Memorial List for 2008 - 2009

Bethel Mennonite Church - Langley
Mary Andres --- December 30, 2008 --- age 102
Margareta Wall --- December 30, 2008 --- age 88
Mary Hoock --- February 10, 2009 --- age 87
Katharina Sawatzky --- March 15, 2009 --- age 94

Cedar Valley Mennonite Church - Mission
Anne Bartel --- October 9, 2008 --- age 78
Janet Zall --- October 16, 2008 --- age 79
Helen Dyck --- December 4, 2008 --- age 84

Clearbrook Mennonite Church - Abbotsford
Maria (Nettie) Epp --- May 4, 2008 --- age 97
Irene Penner --- August 6, 2008 --- age 81
Anna Koop --- August 19, 2008 ---age 95
Anna von Kampen Funk --- February 14, 2009 --- age 96
Freda Enns --- February 17, 2009 --- age 89
Elizabeth Dora Hoeppner --- February 20, 2009 --- age 77
Anganetha Rempel --- March 5, 2009 --- age 95

Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church - Abbotsford
Katie Epp --- October 1, 2008 --- age 85
Alma Scheffler --- October 23, 2008 --- age 85
Anna Krahn --- November 17, 2008 --- age 87
Maria Braun --- December 7, 2008 --- age 80
Susie Geddert --- April 13, 2008 --- age 84

Eden Mennonite Church - Chilliwack
Margaret Gerbrandt --- May 1, 2008 --- age 80
Helen Rempel --- June 28, 2008 --- age 100
Erica Klassen --- July 30, 2008 --- age 65
Andrea Steegstra --- August 13, 2008 --- age 17
Katharina Lorenz --- March 2, 2009 --- age 90

First Mennonite Church - Kelowna
Katharina Krahn --- July 14, 2008 --- age 90
Anne Goertzen --- February 15, 2009 --- age 85

First United Mennonite Church - Vancouver
Maria Bergen --- August 13, 2008 --- age 87
Maria Klassen --- September 28, 2008 --- age 99

Level Ground Mennonite Church (West Abbotsford) - Abbotsford
Eileen Taves --- December 21, 2008 --- age 71
Anna Unger --- December 31, 2008 --- age 93

Living Hope Christian Fellowship - Surrey
Janet Katherine Wessa --- September 18, 2008 --- age 41
Pee Pah --- November 4, 2008 --- age 75

Sherbrooke Mennonite Church - Vancouver
Anna Martens --- May 9, 2008 --- age 80

"Because Christ lives, death is not tragedy but TRIUMPH."

Life Story of Margaretha Braun

The following is posted in honour of my Aunt.

Margaretha Braun nee Nikkel

December 30, 1925
July 29, 2005

Margaretha was the first born to Peter and Margaretha Nikkel, in Siberia, USSR in 1925.
In 1930 this very young family had to escape into China and 2 years later they made their way to Paraguay. Life was very difficult, but Margaretha's faith in God helped her cope and survive.
Margaretha met her husband, Isaak, in Paraguay and they were married there on May 5, 1945.
Their 2 oldest children were born in Paraguay and after a few years of struggling to make a life there, they decided to move their family to Canada in 1958.

They began their new life in Winnipeg, Manitoba and here their third child was born in 1961.
Finding the weather too cold in Manitoba, they moved to Vancouver, BC in 1962.
Both Isaak and Margaretha worked hard for many years, which later, allowed them to take their motor home to California and Mexico, quite frequently, together with family and friends, many of which also shared their interest in fishing, camping and relaxing by the sea.

Something Margaretha loved to do before embarking on their annual trips to Mexico, was loading up the motor home with clothes from MCC and then generously give them to families that needed help. After her passing her family said that she still had enough clothes collected for at least 2 or 3 more trips.

In her retirement years, Margaretha was never idle! She continued to work until she was no longer physically able, with most of her time spent at the MC sorting, pairing and washing socks. Piles and piles of socks.... and became affectionately known as the "Sock Lady".
In the apartment block where she lived she befriended women who needed help with shopping and visits to the doctor. She was 70 years old at this time and the women she was helping were only a few years older but when she spoke of these friends she would always refer to them as the "Old Lady".

The loss of her oldest child in 2000 hit Margaretha very hard and she had barely recover from that sad event when her husband passed away in 2001, but she was determined to carry on.

She started going on short trips in the motor home by herself with her last trip being in July 2002 when she drove to Alberta to her grand-daughter, Denise's wedding.

With much faith, strength and willpower she bounced back from the loss of her loved ones and after a long life of struggles and hardships she finally recognized the one thing that was missing in her life and upon her Confession of Faith she was baptized in 2003 by Pastor Jacob Tilitzky and became a member at Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church.

It was shortly after her trip to Alberta that she started to have health problems. She stayed in her apartment as long as was possible but finally was moved to the Valhaven Seniors Home. Even there she was still determined to get better and get back on the road with her motor home.
Unfortunately she never recovered her health and passed into Eternity on July 29, 2005.

Margaretha is survived by 2 children, 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Margaretha's Funeral Service took place on Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church, Abbotsford, BC
Officiating Pastor:
English - Jacob Tilitzky - Job 19:27

"Because Christ lives, death is not tragedy but TRIUMPH."