Federau, Cornelius J. (1900-1977)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1978 Jan 6 p. 22

Birth date: 1900 Oct 20

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS J. FEDERAU

The village of Rosenbach, Fuerstenland, Ukraine was the birthplace of Cornelius J. Federau on October 20, 1900. On October 18, 1977 in Vancouver a long period of suffering from cancer ended when the Lord called him home. He was married to Aganeta Giesbrecht on February 4, 1923, and five years later they left Russia to move to Canada. After a two year delay in Riga because of health reasons, the Federau's decided to move to Paraguay with their five children.

The pioneer years in the Chaco were difficult but the Lord never left them. In Paraguay six more children were born, but two died in infancy. Mr. Federau accepted Jesus as his Saviour in 1932 and joined the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church after baptism. When they moved to Canada in 1965 he joined the Vancouver (B.C.) Mennonite Brethren Church and subsequently the Culloden Church.

Cancer was diagnosed in May, 1976 and a year later he was hospitalized as his condition deteriorated. A joyous occasion was a brief stay at home during the visit of his daughter Lisa and her husband from Paraguay. During the last month his wife and children cared for him at home; God supplied the needed strength and patience.

He leaves to mourn his beloved wife, Aganeta; six daughters and their husbands, Agnes and Abram Duerksen, Lisa and Jacob Duerksen, Frieda and Helmut Duerksen, all of Paraguay; Lena and Johan Wall, and Margaret and Henry Rode of Vancouver; and Mary and Hans Neufeld of St. Catharines, Ont.; three sons and their wives, John and Sara, Vancouver; Cornie and Neta, Abbotsford; Abram and Susie, Clearbrook; 43 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; five sisters; one brother; and many friends and relatives.