Ratzlaff, Maria Janzen (1897-1991)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 1991 Jul 19 p. 28

Birth date: 1897

text of obituary:

MARIA RATZLAFF

Maria Ratzlaff passed away Apr. 26. She was born Dec. 29, 1897 to Franz and Maria Janzen in Osterwick, Chortitza, southern Russia. Her mother died 7 months later, and her father remarried twice. In 1906 they moved to Millerovo. In 1917 she decided to follow the Lord, was baptized and joined Millerovo MB Church. She married Gustav Ratzlaff Sept. 15, 1918. In 1923 they moved to Wymyschle, Poland, where he was choir and youth leader and minister in Wymyschle MB Church. In 1945 they fled west, but she and the children were sent back by the Red Army. They were reunited in Germany in 1946, and in 1949 they immigrated to Linden, Alta. In 1952 they bought a small farm in Arnold, B.C. Life was hard but good. Gustav was a minister, then pastor, of Arnold MB Church and had outside work. She worked hard all her life, milking the cows, weeding the berries and doing all that was necessary. She was always ready to help, even when it seemed impossible, and was always ready to welcome their frequent visitors. They moved to Clearbrook Dec. 27, 1967. Gustav became ill in 1981, remaining in hospital until his death in 1985. She moved to Tabor Home in Clearbrook in 1981 and to Menno Hospital in Abbotsford Dec. 29,1987. She is remembered as a loving, patient mother who loved God. Predeceased by her husband, daughter Minna in 1968, son Gustav in the USSR, son Franz in World War II, 2 grandchildren, 2 sisters and 2 brothers, she is mourned by her children Ema Ratzlaff of Calgary, Gustav of Richmond, B.C., Herbert of Abbotsford and Bernie of Mt. Lehman, B.C. The funeral was May 1 in Clearbrook MB Church, with John E. Klassen and Lloyd Pankratz ministering.