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MARIA HEIDEBRECHT
Born: Dec 03, 1930
Date of Passing: Mar 13, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryMARIA HEIDEBRECHT
It is with deep sadness that the family of Maria Heidebrecht announces her passing on March 13, 2026 at Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home.
She will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her daughters, Irene Schellenberg and Irmgard (Woldemar) Kasdorf; and son Gerhard (Anne) Heidebrecht; grandchildren, Harold (Shannon), Angela (Burl), Charlene (Keith), Michael (Stephanie), Anthony (Haley), Krista (Daryl), David (Sydney), Steven (Megan); 14 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Anna Tessmann, and extended family and friends.
Maria was predeceased by her husband Heinrich (2007); parents, Heinrich and Maria Peters (nee Plett); stepmother Anna Peters (nee Tessmann, Balzer); brothers, Heinrich Peters (lost in the war), John Peters, Nick Tessmann; sister Lydia Penner; son-in-law Harry Schellenberg.
Maria was born in Mariental, Molotschna, Ukraine on December 3, 1930, during a time of great unrest. In 1943, during the Second World War, Maria’s family joined the Trek to the West, through Poland, Germany and Holland and eventually, in 1947, to Paraguay on the ship ‘Volendam’.
Maria was very grateful for God’s leading in her life. In Paraguay, Maria was baptized upon the confession of her faith in the Mennonite Church. This was also where she met and married Heinrich, and where their three children were born. In 1957, Maria and Heinrich, along with their children, immigrated to Winnipeg to begin a new chapter in their life in Canada.
Maria was a devoted and loving wife, mother, Oma and great-Oma. She always found joy and pride in her garden and the many flowers she planted in her yard. She enjoyed having her grandchildren over for her delicious chicken noodle soup, borscht and the many baked goodies, especially her tortes. She loved spending time playing dominoes with family and friends, and games such as Chinese checkers with her grandchildren.
The family is grateful to Dr. L. Cattani and the staff at Bethania Mennonite Personal Care Home for their kind and compassionate care.
The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Douglas Mennonite Church, 1517 Rothesay Street, with interment to follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens.
Donations in memory of Maria may be made to Mennonite Central Committee.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 21, 2026