Giesbrecht, Helen Janzen (1898-1975)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1975 Apr 04 p. 39

Birth date: 1898 May 13

text of obituary:

(MRS.) HELEN GIESBRECHT

Helen Giesbrecht. eldest daughter of Jacob and Anna Janzen. was born May 13. 1898 in the village of Nikolaifeld, Suworowka in Russia. She was the eldest of ten children and felt a deep kinship with her family. She was privileged to be a member of a pious family. in which the parents were concerned about their children's spiritual welfare.

At the age of 14 she came to a saving knowledge of the grace of God. She wrote in her testimony - "I found the Lord and he found me." In the same year, 1912, she was baptized. Her faith was to her a sacred commitment which grew into a blessed relationship with her God. It was her often expressed desire to live as a trophy of his abounding grace.

In 1919 she was married to John Giesbrecht. To this marriage were born nine children. Three children and her husband who passed away in 1961. preceded her death.

In 1929 the family immigrated to Canada and under adverse circumstances established a home. Despite the difficulty of changing cultures. and in the face of the impending depression, there were many precious times. It was her concern that the spiritual dimension in her home should receive due attention.

In 1948 the family moved to Yarrow. B.C. where she was at home until her most recent stay at Chilliwack General Hospital. On March 6 she passed away and was forever released from sorrow and pain.

Rev. A. L. Klassen spoke at the funeral from II Timothy 4:6-8. Her stay on earth could be summed. "a life without regrets."

She is survived by one daughter. Anna in Yarrow; five sons and their wives: John and Helen in Haney, B.C., Peter and Katherine in Vancouver, Henry and Joanne in Salmon Arm. B.C., William and Marie in Surrey, B.C., David and Betty in Clearbrook. B.C.; one brother and sister-in-law, Jacob and Agnes in Richmond. B.C.; and as much as is known, by her youngest sister Sarah and two brothers, Peter and John, in Russia; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.