MARY GIESBRECHT

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MARY GIESBRECHT It is with sadness that the family announces the passing, after a brief period of hospitalization, of Mary Friesen Giesbrecht on Sunday, October 21, 2001 at Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach. Mary was born on her parents farm near Steinbach on July 10, 1910, the third youngest child of William W. F. Giesbrecht and Agatha Friesen. She was a faithful member of the Evangelical Mennonite Church until her death. She was predeceased by both her parents; by her sisters, Helen and Katharina and husband Alfig Dahl; her brothers, William and wife Augusta, Abraham and wife Maria; Frank; Henry and wife Anna; Diedrich and wife Margaret; an infant brother Bernhard; and sisters-in-law, Katherine and Maria. Her brother Benjamin, and sister-in-law Katherine (wife of Frank), as well as many cousins, nephews, nieces and their descendants remain to mourn her passing. Mary lived with her sister Helen for much of her life. Together they took care of their father until his passing in 1965. They visited friends and family and engaged in leisure activities together. They particularly enjoyed travelling and in recent years enthusiastically shared memories of their travels with the comment: "We were not finished yet; we thought we would travel some more!" Helens passing, and failing health, made life very lonely and difficult for Mary. After she earned diplomas in practical nursing by taking a correspondence course from the Chicago School of Nursing in 1943, and from the St. Boniface Sanatorium in 1945, Mary was licensed as a practical nurse in November 1945. She spent most of her career nursing at the Childrens Hospital in Winnipeg and retired from there in 1975. We always thought of her as very professional in her approach to her work. A nurse who worked with her for a number of years says that she was very fond of the children and displayed a terrific sense of humour. She had particular compassion for children in unfortunate circumstances and we remember her occasionally taking them home with her for the weekend. Her commitment and loyalty to her work served as an example to all of us. Loewen Funeral Chapel will be in charge of arrangements. The funeral service, led by pastor Arden Thiessen, will be held at Evangelical Mennonite Church on Main Street in Steinbach, on Wednesday, October 24 at 2:00 p.m. Interment at the Heritage Cemetery will follow. Donations in memory of Mary may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, available at the church. The family is deeply appreciative of the care given to Mary by Dr. Gordon Dyck and emergency room doctors and the nurses at Bethesda Hospital. Their concern and care helped her through very difficult times.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 23, 2001