MATILDA SUDERMAN REGEHR

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MATILDA SUDERMAN REGEHR November 21, 1918 - January 19, 2015 Matilda Suderman Regehr, or "Tillie," as she was known, was born in the teacher's quarters of the Gnadenfeld Zentralschule, on November 21, 1918, in Gnadenfeld, South Russia. She was the third child of Maria (Isaak) and Abram Suderman. Born during a turbulent time of war, anarchy and famine in that country, in 1925 her family decided to emigrate. Tillie was seven when they left their home for Canada and arrived at the train station in Winnipeg, settling in nearby Gretna. Tillie attended elementary school in Gretna and in Rosenhoff in Southern Manitoba until 1933 when her father Abram died of heart disease. At the young age of 14, Tillie was required to help support the family, so she went to work as a live-in maid in Winnipeg. By working for various families, Tillie learned about preparing food and formally presenting it at the table. She became a wonderful cook and liked to entertain, often preparing elegant meals that were carefully and thoughtfully prepared and served on her numerous sets of dishes on a beautifully decorated table. Music was important to Tillie. She sang in the choir in the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church as a teenager and continued to sing in church choirs wherever she lived. It was while singing in the choir that she first noticed an American visitor, Henry Regehr, sitting in a church pew. They were married on September 17, 1944. Tillie and Henry moved to Chicago, where Henry was living at the time. On June 28, 1946, their only child, Anita Marie, was born. During the eight years that Tillie and Henry lived in Chicago, they owned and operated two small delicatessens, where they were the only employees. Together they shopped at the farmer's market early in the morning, stocked shelves, made sandwiches to sell, ran the cash register and did the clean-up. They enjoyed working side by side and continued to do that in many of their other ventures. In 1952, the family moved back to Winnipeg, to be closer to both sides of their family. Here Tillie and Henry built Regehr's Stop and Shop, a full service grocery store on Henderson Highway. Again, they worked together to make the business a success. After only four and a half years in Winnipeg, they moved to San Jose, California where they lived for 14 years, attending Lincoln Glen Mennonite Brethren Church. They built two apartment buildings in San Jose, which Tillie managed. In 1970, Tillie and Henry retired to Winnipeg. Here they had 15 wonderful years together until Henry's death in 1985 from heart disease. Tillie had a difficult time adjusting to widowhood until she learned the great secret of help when you help others you help yourself. She became a deacon in the church and reached out to others often sending cards or inviting people over for a meal. She was a strong person and felt good about herself when she cared for others, first Henry during his years of heart disease, and then her daughter Anita during chemotherapy treatments. Tillie loved life. She was always impeccably dressed. She loved to shop for clothes and knew the latest styles. She enjoyed reading and there was always a book on her night table. She took art classes and filled her walls with paintings she created. In particular, her family is grateful that she loved cooking, perfecting many traditional Mennonite recipes such as zwieback, meat buns, borscht and Russian pancakes. Tillie was a woman of strong faith, a life-long member of the Mennonite Church and was actively involved at McIvor Mennonite Brethren Church. She will be remembered by her friends and family for her faith-filled life and her spirit that touched and influenced many who knew her. Tillie is survived by her daughter Anita Regehr Toews (Ann Arbor, Michigan); grandson Mark Toews (Brooklyn, New York) and his wife Regan; three great-grandchildren, Henry, Lucas, and Zadie Toews; sister Hilda Dick (Winnipeg); and many nieces, nephews, cousins and their children. We say good-bye to Tillie, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She leaves a rich legacy and memories of her full and fruitful life, which has been graced by our Holy Creator. We thank God for that. A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, February 6, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at McIvor Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church, 200 McIvor Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church library at McIvor Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church, 200 McIvor Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Please indicate your donation is for Tillie's Library Books.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 31, 2015