IRENE WIENS

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IRENE WIENS July 5, 1941 - August 22, 2018 Irene Wiens, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away, in her sleep, at Misericordia Place Personal Care Home after a long struggle with Parkinson's. Irene was born in 1941 to John and Sara Wiens, Mennonite refugees from Russia, grew up on a farm in Herschel, Saskatchewan, and attended Rosthern Junior College, teacher's college, Goshen College, (Indiana), and University of Saskatchewan. She spent the first half of her life alternating study and teaching, concluding her time in Saskatchewan with six years teaching life skills at Kelsey Institute. During these years she also spent three years with Mennonite Central Community teaching in Tanzania. 1979 was a pivotal year for Irene when a "mid-life crisis" led her to pursue studies at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana. She developed there a desire for Christian community and was eventually called to move to Winnipeg to help in the founding of the Grain of Wheat Church Community in 1981. Except for another sojourn to AMBS in the 1990s where she received a MA in Christian Spirituality, she has spent her last 37 years at the heart of Grain of Wheat and served for a time as a Servant Leader. She also gave herself to various jobs in life skills and literacy training, working at Anishinabe R.E.S.P.E.C.T., Salvation Army and others. Irene always balanced her work with marginalized people with a deep inward journey and passion to help others with theirs. She was a leader in the Centering Prayer movement in Winnipeg and a spiritual director. She was also an Oblate of the Sisters of St. Benedict and member of "Bridgefolk," a U.S./Canadian association bringing together Catholics and Mennonites. She loved art, music, books, silence and spending time with family and friends. Above all, she kept Jesus as her center and sought to pattern her life after His call. Irene is survived by her four siblings, Hertha Wiens, Saskatoon, Arnold Wiens (Doris), Prince Albert, Ruth Pederson (Forrest), Naicam, SK, Vic Wiens (Diane), Saskatoon, 11 nieces and nephews, and 19 grand-nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Grain of Wheat Church Community, 365 McGee, on September 29 at 3:00 p.m. Burial will take place later at Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon. Donations can be made to 1JustCity, online at 1JustCity.ca or cheque mailed to 1JustCity, 1622-B St. Mary's Rd., Winnipeg, MB R2M 3W7. Please earmark for St. Matthews Maryland Community Ministry in memory of Irene Wiens.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 25, 2018