Enns, Maria Koslowsky (1892-1980)

Latest revision as of 13:44, 1 March 2023

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1980 Apr 25 p. 31

Birth date: 1892 Dec. 31

text of obituary:

(Mrs.) Maria Enns of Clearbrook, B.C. passed away on April 2. She was born on December 31, 1892 to Peter and Katharina (Krause) Koslowsky in Schoendorf, Ekaterinoslav, Russia. Her mother died when she was six, after which she was raised by her father's cousin, Heinrich and Margaret Koslowsky of Einlage. They moved to Sophiewka, back to Einlage, and then to Siberia. At age 15 she returned to her father's family and new stepmother, Susanna (Ratzlaff). She worked as a seamstress at the Bethania Mental Hospital in Einlage. On her 18th birthday she accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour, and was baptized on June 12, 1911 into the Sergejewka Mennonite Brethren Church. On October 20,1919 she married Cornelius J. Enns in Sergejewka. The couple farmed in Olgafeld until fall 1926, when they immigrated to Canada, arriving in Manitoba on November 29. They lived the last nine of 18 years in the Steinbach area. They moved to Yarrow, B.C. in 1944 and lived there till 1971, when they moved to Vancouver. She lived in the Menno Home for her last six years. She was predeceased by husband Cornelius in 1978, daughter Lydia in 1922, and sons Peter in 1926 and John in 1952. She is survived by daughters and spouses: Anna and John Friesen of Yarrow, Sue Rempel of Vancouver, Mary and Abe Klassen of Richmond, Agatha and Hank Ratzlaff of Surrey (all B.C.} and Kathy and Len Unruh of Blaine, Wash.; 22 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The funeral was held April 3 in the Yarrow MB Church, with pastor Abe L. Klassen officiating. Rev. Peter Unger, chaplain at the Menno Home, brought a German message.