit- ting, sewing and bak- ing, and hummed as she worked in the kitchen. After Corny's death in May 1974, she moved to St. Catharines. Prede- ceased by Corny, son Ted in March 2001, a grandson, 3 sisters and 4 brothers, she is mourned by daughters Marlene Quapp and Linda Copps, both of Calgary, Lois Berg of Fonthill, Ont., Nell Kro- ker of Kamloops, B.C. and Maggie Esau and Carol Nickel, both of St. Catharines; 21 grand- children; 23 great- grandchildren; 2 great- grea t -g ra ndch i Id ren; and 1 brother. The fu- neral was Dec. 18 in Grantham MB Church, St. Catharines, with John Wi ebe ministering.