MARIA DYCK

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MARIA DYCK (BRAUN) (nee SAWATZKY) It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother Maria Dyck (Braun) (nee Sawatzky) on November 30, 2004. She was the daughter of Peter and Sarah Sawatzky (nee Schulz). She was born in Fuerstenwerder, Ukraine on August 10, 1908 and had a happy childhood, but afterwards she experienced revolution, exile of her parents and starvation. She married Jakob Braun and he was taken in 1937 by the KGB and she never heard from him again. Their youngest daughter was born two months after he was gone and he never saw her. In 1943 she with her children fled the Ukraine and ended up in Berlin in the American Sector. In 1947 with the help of MCC they escaped to Bremerhafen and went with the ship Volendam to Paraguay, and there they were pioneers in the Volendam Colony. She worked very hard to support her family in this wilderness and made many lifelong friends. In 1956 she and her family followed her oldest son Dietrich and immigrated to Winnipeg where they all worked for Bethania Personal Care Home. There she met her second husband Henry Dyck and they married in 1961 and had 24 wonderful years together. They were active members of the North Kildonan Mennonite Church for all their lives. They both worked in Bethania until they retired. She was an active member of the Frauenverein in the church and sang in the Mission Choir for a number of years. She volunteered at Bethania Personal Care Home for many years and made many friends. She was knitting until the day she died, donating the articles to MCC or Bethania PCH. The staff at Bethania Home always welcomed her. She was an example to her whole family in her hard work, her optimism in the face of all difficulties, her honesty, her cheerfulness and her love for her family and everyone that she came in contact with. She was predeceased by her first and second husbands, all her seven siblings, two sons, Peter in infancy and Dietrich in 1986 and her son-in-law Jakob Wall in 2003. She is survived by two daughters, Adina Wall, Leni and Jake Warkentin; one son Peter and Betty Braun; one daughter-in-law Elsie Braun; 13 grandchildren with their spouses; and 20 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister-in-law Tina Warkentin in Germany, one sister-in-law and brother-in-law Sarah and Cornelius Abrahams in Winnipeg and many nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held on Friday, December 3 at 10:30 a.m. in North Kildonan Mennonite Church, 1131 Roch St. with viewing prior to the service. Interment to follow in Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethania Personal Care Home, 1045 Concordia Ave., R2K 3S7 or Faith and Life Communications, 200-600 Shaftsbury Blvd., R3P 2J1. Rest in Peace! Your loving family. KLASSEN FUNERAL HOME 1897 Henderson - North of McIvor -338-0331

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 02, 2004