Barbara Stoesz

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

BARBARA STOESZ (NEE REMPEL)

July 19, 1917- February 1, 2016

Mother passed peacefully from her earthly home into her eternal home, on the morning of Monday, February 1, 2016 with her two youngest sons by her bedside in the Bethesda Place Care Home, in Steinbach, at the age of 98 years.

She was predeceased by her husband Cornelius Stoesz in 2003.

Mother is survived by: one daughter, Barbara (Cornie) Reimer; six sons: Alvin (Traute), Cornie, Willie (Naomi), John (Denise), Andy (Debbie), Larry; ten grandchildren: Greg (Pam), Randy (Rachel), Jeff, Ian, Maria (Jeff), Jonathan (Bernadetta), Paul (Andrea), Clint (Pam), Adrienne (Ryan), Jillian (Marcus); and 11 great-grandchildren.

On July 19, 1917, Mother was born in Hague, Saskatchewan, as the seventh of 11 children to Peter S and Aganetha Rempel. Mother is also survived by one sister-in-law and was predeceased by all her siblings.

At the age of 18, Mother moved with her family from their Saskatchewan farm to a farm near Altona in Manitoba. During the difficult years of the 1930's, she found employment by providing domestic and farm labour for several farm families. Her younger sister Mary, who was also working on a farm at the time, recounted that she was responsible for milking two cows, while Barbara was responsible for milking 9 cows.

Upon the confession of her faith, mother was baptized in 1936. On April 22, 1941, Mother married Cornelius Stoesz and they began their farming career, at first living on the farm of Dad's parents and later at Neuhofnung. Three sons were born during this time.

In 1948, the migration of many families from the East Reserve to Paraguay provided the opportunity for them to expand and purchase their own farm near Chortitz (Randolph). One daughter and three sons were added to the family here. For 30 years, through good and bad, they farmed here and raised their family. Mother was not one to be restricted to the domestic work of raising the family, but was always very active in the physical work on the farm. She was particularly known for her prowess at milking cows by hand, out performing her husband and sons, and even the early versions of the electric milking machine.

Mother and Dad were active members of the Bergthaler Mennonite Church in Steinbach (Christian Fellowship Church), and always had an active interest in missions. On numerous occasions they spent time volunteering at Open Door Missions in Missouri and Florida. They made two major trips to visit their children serving with MCC, first in Greece in 1973 and later in Zimbabwe in 1987, at which time they also visited a missionary cousin in Kenya and toured the Holy Land sites in Israel.

In 1978, nearing retirement, Mom and Dad moved off the farm and built a new house and a year later a new layer barn, on 80 acres near the Seaton school. Then in 1986, they sold this farm and moved into Mitchell, MB. In Mitchell, the senior centre became a focus of much of Mom and Dad's social activity and fellowship. In 2000, they moved into Fernwood Place, where Mother enjoyed an active and independent life until her health began to fail and she was able to move to the Bethesda Place Care Home in November 2013. There she received full care and support from the many dedicated staff and volunteers at the home.

During her retirement years, Mother was able to enjoy and exercise her competitive spirit, as she took up the sport of bowling with their friends in the local senior's bowling league. Winning the National Golden Age 5 pin bowling championship with her 4 member team in 1998 in Thunder Bay was a highlight. Mother was able to enjoy participating in this activity until age 95.

The family expresses our sincere appreciation to the staff and volunteers at Bethesda Place for the excellent and loving care they provided for Mother.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB with the interment to follow at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Barbara made to the Bethesda Place Personal Care Home, 399 Hospital Street, Steinbach, MB, R5G 0E6.

As published in The Carillon on Feb 03, 2016