Thiessen, Anna Thiessen (1892-1997)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1977 Apr 29 p. 35

Birth date: 1892

text of obituary:

ANNA THIESSEN

Sister Anna Thiesen was born in 1892 in the village of Wassieljewka, Russia, the daughter of Jacob W. and Helena (nee Siemens) Thiessen. The family moved to Canada in 1903, settling in Winkler, Manitoba. Three years later they moved to Herbert, Saskatchewan; in 1908 in nearby Main Centre she was baptized by Elder B. B. Janz.

She had a strong desire to serve the Lord, and this led her to enroll in 1913 in the first class of the Herbert Bible School, taught by J. F. Harms. In the fall of 1915 she accepted the invitation of W. J. Bestvater to work in the Winnipeg City Mission. After eight years there she left for two years of training at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. When she returned to Winnipeg she was asked to work among the many girls who were working in the city. This led to the establishment of the Mary-Martha Home, where Miss Thiessen served from 1925 to 1959, a total of 34 years. "It was a great privilege for me to learn to know so many women and I learned to love them dearly," she later wrote. "My heart filled with genuine joy whenever I could direct a soul to the Way which leads to eternal life."

After retiring, she and a close friend, Tina Friesen, shared various suites in Winnipeg, including Donwood Manor. Here Miss Friesen passed away in 1976. Sister Thiessen resided in Donwood Manor until she also passed away peacefully on April 1. Many former residents of the Mary-Martha Home attended a funeral service at the Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church on April 4.

She leaves to mourn two brothers; three sisters; and many relatives and friends.