CATHERINE HILDEBRAND MARTENS BERG

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CATHERINE HILDEBRAND MARTENS BERG Peacefully on October 8, 2007 Catherine Hildebrand Martens Berg passed away in her sleep at Bethania Personal Care Home. She leaves behind four children, son Hugo (Vivi) and their five children, Michael (Amy), Stephen (Kristi), David (Betsey), Mark (D'lea), and John Preston (Suzanne); son Henry (Agnes) and their two children, Dan (Jill) and Theodore (Carol); son Bruno (Elly) and their two children, Cathie (Edward Ugrin) and Laura (Harold Loewen); and daughter Magdalene (Walter Neufeld) and their two children, Catherine (Jon Sparks) and Bruce (Karen); as well as many great-grandchildren. From her second marriage she is survived by step-daughter Betty (Dick Epp) and their three sons, David (Karen), Donald (Christine) and Robert (Andrea); step-daughter Joan Berg; as well as many great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, seven sisters, and husbands Gerhard Martens and Abram Berg. Catherine was born in 1906 in the small village of Einlage in the Ukraine. She had a happy childhood, but the later years were very difficult. In 1927, mother, her husband and other members of her family left Einlage and went to Saskatchewan. Poor crops and drought conditions forced them to come to Winnipeg where she lived through the depression years of the early 30's. In spite of the difficult life, she kept the family together, was always positive and never wavered in her faith. Her husband Gerhard passed away in 1956. In 1959, she married Abram Berg, and moved to Saskatoon to live with her new family. When her husband Abram retired, they left Saskatoon and came to Winnipeg. He passed away in 1997. She wanted to leave a legacy for her family, and with the assistance of Joan, she wrote many stories of her life in the Ukraine and in Canada, which were given to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held on Tuesday, October 16 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Klassen Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be conducted at Bethania Personal Care Home, 1045 Concordia Ave. at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17. Special thanks to doctors, nurses and helpers of Bethania Personal Care Home for their dedicated and wonderful service to mother. Flowers gratefully declined. Contributions may be made to the Bethania Memorial Foundation, or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to: KLASSEN FUNERAL HOME 1897 Henderson Hwy. 338-0331 www.klassenfuneralhome.com Life stories may be shared with friends and family across the globe at www.mem.com.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 15, 2007