ANNE TOEWS

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ANNE TOEWS In the early hours of September 1, 2016 at Donwood Manor, our beloved mother, Anne Toews was welcomed into the loving arms of God. She is survived by her children, Bernie (Linda), Clara, Vic (Stacey), Marlene (Bill), Ed (Beverley), Esther (Reyn); 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister and two brothers. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Victor in 1993, grandson Andrew Janzen in 1986. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 8 at 11:0 a.m. at North Kildonan, MB Church, 1315 Gateway Rd. Interment will take place prior to the service at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anne's memory can be made to Mennonite Central Committee: Refugee Concerns, Donwood Manor Personal Care Home or a charity of your choice. Friends Funeral Service, 204-339-5555
Publish Date: Sep 6, 2016

ANNE TOEWS In the early hours of September 1, 2016, at Donwood Manor, our beloved mother, Anne Toews, was welcomed into the loving arms of God. She is survived by her children Bernie (Linda), Clara, Vic (Stacey), Marlene (Bill), Ed (Beverley), Esther (Reyn); 15 grandchildren, Elizabeth, David (Clarissa), Jessica (Roger), Jonathan (Melissa), Leslie (David), Mark, Hudson, Rebecca, Philip, Tyler, Ben (Abbie), Kelley, Adrienne, Jake (Katie), and Erik; and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Marie Balzer and brothers Henry and Bernhard Peters. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Victor in 1993, grandson Andrew Janzen in 1986, and by two sisters, Kay Peters and Helen Driedger. Anne was born in Pordenau, Molotschna, Russia, November 5, 1918, to Jacob and Anna (Bartsch) Peters. The aftermath of the Russian Revolution encouraged the family's emigration to Canada in 1925, a move for which she remained ever thankful. On arrival in Canada the family settled briefly in Saskatchewan and in 1929 moved to Pitt Meadows, B.C. After high school she completed nurse's training, first at Essondale Psychiatric Hospital in 1940 and later at the Vancouver General Hospital in 1945. She loved her profession and practiced in both Vancouver and Winnipeg. Anne accepted as her own the Christian faith she was taught as a child. She was baptized in Vancouver at the age of 24 and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church of which she remained a part for the rest of her life. In 1945 she attended Mennonite Brethren Bible College in Winnipeg where she met and fell in love with Victor Toews. They were married on August 4, 1946 and shared 47 years together marked by mutual love and respect. They lived and served together in Chilliwack, Vancouver, Paraguay, Winnipeg and Niverville. Anne was a loving, generous, unselfish mother and grandmother, caring deeply for each family member until the end. Her interests and sense of responsibility also included her neighbours, church community, places of work and the wider world. She had a gift for reaching out to those on the margins of her home community or in situations of destitution throughout the world. Anne encouraged her family never to lose sight of those in need. During her last years Anne was sustained by the love and care of her family as well as longtime friends, her church community and the Donwood Manor staff. She was very grateful for each of you, as are we as a family. Above all we are thankful to God for the gift of our mother and the promise of eternal life. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 8, at 11:00 a.m. at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church, 1315 Gateway Rd. Interment will take place prior to the service at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anne's memory can be made to Mennonite Central Committee: Refugee Concerns, Donwood Manor Personal Care Home or a charity of your choice.

Publish Date: Sep 3, 2016

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 06, 2016