Janzen, Mary Matties (1918-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Dec 6 p. 24

Birth date: 1918 Jan 26

text of obituary:

MARY JANZEN

Mary Janzen away Aug. 6. She was born Jan. 26, 1918 to Abram and Mari a Matties near Omsk, Siberia . Her father died of a stroke 6-7 months later. Her mother remarried but died of starvation 2 1/2 years later. For 6 years, Mary was moved between relatives and an orphanage before she and her brothers were taken in by her Uncle Wilhelm and Aunt Agn es. During the se y ea rs, she learned to de- pend on the Lord and trusted Christ as her Savi our. In 1929, they immigrated to Ro sth- ern, Sask. For 10 y ea r s, she lived with Mr. and Mr s. Jac ob Penner, in Hepburn, Sask., looking after them and going to school. At 16, she w as baptized and joined Hepburn MB Church. She did day work in Sas katoon for several y ea rs, stayed briefly in La Gl ace, Alt a. and moved to Yarrow, B.C. Sh e married Fr ank Janz en Jan . 28, 1951. They owned a str awb erry and pig farm , th en moved to Van co uver, where Frank worked for mattr ess companies. She enjoyed being a mother and homemaker, taught her children to love th e Lord and led by exa mple. They attended Vancouver MB Church , but switched to Will- in gdon MB Church wh ere she taught age 4- 5 Sunday sc hool for many years . In February 1971 , breast cancer was diagnosed; she asked the Lord to spare her until her children were grown . Mini-strokes in 1973 and an aneurysm in 1976 damaged her eyes . Frank retired in 1980; in 1981 they moved to Ab- botsford , B.C . Shortly, Frank was diagnosed with Parkinson 's . She cared for him until he mov ed to Tabor Home in 1990. She moved to Sun se t Manor in 1992. He moved to Men- no Ho spital. where he died Sept. 3, 1996. Sh e filled the lonely hours with family, friends and handwork. Sh e fac ed cancer, cataracts, a heart condition and strokes. Her trust in the Lord continued to d ee pen and her longing for heav en incre ase d. Pred eceased by Frank and her brother, sh e is mourned by children Caroline Thurley of Abbotsford , Laurinda Kraus e of Winnipeg, Val eria Pollard of Alder- grov e, B.C. and Greg of Abbotsford; and 14 grandchildre n. The funeral was Aug. 12 in Bakerview MB Church , Abbotsford, with Herb Neufeld ministering.