Peters, Helena Konrad (1904-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Oct 4 p. 28

Birth date: 1904 Oct 30

text of obituary:

HELENA PETERS

Helena Peters passed away July 12 in Tabor Home, Abbotsford, B.C. She was born Oct. 30, 1904 to Abram and Katharina Konrad in Alexanderkrone, Molotschna, Russia. She grew up in a happy Christian home and accepted Christ. She was baptized in 1919 and joined the MB church, where she remained a lifelong member. During the Russian Revolution, she experienced great emotional trauma and tragedies. At 14, she witnessed her father's murder by bandits. She married Franz A. Peters Oct. 30, 1924. In August 1926 they immigrated to Canada, living briefly in Manitoba and Alberta, then moving to B.C. The early years were very difficult financially and emotionally. Faith in God and the support of family gave her the strength to carry on. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and upheld them in prayer. She was lonely after Franz died in 1989. After a fall in December 1996, she moved to a nursing home. She is mourned by children Henry of Chilliwack, B.C., Katherine Reynolds of Winnipeg, John of Winnipeg, Frank of Abbotsford, Helen Lotimer of Hamilton, Margarite Hazlewood of West Vancouver and Pauline Kliewer of Fresno, Calif.; 16 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; 1 sister and 1 stepsister. The memorial service was July 20 at Clearbrook MB Church, Abbotsford, with Jay Neufeld and Heinz Ratzlaff ministering.