Helen Dueck

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HELEN BARKMAN DUECK
July 30, 1919 - June 15, 2016

Our mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great-grandmother began her earthly journey on July 30, 1919. On Wednesday, June 15, 2016 her spirit was released from her cocoon and soared like a butterfly into the heavenly realms to meet her Saviour and the loved ones who had gone before. Being the organizer that she was, she planned her own funeral and was always philosophical about death.

Helen was born to Jacob D. and Anna E. Barkman in Steinbach. She enjoyed her childhood and teenage years with her six sisters and seven brothers at the family home on the corner of Main and Barkman, where the Eastman Employment Centre is now located.

Her formal schooling took place in the Kornelson School and her spiritual training took place at home and at the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church, now known as Cornerstone. When she married her Ben, her church affiliation was changed to the Kleefeld Evangelical Mennonite Church.

Mom and Dad were married on July 3, 1938, and enjoyed joys and sorrows for 65 years. Life in Kleefeld was always busy for Mom, raising their eight children, tending to her huge garden and working alongside dad in their endeavours, whether it was washing eggs when they had the laying hens or in the honey house in Oak Lake. She was Dad’s electrician, fixing his equipment and also fixing household appliances.

In the evenings, when all was quiet in the house, one would find her doing her handwork such as knitting, embroidery or smocking the dresses for her little girls. Her afghans, sweaters and mittens have been treasured not only by her family but also by community members. Her handwork was always meticulous. Many a baby sweater, sets of pillowcases and tea towels were sold at the mission auction that was held every fall.

Mom was a sports enthusiast, always being involved in the hockey games of her sons. Curling was her armchair sport. In 1937, in her teen years, she played on the Steinbach ladies hockey team. She was very proud to be one of the ladies chosen to drop the puck for the University of Manitoba Bisons and the Kazakstan Ladies’ Exhibition Hockey Game held in 2007. We cannot forget her love of fishing. She spent many weeks at Sharon’s on Hecla Island up until a few years ago.

She got her drivers at the age of 38 and we held our breath.

She was a collector and collected stamps, coins, knitting patterns, poems, photos and cards. You name it and she probably collected it. Just to mention that she valued every card and photo she received from family, especially nieces and nephews.

Mom’s community volunteer work included the Kleefeld’s Ladies’ Auxiliary, Union Gospel Mission and the Bethesda Health Care Auxiliary.

After living in Kleefeld for 58 years, Mom and Dad made the transition to live at Woodhaven Manor in Steinbach. This was Mom’s home until July of 2013, when she moved to the Rest Haven Nursing home to which she adjusted well.

Mom has left us not only a spiritual legacy but one of reading, handwork, jigsaw puzzles, gardening, word games, her feistiness, and the ability to forgive and move on with life in spite of difficulties.

This legacy will be treasured by her six daughters and two sons:
Verna Thiessen (Pete), Steinbach
Phyllis Toews (Reg), Steinbach
Sharon Lesy (Lloyd), Hecla Island
Jan Falk (Vern), Steinbach
Ruby Hildebrand (Ernie), Steinbach
Pat Morcombe (Reg), Oak Lake
Wes Dueck (Jerlene), Kleefeld
Earl Dueck (Kelly), Oak Lake

As well as 19 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 4 great great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by two sisters: Nettie Doerksen, Satanta, KS and Ruth Neufeld, Steinbach, two sisters-in-law: Martha & Jack Hiebert, Abbotsford and Ella Dueck in Steinbach, one brother-in-law: Harry Neufeld, Niverville, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by: our Dad, Ben K Dueck in September of 2003, one infant daughter, Louise in 1957, and an infant great-granddaughter Ciara in 2009.

We as a family wish to express a heartfelt thank you to nursing staff at the Rest Haven Nursing Home who loved her and provided the nursing and spiritual care anyone could want for their loved one. Thank you also to Dr. Trinh for her medical care. We also appreciate so much the help that Birchwood Funeral Chapel gave us in assisting in the funeral arrangements.

Thank you to all who gave us words of encouragement, cards and to those who came to visit her.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB. The interment followed at Kleefeld Evangelical Mennonite Cemetery, Kleefeld, MB.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Helen may be to Haven Group Foundation, 177 Woodhaven Ave, Steinbach, MB, R5G 1K7, or Union Gospel Mission, PO Box 1073, Stn. Main; Winnipeg., MB, R3C 2X4.

Our parents are now gone from our lives here on earth but are waiting for their family to join them one by one in heaven.

“See you again, mom” and mom would reply “When? Just don’t wait too long!”

Arrangements by
BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL
1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in The Carillon on Jun 20, 2016