Thiessen, Susanna Bolt (1905-2000)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 2000 Dec 15 p. 30

Birth date: 1905 Apr 19

text of obituary:

SUSANNA THIESSEN

Susanna Thiessen of St. Catharines, Ont. passed away Nov. 10. She was born Apr. 19, 1905, the second of 10 children, to Heinrich and Tina Boldt in Karlovka, Ukraine. Her father died at age 48, her mother at 50. In 1927 she married Jakob Thiessen. They had 5 children; 2 died in infancy. In 1937 Jakob was taken by the KGB. He died Dec. 16, 1942 in a labour camp. She eventually found work milking cows. In 1941 she and her children were shipped to Siberia. She had to leave her children with a Russian woman while she worked on a farm. She was not allowed to go home at night. In 1942 she was taken to a work camp. She left her children with her sister Anna, who had 4 children. She had traded her clothes for food for her children, but it ran out before she left. Son Victor, 7, died of starvation in March 1943. She escaped to find her children and became sick. She recovered and took her children 3 days away to her sister Agatha. A few days later, she was sent to prison for 7 years. In 1946, after 11 months, she was released. She recovered and found work on a farm. In 1957 she and her children moved to Novosibirsk, Russia. In 1974 they immigrated to St. Catharines. She joined Scott St. MB Church, where she attended as long as she was able. She was part of the ladies' fellowship in the church. She enjoyed knitting afghans, going out for meals or coffee and taking care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren . She was baptized in her younger years in Ukraine. She remained a Christian throughout her life and enjoyed reading the Bible and having daily devotions. She is mourned by children Erika and Rudolf; 5 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; 2 sisters and 1 brother in Germany. The funeral was Nov. 14 in Scott St. MB Church, with Paul Fast ministering.