Koslowsky, Lydia Thiessen (1914-1990)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 1991 Feb 8 p. 30

Birth date: 1914

text of obituary:

LYDIA KOSLOWSKY

Lydia (Thiessen) Koslowsky passed away Nov. 8. She was born May 17, 1914 in Dav lekanovo. I n 1925 the family immigrated to Hepburn, Sask. Her father began teaching in the German English Academy in Rosthern, Sask. In summer, 1931 she moved to Winnipeg, where she did housework and worked in a sewing factory. She had been raised in a Christian home, always went to church and prayed at bedtime, but became a Christian one Sunday night while working and listening to a quartet sing "Is your name written there?" on the radio. She met John Koslowsky when both sang in the church choir. They married June 26, 1937. He was a printer for the Mennonitische Rundschau. They moved to Geraldton, Ont. for 2 and a half years, back to Winnipeg for a year and then to Abbotsford, B.C. in 1943, where he worked for Hacker Press for 29 years. They sang wherever they could, in church choir and community choirs. She helped with the MET ladies auxiliary, South Poplar school auxiliary, church catering, mission guild, "Bakerview ladies" (handicapped adult women) and MCC programs and taught Pioneer Girls for a few years at South Abbotsford MB Church. John died in 1975 after 2 months of fighting cancer. Lydia and her sister Martha cared for their mother for 6 years until she died. Lydia was found to have bone cancer in June, 1987. She remained peaceful and trusting, praying for others and feeling herself "the richest lady in town" because of her Christian children. She is mourned by her children Anita Penner of Abbotsford, Herb of Abbotsford, Harold of Winnipeg and Lois vander Bijl of Bellingham, WA; 10 grandchildren; 3 sisters and 1 brother. The funeral was Nov. 13 in Bakerview MB Church, Clearbrook, B.C., with Harry Heidebrecht, William Wiebe and David Manuel ministering.