Tiessen, Mary Funk (1905-1967)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1967 Nov 10 p. 18

Birth date: 1905 Jul 26

text of obituary:

MARY TIESSEN

Mrs. Mary Tiessen, nee Funk, was born July 26, 1905 in Warman, Saskatchewan. She was saved at an early age, as a girl of 16 years, and later on, in 1941, she was baptized by Rev. H.S. Rempel and accepted into the Mennonite Brethren Church of Saskatoon.

She married Henry D. Tiessen, a widower with two children, in 1923 and with him bore seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Her testimony about the years in Warman are contained in the words: "Call unto me, and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not" (Jer. 33:3). This was the place where five of the children grew up and were saved and during this time three of them followed the call of the Lord to the mission field - Fred to India, Nettie to Guadaloupe and Herb to India. The Lord brought many blessings into the life of the family. Despite her family responsibilities, she was active in Sunday school work, sang in a ladies' trio and choir, and extended the hospitality of her home to pastors, missionaries, DVBS workers and many others.

In 1946 the family moved to the Abbotsford, B.C. area. She fellowshipped in the ladies meetings of the West Abbotsford Church, but as a member of the South Abbotsford Church, they participated in the services and the weekly prayer meetings faithfully for 21 years. Since moving to Clearbrook, she had joined the sewing circle of the Mennonite Brethren church there. She prayed faithfully for her family, relatives and friends, even when she was very sick. She also kept up extensive correspondence with friends and relatives, keeping them informed about each other.

During her suffering and final illness, that ended with her death on September 20, 1967, her favorite verse was, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh. 8:10). She was the first of her family of 11 brothers and sisters to pass away.

Left to mourn her passing are her husband, Henry; son Fred of Toronto formerly of India; daughter Anne, Mrs. Peter Reimer of Kansas City, MI.;Nettie af Guadaloupe; Herb of India; Gordon of Kamloops, B.C.; George of Surrey, B.C.; Donald of Clearbrook, B.C.; four daughters-in-law; one son-in-law; 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; as well as six sisters and four brothers. The funeral was held in the South Abbotsford Church with Rev. David Nickel officiating, assisted by Rev. J.J. Stobbe.