Mary Janzen

    Mary Dyck was born June 4 1937 in Neuendorf Russia. Mary lived in the village of Neuhorst until 1943 when the family fled and were on a farm in Poland for a few months and then continued on to West Germany. Here Mary met lifelong friend Erika Neufeld (Mrs. Jo Blank) in the refugee camp and also started school.

    In 1948 the family was able to come to Canada settling on the Henry Janzen farm south of Swift Current Sk. In 1951 the family moved to Coaldale AB and worked in the sugar beet fields.

    Mary attended Menno Bible Institute for one year, was baptized in Coaldale Mennonite Church and taught Sunday school in Coaldale as well as in Taber Mennonite Church.

    At the Alberta Mennonite Youth Retreat in 1959, held at the newly purchased camp, Mary happened to be in a group led by Peter Janzen of Springridge, to explore the grounds.  This meant wading across the Red Deer River. Peter offered to help and carry her shoes which she refused.

    Mary felt very responsible to support the family finances and broke off dating Peter and gave the money earned at Sparkle Cleaners in Lethbridge to help pay for the new house. After her father was able to sell the old house on a10 acre lot Mary asked to continue dating and they got married June 23, 1962. Mary spent a summer with her aunt in Kelowna BC working in a cannery and wanted to go visit her aunt on our honeymoon.

    Mary volunteered at the Pincher Creek hospital and after moving to Lethbridge did a lot of volunteering at the Extendicare on 13th Street, and the MCC Thrift Shop. One day a lady came in looking for some buttons, but she wanted some the size on Mary’s sweater so Mary cut them off her sweater and gave them to her.

    Mary suffered a lot of migraine headaches and when an MRI showed she had had a ministroke the Dr. wanted to know when. I couldn’t tell him because I didn’t know, because Mary didn’t complain and suffered in silence and probably considered it a severe headache. Mary had a broken eardrum at age fourteen which didn’t get repaired until 2009 and was able to get 80 percent of her hearing on that ear back. Mary saw a specialist in 1970 who she understood to say that if he operated on the ear there was a possibility she would lose hearing on the good ear which I tried to convince her for many years wasn’t true and it took evidence of a person in church to convince her to have the operation.

    Mary liked to walk in the park and talk to the neighbours and knew everyone in our block but eventually dementia took hold and she didn’t always get back on her own. June 12 2018 Mary became a resident at St. Therese Villa.  She didn’t like it but accepted it and tried to help and hug others, receiving thank you cards from the families for her support.

    Mary was predeceased by her parents Jacob and Cornelia Dyck, brother Jake (Anne) Dyck of Winkler MB, sister Annie (Peter Wiebe) Armstrong BC and sister Helena (John Graham) of Richmond BC; granddaughters Ingrid and Laura, children of Henry and Karla; and daughter-in-law Ruby (Boehr) Janzen.  Left to mourn her passing are husband Peter Janzen, son Henry (Karla) Janzen, and their children Randy, Jill, Kari, Cordell, Logan, and Russell; son Karl (Gloria) Janzen and their children Amanda (Wade) and great grandson Levi, Craig (Megan), and Kyle; son Arnold (Barb) Janzen, Arnold’s children Nadine (Yeong) Seong, and Mark (Jolene), great granddaughters Clare, Elise and Danielle; son Cornie (Brenda) Janzen, child Brody (Hannah). Sister Cornelia Dyck, Brother John (Emily) Dyck, brother Henry (Anne) Dyck and numerous nephews and nieces.

     Thank you to the staff at St. Therese Villa for the love and compassionate care for Mary.

     A Memorial Service will be held May 7, 2:00 00 p.m. at Lethbridge Mennonite Church.

     In lieu of flowers donations may be made to MCC AB 2946 32 St NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6J7
or a charity of your choice.

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