Obituary for Mary Helen Hiebert (Unger)
MARY HELEN (UNGER) HIEBERT
With great sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of Mary Helen (Unger) Hiebert, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, on Wednesday April 27, 2022 at the Grace Hospice in Winnipeg, Manitoba. During her final hours she was surrounded by loved ones, songs and prayers, and the support of hospice staff. It is comforting to know she is now at eternal rest in her heavenly home, after many years living with autoimmune liver disease.
Mom was born on November 6, 1936, in Neu-Kronstal, near Plum Coulee, MB to Abram and Anna Unger. She had 2 sisters, 2 brothers. Together with siblings, she played with cousins and neighborhood children. She attended Groszweide School for the first few years. After the family moved to the Barnsley district near Elm Creek, she attended Tracy School (one-room classrooms) for a few more years. The rest of Mom’s school years were at the Graysville four-room school, where she completed Grade 8.
As a young teen, Mom began to help support the family by working as a housekeeper, hoeing beet and corn crops, and laundry and kitchen duties at the Winkler Bethel Hospital. Eventually her independence grew and she left MB for the first time to work at the peach country cannery in St. Catherine’s, ON, along with her Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jake Unger. Her independent lifestyle became more evident when she moved to the big city of Winnipeg, where she worked at a sewing factory, the Eaton warehouse catalogue department, and the Women’s Pavillion nursery, among other jobs.
During this time, she attended several different church-led youth groups. She became more involved with the new Winnipeg EMMC Fellowship, later known as Nassau Street Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church where she was baptized upon the confession of her faith in Lord Jesus as Savior on June 6, 1957 by Bishop J. Friesen. Abe and Anne Toews were her prayer mentors who stood behind her in support.
Her grandmother lived with the family as Mom grew up, and she spent several years caring for her. Many of her talents and gifts were cultivated by her grandmother’s presence in their home. Her grandmother was never idle, and taught her how to cook, feed and care for the farm animals, sew and mend, darn socks, etc. Recycle and waste not was the way! She learned how to make noodles by watching grandma cut the finest noodles ever known. Butchering Bees were a celebration of the hard teamwork required to run a farm and was enjoyed by the sharing of wonderful meals together. Mom had learned these valuable qualities and skills which were later reflected in how she raised her own family and shared generously with others.
Mom was a loving and kind person whose contagious, quiet smile and sense of humor drew many friendships throughout her lifetime. Among her many activities, she was an active 4-H member, participated in church Christmas programs, attended and taught Vacation Bible School as a volunteer at the Rosthern, SK Youth Farm, and sang in various choirs, most recently was Winnipeg Senior Choir.
Mom met the love of her life, our Dad Dietrich (Dick) Hiebert of New Bothwell, MB in 1960. She had purchased a sharp looking little red Vauxhall car which she loved, and Dad noticed that glimmer of her beautiful smiling face at the wheel. They quickly became close, and Mom and Dad married at the Carman Mennonite Church on the evening of October 15, 1960.
Among her many gifts and talents, she was a skilled quilter, sewer, choir singer, violin player, artist, cook, and gardener. She particularly loved her flower garden. In her later years she took up the challenge of learning to play the violin. She sewed and stitched clothing and quilts for her children and grandchildren, and always prepared good homemade meals for all. She loved singing in the choirs, ladies fellowships, and attending family reunions. In her leisure time she knit, crocheted, puzzled, and enjoyed listening to gospel music, and even hummed along to a favorite song just days before she passed away.
Mom is survived by her son, Gerald Hiebert, and two daughters, Leona Hiebert and Miranda Sesak. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, Landon, Travis, Alyssa, Meaghan, Mason, and Amber, one great-granddaughter, Claire, and two sisters, Lilly and Sylvia, adopted sister in-law Ingrid, and sister in-law Kathryn and their families. On the Hiebert side, six sister in-laws, two brother in-laws, and their families.
Mom was predeceased by her husband Dietrich, an infant sister, brother Abe, parents Abram and Anna Unger, step-father Isaac Martens, brother Harry, and 1 brother in-law. From the Hiebert side, parental in-laws John and Maria Hiebert, seven brother in-laws, and three sister in-laws.
Mom was devoted to her family and cherished and adored her grandchildren, spending as much time with them as she possibly could. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by all her family and friends. Precious memories of Mom will linger in our hearts forever.
The family would like to thank all physicians, medical staff, and homecare both in Winnipeg and Morden who cared for Mom throughout her illness. We are also grateful for the entire palliative care team and volunteers who provided care at her assisted-living facility at Homestead in Transcona, the Riverview palliative care unit, and finally Grace Hospice where Mom spent her final weeks. Also thanks to Pastor Moses Falco and Reverend Jake Froese for the visits and support given to Mom and the family. Regardless of role or title, the loving kindness and compassion shown to Mom was deeply appreciated and will not be forgotten. Thanks to Friends Funeral Home and Sterling Mennonite Church for assisting us with funeral arrangements in our time of sorrow.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday May 3rd at Sterling Mennonite Church, 1008 Dakota Street, Winnipeg. Viewing begins at 10am, followed by the service at 11am. A light lunch will be served after the service followed by burial at Sage Creek Cemetery. If desired, In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to Sterling Mennonite Church.
The service will be livestreamed, and available through ZOOM at:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2049631774?pwd=S2FlbmhUVnpuTVYrUVhDZFpyU2dWZz09
Meeting ID: 204 963 1774
Passcode: 1008
A recording of the service will be available at:
https://www.sterlingmennonite.ca/
With great sadness, we announce the peaceful passing of Mary Helen (Unger) Hiebert, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, on Wednesday April 27, 2022 at the Grace Hospice in Winnipeg, Manitoba. During her final hours she was surrounded by loved ones, songs and prayers, and the support of hospice staff. It is comforting to know she is now at eternal rest in her heavenly home, after many years living with autoimmune liver disease.
Mom was born on November 6, 1936, in Neu-Kronstal, near Plum Coulee, MB to Abram and Anna Unger. She had 2 sisters, 2 brothers. Together with siblings, she played with cousins and neighborhood children. She attended Groszweide School for the first few years. After the family moved to the Barnsley district near Elm Creek, she attended Tracy School (one-room classrooms) for a few more years. The rest of Mom’s school years were at the Graysville four-room school, where she completed Grade 8.
As a young teen, Mom began to help support the family by working as a housekeeper, hoeing beet and corn crops, and laundry and kitchen duties at the Winkler Bethel Hospital. Eventually her independence grew and she left MB for the first time to work at the peach country cannery in St. Catherine’s, ON, along with her Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jake Unger. Her independent lifestyle became more evident when she moved to the big city of Winnipeg, where she worked at a sewing factory, the Eaton warehouse catalogue department, and the Women’s Pavillion nursery, among other jobs.
During this time, she attended several different church-led youth groups. She became more involved with the new Winnipeg EMMC Fellowship, later known as Nassau Street Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church where she was baptized upon the confession of her faith in Lord Jesus as Savior on June 6, 1957 by Bishop J. Friesen. Abe and Anne Toews were her prayer mentors who stood behind her in support.
Her grandmother lived with the family as Mom grew up, and she spent several years caring for her. Many of her talents and gifts were cultivated by her grandmother’s presence in their home. Her grandmother was never idle, and taught her how to cook, feed and care for the farm animals, sew and mend, darn socks, etc. Recycle and waste not was the way! She learned how to make noodles by watching grandma cut the finest noodles ever known. Butchering Bees were a celebration of the hard teamwork required to run a farm and was enjoyed by the sharing of wonderful meals together. Mom had learned these valuable qualities and skills which were later reflected in how she raised her own family and shared generously with others.
Mom was a loving and kind person whose contagious, quiet smile and sense of humor drew many friendships throughout her lifetime. Among her many activities, she was an active 4-H member, participated in church Christmas programs, attended and taught Vacation Bible School as a volunteer at the Rosthern, SK Youth Farm, and sang in various choirs, most recently was Winnipeg Senior Choir.
Mom met the love of her life, our Dad Dietrich (Dick) Hiebert of New Bothwell, MB in 1960. She had purchased a sharp looking little red Vauxhall car which she loved, and Dad noticed that glimmer of her beautiful smiling face at the wheel. They quickly became close, and Mom and Dad married at the Carman Mennonite Church on the evening of October 15, 1960.
Among her many gifts and talents, she was a skilled quilter, sewer, choir singer, violin player, artist, cook, and gardener. She particularly loved her flower garden. In her later years she took up the challenge of learning to play the violin. She sewed and stitched clothing and quilts for her children and grandchildren, and always prepared good homemade meals for all. She loved singing in the choirs, ladies fellowships, and attending family reunions. In her leisure time she knit, crocheted, puzzled, and enjoyed listening to gospel music, and even hummed along to a favorite song just days before she passed away.
Mom is survived by her son, Gerald Hiebert, and two daughters, Leona Hiebert and Miranda Sesak. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, Landon, Travis, Alyssa, Meaghan, Mason, and Amber, one great-granddaughter, Claire, and two sisters, Lilly and Sylvia, adopted sister in-law Ingrid, and sister in-law Kathryn and their families. On the Hiebert side, six sister in-laws, two brother in-laws, and their families.
Mom was predeceased by her husband Dietrich, an infant sister, brother Abe, parents Abram and Anna Unger, step-father Isaac Martens, brother Harry, and 1 brother in-law. From the Hiebert side, parental in-laws John and Maria Hiebert, seven brother in-laws, and three sister in-laws.
Mom was devoted to her family and cherished and adored her grandchildren, spending as much time with them as she possibly could. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by all her family and friends. Precious memories of Mom will linger in our hearts forever.
The family would like to thank all physicians, medical staff, and homecare both in Winnipeg and Morden who cared for Mom throughout her illness. We are also grateful for the entire palliative care team and volunteers who provided care at her assisted-living facility at Homestead in Transcona, the Riverview palliative care unit, and finally Grace Hospice where Mom spent her final weeks. Also thanks to Pastor Moses Falco and Reverend Jake Froese for the visits and support given to Mom and the family. Regardless of role or title, the loving kindness and compassion shown to Mom was deeply appreciated and will not be forgotten. Thanks to Friends Funeral Home and Sterling Mennonite Church for assisting us with funeral arrangements in our time of sorrow.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday May 3rd at Sterling Mennonite Church, 1008 Dakota Street, Winnipeg. Viewing begins at 10am, followed by the service at 11am. A light lunch will be served after the service followed by burial at Sage Creek Cemetery. If desired, In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to Sterling Mennonite Church.
The service will be livestreamed, and available through ZOOM at:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2049631774?pwd=S2FlbmhUVnpuTVYrUVhDZFpyU2dWZz09
Meeting ID: 204 963 1774
Passcode: 1008
A recording of the service will be available at:
https://www.sterlingmennonite.ca/