MARY (MARIA) DEIBERT (BORGER)

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MARY (MARIA) DEIBERT (BORGER) God called Mary home at age 94 on May 22, 2013, at Luther Home, following a valiant struggle with dementia. Born May 7, 1919, at the McGregor Street home of Johann Heinrich Borger (1872 to 1946) and Katharina Sophia Bernhardt (1878 to 1944), from Holstein, Russia (1902), she was their last surviving child. She was the granddaughter of Johan Georg (Frederich) and Elizabeth Borger from Holstein, Russia and of Andreas and Katharina Bernhardt from Galka, Russia. She was predeceased by her parents, grandparents, siblings Henry (Bea), Molly Brady (Ernie), Fred (Ann), Davy (Ella), Andy, Bill (Dawn), and son-in-law Guenter. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Ed, daughters Kathy (David), and Linda, grandchildren, Chris (Lisa), Debbie (Curtis), Cindy (Oscar) and Devon (Fiona), also sister-in-law Betty Borger of Calgary, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and families in Canada and the U.S. Mary was a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church, baptized May 18, 1919 and married September 23, 1949, the first couple from Luther League. She was active in Senior Choir, Junior Mission Band, Director of the Cherub Choir, and one of the first English Sunday School teachers (1955 to 1984) and also taught Saturday School. Pastors Schievie and Propp needed an organist for English Services and Mary reported for duty, continuing on as a relief organist for over 40 years, even learning to play the pipe organ, under the guidance of Conrad Grimes. Luther League began in 1942 where she met Ed. In 1963, Mary went to Madison, WI to become a Bethel Bible Study teacher. She volunteered (1969 to 2006) at Luther Home with crafts, exercises, singsongs and bingo and ran the Adult Day Program. She also sorted clothes at Canadian Lutheran World Relief. As an Inkster Seniors Club founder, she served as treasurer and president from 1984 to 2006 and secured a Winnipeg Foundation grant for a handicapped lift in the church. She was a dean at Lake Brereton church camp despite not being an outdoor person. A passion for music led her to the Sisters of St. Joseph's and with her dad's player piano, Mary became an accomplished pianist and organist, achieving Elementary with Honours (1931) from the Toronto Conservatory of Music. She also inherited her father's ability to play by ear. She attended school at Ralph Brown (1930), Faraday (1934) and St. John's High (1936) and graduated with Honours (exemptions). Instead of going to university without having to write an exam she enrolled in Success Business College to learn business skills and bookkeeping. "Soda Jerky" at Tower Drugs was her first job. Then, she joined the family business J.H. Borger & Sons for 10 years as receptionist, secretary, bookkeeper, brother's keeper and client liaison. Kathy arrived two weeks after leaving. In 1967, she resumed her career with Ed Deibert Ltd. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 28 at 2:00 p.m. at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue (across from Brookside Cemetery), Pastor Bruce Gelhorn presiding. Burial took place at Brookside Cemetery prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 27, 2013