Sawatzky, Lydia Niessen (1912-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Jun 21 p. 27

Birth date: 1912 Oct 11

text of obituary:

LYDIA SAWATZKY

Lydia Sawatzky of Tabor Manor, St. Catharines, Ont., passed away Dec. 14. She was born Oct. 11, 1912 to Peter and Maria Niessen in Aberdeen, Sask. As a teen, she would babysit her oldest sister's children and entertain them with stories. She was a great storyteller and enjoyed a good joke. She taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School and later served in the baby clinic in Virgil, Ont. She accepted Christ in her youth, was baptized and joined Aberdeen MB Church. She and other young people wanted to study God's Word in a more structured way; they asked B.W. Sawatzky to teach them, starting a Bible school in his home. She married Cornelius Sawatzky Aug. 4, 1934. They moved to a farm in Coaldale, Alta. in 1947 and to Virgil in 1955. She enjoyed knitting, sewing and baking, and hummed as she worked in the kitchen. After Corny's death in May 1974, she moved to St. Catharines. Predeceased by Corny, son Ted in March 2001, a grandson, 3 sisters and 4 brothers, she is mourned by daughters Marlene Quapp and Linda Copps, both of Calgary, Lois Berg of Fonthill, Ont., Nell Kroker of Kamloops, B.C. and Maggie Esau and Carol Nickel, both of St. Catharines; 21 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and 1 brother. The funeral was Dec. 18 in Grantham MB Church, St. Catharines, with John Wiebe ministering.