Aganetha Unger

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AGANETHA UNGER

Aganetha Unger was born on April 6, 1926 to Abram and Katie Unger at Prairie Rose, Manitoba, just west of what is now the hamlet of Linden. She was born third in a family of eight children. A large part of her life was spent on her parent’s farm near Ste. Anne. It was during her young adult years here that she gave her heart to God and was baptized at the same time as her three sisters at the Greenland congregation.

One of her first jobs was as a cook at the Grace Hospital. She next spent several years as a cook at the Greenland home. In 1969, Aunt Nettie took a position, again as cook, at a home for delinquent boys home in Ailsa Craig, Ontario, near the community of St. Mary's. Here she spent almost a decade, coming home for her holidays to tell us stories of the happenings at work. During this time, in 1972, she made a trip to Brazil to attend the Mennonite World Conference. This was a highlight in her life, she came back with interesting stories and pictures of her tour along the Amazon River right up to the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimoes, the one side clear and the other side muddy. Aunt Nettie enjoyed traveling, and though she often went alone she always made a friend or more on the way, some that she stayed connected with long after the trip or tour was done. In 1985, she made a bus tour with her niece, Margaret, that went to the Maritimes. It was during her travels that she would often add to her unique collection of salt and pepper shakers.

In the late 70's she came home to take care of Grandpa and Grandma, who had moved to Steinbach in 1973. She took on some seasonal work at the Mennonite Village Museum, in the kitchen of course, at times baking bread in a clay oven. She filled her place graciously as a caregiver through Grandpa's passing in 1983, and then later when Grandma left us in 1996. Although their time was short, Aunt Nettie was at the Maplewood Manor with two of her sisters, Aunt Lizzie, and my mother Pauline. She again filled the role of a caregiver when they each separately became ill. She was quite lonely with their passings. Aunt Nettie suffered from diabetes and also had a pacemaker put in years ago. As health deteriorated, she was slated to move from self-care to full care. Awaiting a permanent room, she suffered a slight heart attack and went to the Bethesda Hospital. It was during her next stay in the hospital, her Maker called her home on September 6, 2015. Her passing caught us all a little by surprise, she had been quite active despite her 89 years.

Just five weeks before her passing she attended a gathering of the clan, an Unger's reunion. When going over some of the photos of the event with Uncle Tony and Aunt Eva on the evening before her passing she said that was the nicest thing that had happened in a long while. Her nieces and nephews were "family" to her.

Hers was a life of service, and we believe she has gone to that Heavenly reward.

Aunt Nettie was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Otto and Abe, sisters Lizzie and Pauline, sister-in-law Erma and brothers-in-law Jake and John. Left to mourn are brothers Bill and wife Laverna; Tony and wife Eva, one sister, Matilda and husband David, sister-in-law Francis and a host of nephews, nieces and friends.

The viewing will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., devotional to follow at 7:30 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, and also at the church prior to the funeral service.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, September 11, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, Steinbach, MB, with interment to follow at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB.

The family would like to give a big thank you to the caring staff at the Maplewood Manor and the Bethesda Hospital.

Arrangements by
BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL

As published in The Carillon on Sep 08, 2015