Obituary for Maria Dyck
Maria Dyck
Maria Dyck was a treasured friend, a generous woman and uniquely her own person. Born on October 2,
1926 into the Mennonite community of Osterwick, Ukraine, she passed away on January 1, 2021 in
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Maria is predeceased by her parents, Gerhard and Maria (nee Redekop) Dyck, and her brothers Gerhard
and Dietrich Dyck. She is missed by many friends, her church community and her adopted family, the
Pries and Dyck descendants of her good friend, Margarete Dyck. Maria will be especially missed by
Margarete Dyck’s family: Jakob and Nettie Pries and family, Marlene Dyck (Peter deceased) and family,
Wilhelm and Roswitha Dyck and Margaret Dyck.
Maria was born into a community in transition, as the Soviet Union collectivized the Ukraine. It was a time
of great need, struggle and scarcity. Shortly after her birth, Maria’s father, a gardener, was seriously
injured in an accident. Bedridden for five years, he passed away in 1933. Her older brother, Gerhard, died
in 1934 after being injured by lightning. By the time Maria finished the 7th grade, she left school to
support the family by working in the Collective’s fruit and vegetable gardens. Maria always remembered
with gratitude the support her community received at this time from the aid agency, Mennonite Central
Committee (MCC).
The community of Osterwick was caught in the shifting tides of the Second World War. In 1943, Maria’s
family fled the Soviet Union ahead of the arriving Russian army, travelling West to Germany where they
survived bomb attacks, lived in refugee camps and also saw the end of the war. Fleeing is easier when
people work together: Maria and her family joined with Margarete Dyck and her young children, working
together to survive the vagaries of life as a refugee. Margarete’s descendants remain forever grateful for
the gift that Maria was to their family in this time. Their survival through these hard times was, in large
part, due to Maria’s strong support. Eventually, the families landed in a refugee camp in Munich where in
1946 Maria was baptised by Elder Heinrich Winter.
After the war, those who had fled the Soviet Union were afraid they would be forcibly returned to the
country that for them, had become a place of so much pain. And so, in 1947, with support from MCC,
Maria’s family fled to Paraguay where they homesteaded, slowly but surely rebuilding their lives. They
stayed in Paraguay eight years before moving to Toronto, Canada. To be closer to friends and family,
Maria’s mother moved to Winnipeg in 1965, followed only a few years later by Maria.
Maria worked in a number of locations in Toronto. In Winnipeg, she was a beloved employee at Mitchell
Fabrics until her retirement. Maria was an active member at Sargent Ave. Mennonite Church – a
community of faith that was like family to her. Maria cared for her mother until her death in 1985; her
remaining brother passed away in Calgary, AB in 1988.
Maria suffered from several strokes over the past years, resulting in her eventual care at Bethania
Mennonite Personal Care Home. Here she was lovingly and faithfully cared for by family, friends and
Bethania staff.
Maria had many friends. She had a big heart, was generous, well-read and made amazing Apfel Piroschki.
She loved opportunities to visit and talk with friends, family and strangers alike. She is missed.
n lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mennonite Central Committee.
A funeral service for Maria will be livestreamed on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at
http://www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/9386
Maria Dyck was a treasured friend, a generous woman and uniquely her own person. Born on October 2,
1926 into the Mennonite community of Osterwick, Ukraine, she passed away on January 1, 2021 in
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Maria is predeceased by her parents, Gerhard and Maria (nee Redekop) Dyck, and her brothers Gerhard
and Dietrich Dyck. She is missed by many friends, her church community and her adopted family, the
Pries and Dyck descendants of her good friend, Margarete Dyck. Maria will be especially missed by
Margarete Dyck’s family: Jakob and Nettie Pries and family, Marlene Dyck (Peter deceased) and family,
Wilhelm and Roswitha Dyck and Margaret Dyck.
Maria was born into a community in transition, as the Soviet Union collectivized the Ukraine. It was a time
of great need, struggle and scarcity. Shortly after her birth, Maria’s father, a gardener, was seriously
injured in an accident. Bedridden for five years, he passed away in 1933. Her older brother, Gerhard, died
in 1934 after being injured by lightning. By the time Maria finished the 7th grade, she left school to
support the family by working in the Collective’s fruit and vegetable gardens. Maria always remembered
with gratitude the support her community received at this time from the aid agency, Mennonite Central
Committee (MCC).
The community of Osterwick was caught in the shifting tides of the Second World War. In 1943, Maria’s
family fled the Soviet Union ahead of the arriving Russian army, travelling West to Germany where they
survived bomb attacks, lived in refugee camps and also saw the end of the war. Fleeing is easier when
people work together: Maria and her family joined with Margarete Dyck and her young children, working
together to survive the vagaries of life as a refugee. Margarete’s descendants remain forever grateful for
the gift that Maria was to their family in this time. Their survival through these hard times was, in large
part, due to Maria’s strong support. Eventually, the families landed in a refugee camp in Munich where in
1946 Maria was baptised by Elder Heinrich Winter.
After the war, those who had fled the Soviet Union were afraid they would be forcibly returned to the
country that for them, had become a place of so much pain. And so, in 1947, with support from MCC,
Maria’s family fled to Paraguay where they homesteaded, slowly but surely rebuilding their lives. They
stayed in Paraguay eight years before moving to Toronto, Canada. To be closer to friends and family,
Maria’s mother moved to Winnipeg in 1965, followed only a few years later by Maria.
Maria worked in a number of locations in Toronto. In Winnipeg, she was a beloved employee at Mitchell
Fabrics until her retirement. Maria was an active member at Sargent Ave. Mennonite Church – a
community of faith that was like family to her. Maria cared for her mother until her death in 1985; her
remaining brother passed away in Calgary, AB in 1988.
Maria suffered from several strokes over the past years, resulting in her eventual care at Bethania
Mennonite Personal Care Home. Here she was lovingly and faithfully cared for by family, friends and
Bethania staff.
Maria had many friends. She had a big heart, was generous, well-read and made amazing Apfel Piroschki.
She loved opportunities to visit and talk with friends, family and strangers alike. She is missed.
n lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mennonite Central Committee.
A funeral service for Maria will be livestreamed on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at
http://www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/9386