ALVINA FAST

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ALVINA FAST On September 29, 2005 Alvina Fast (nee Plett), a courageous, loving, optimistic and dearly-loved woman was freed from her battle with cancer. We, her husband Edmar Fast, her children Lois and Paul; Ruth and John; Bruce and Mary; Jerry and Phyllis; Julia and Tom; Marcia and Jonathan, together with her grandchildren Josiah, Ruth, Jonathan, Caleb, Sarah, Michael, Tami, John, Sarah, Becki, Alex, Connor, Mackenzie and Rebecca remember her with love and miss her dearly. Born at home in Prairie Rose, MB in 1928, Alvina learned to take care of a family at a young age. She was only 16 when she lost her mother, leaving her to bake, cook, clean and care for four younger siblings. They threw her first loaf of bread in the river, where it sank like a stone - or so the childhood legend goes. Nonetheless, she loved children all her life, and went to Steinbach Bible Institute because she wanted to be a Bible teacher. There a tall, hard-working man who cheerfully' whistled Oh When the Saints Go Marching in caught her eye. She hadn't escaped Edmar's glances either. On June 20, 1953 Edmar and Alvina were married and four years later they packed their two little girls and everything they owned into a 1941 Chevy and drove to Mexico to be missionaries. Mountains, sun, potholes and Spanish didn't keep Alvina from teaching Bible school in little villages, with a string of her own blonde-haired children in tow. After 36 years of living in Mexico and on the U.S.-Mexican border, Edmar and Alvina and their family retired to their home in Blumenort, MB. We will never forget her huge love for her family, the delight she took in teaching children, her unquenchable optimism and her profound faith in God. We are very grateful to the oncology department at the St. Boniface Hospital, the caring palliative care workers of the Bethesda Hospital and especially to Dr. Karen Toews who was a comfort to us through the most difficult times. Our thanks also go to all our compassionate friends and family members who supported and prayed for us. Alvina, we rejoice that you are with the One who loves you, whom you served all your life. A service in memory of Alvina will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4 at the Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Church. A Viewing, followed by a devotional, will be held at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 150 Penfeld Dr, Steinbach on Monday at 7:00 p.m. Arrangements by Birchwood Funeral Chapel Steinbach Winnipeg, MB 1-888-454-1030 or 1-204-346-1030

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 02, 2005