Klassen, Maria Siemens (1895-1967)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1968 Jan 05 p. 19

Birth date: 1895 Jul 18

text of obituary:

MARIA KLASSEN

(Mrs.) Maria Klassen was born in Sofiovka, South Russia, on July 18, 1895, a daughter of Jacob and Anna Siemens and the eldest of 11 children. At the age of 15 she made a public profession of her faith in Christ and was accepted into the church at Nikolaiovka. She began a career in nursing as a young girl but returned to her home when the typhoid epidemic passed through the Mennonite villages. In 1920 she married Abram Klassen of Gusarovka.

Because of the unsettled conditions in Russia, they decided to move to Canada and in 1926 they settled on a farm at Pilot Butte, Sask. During the depression they moved to Regina where they lived for 15 years. Later they moved to Vancouver where they resided another 18 years. Their family was blessed with two sons and a daughter.

Mrs. Klassen passed away on September 16, 1967, after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Margaret; her two sons, Jake and his wife, Orpha, and Abe and his wife, Evelyn; and numerous other relatives and friends.