ANNE FREDERICKA WITHERS (WIEBE)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ANNE FREDERICKA WITHERS (nee WIEBE) Mom passed away peacefully on January 15, 2001, just three days before her 95th birthday. Our family is so thankful she was able to be with us for so many years. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her daughter Janet Lawrenson and husband Fred; granddaughter Dory of Vancouver; grandson Chuck and wife Danea; great-grandson Mercer, and great-granddaughter Celeste. She is also survived by her sister Albertine Fast of Vancouver; brother Bill Wiebe of Ottawa, and brother Ernie Wiebe of Vancouver. She will also be mourned by her nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. In 1968 Anne was predeceased by Bert, her husband of 24 years. She was also predeceased by her brothers, Henry, Jack, Bernard and Jim Wiebe. Anne was born in Aberdeen, Sask. to Henry Nicholas and Albertine (Kruger) Wiebe on January 18, 1906. She also lived in Dalmeny where she was baptized in the North Saskatchewan River after accepting Jesus Christ as her Saviour in her early teens. She attended Taber Bible School and then lived and worked in Herbert, Swift Current, Saskatoon and Vancouver before moving to Winnipeg with her family in 1937. Anne was employed at the Childrens Hospital where she met Bert Withers. They were married in 1944 in Elim Chapel and lived on Henderson Highway. Their daughter Janet was born in 1946. The Red River flooded in 1950, and friends and neighbours helped the family build a dike around the house. When the dike broke due to fierce wind and rain, the house was flooded to a depth of five feet. A great deal of work went into restoring the house to a liveable place and Anne and Bert showed their determination and work ethic during this time. Anne always loved music: she played the piano, sang solos in church, and was a member of several church choirs and the Philharmonic Choir where she was the registrar. She also enjoyed opera, gardening, camping, making afghans and candles and showing hospitality to friends, family and anyone who needed encouragement. Several times she spent extended periods with family members across Canada, helping them and their families through times of illness. Her greatest joy was seeing people come to know the Lord and grow in their relationship to Him. Since being widowed, Anne has lived on Mayfair Avenue, and at the Villa Cabrini on River Avenue where she was honoured three years in a row for volunteer service. After a stay at St. Boniface Hospital, she moved to Beacon Hill Lodge where she received compassionate care during the last months of her life. Anne attended Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church at 920 Cottonwood in Windsor Park where the funeral will take place on Monday, January 22 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Ron Koleba and Rev. Jake Schmidt officiating. Interment in Green Acres Memorial Gardens. Visitation and Devotional on Sunday, January 21 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Klassen Funeral Chapel, 1897 Henderson Highway. Honorary pallbearer will be Bill Buhr. Pallbearers will be Shannon Boller, Rhian Wiebe Brynjolson, David Dueck, Bob Kruger, Dorothy Orebanjo and Don Unger. Flowers gratefully declined. Friends may wish to make a donation to World Vision Canada, 6630 Turner Valley Road, Mississauga, L5N 2S4 or a charity of their choice. Arrangements entrusted to Klassen Funeral Chapel, 338-0331.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 20, 2001