VERNA HIEBERT

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VERNA HIEBERT
October 11, 1934 - April 18, 2019

Verna was born to Peter and Mary Schellenberg on October 11, 1934. Verna lived in Rosenfeld, MB until the age of 13 when the family moved to the farm in the Amsterdam School District. After completing Grade 8, Verna stayed home to help the growing family with gardening, meal preparation, farm chores and child rearing.
On a farm, one mile away, lived the Hiebert family. While the Schellenberg's produced mostly girls, the Hiebert's produced mostly boys. Abe (Hiebert) and Verna were sweethearts when Verna was only 14, and they married when Verna was 19 years old, on November 1, 1953. They made their home in Winnipeg, eventually settling on Somerville Avenue, where they lived for 54 years. Here they raised three children, Darlene (Vern Sawatzky), Wendy Giesbrecht (Randy) and Reg (Leanne), and welcomed eight grandchildren: Jesse Giesbrecht, Bram Sawatzky (Adrienne Toye), Lauren Giesbrecht, Ellie Sawatzky, Rachel Sawatzky (Derek Janzen), Chad Hiebert, Nelson Hiebert and Aiden Hiebert.
Verna had careers in domestic work, homemaking, and sewing for her husband's upholstery business, and eventually as a volunteer at Mennonite Central Committee.
In 1967, Verna and Abe became founding members of a new church: Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship. It was here that they made their church family and they remained dedicated, active members into their late 70s. Verna was involved in teaching Sunday School and later she served as a facilities coordinator, keeping the church clean and in good working order. Her faith in God and her relationships with members of the fellowship encouraged and sustained her through times of hardship, and these same members were present to celebrate important milestones with her.
Some time after she began at MCC, volunteer work became full time employment, and there, as the Material Resources Coordinator, Verna gained confidence as an organizer of volunteers and donations, as a public speaker, and as a communicator. She was best known for her spirit of hospitality and when we were with her in public she was often recognized and warmly greeted by her co-workers and volunteers. Over the years, there were as many as 600 volunteers and she knew many of their names and loved to get to know them. Verna and Abe travelled together often, and Verna travelled with MCC to Russia, Germany and Ukraine.
After Verna's retirement at the age of 72, she spent many years at Abe's side while he struggled with health issues, becoming a very capable caregiver. When the responsibilities came to be too much for her, Verna and Abe moved to Lindenwood Terrace, and finally, they moved together to Pembina Place Mennonite Personal Care Home. Abe predeceased Verna in May 2017, after 63 years of marriage. Verna's own health declined quickly thereafter. The staff at Pembina Place met Verna as a spunky resident, who stayed close to Abe, but who also appreciated music and recreation activities. She enjoyed visiting with all the staff and they enjoyed her too. Our family is very grateful to all the staff who cared for her and took the time to know her; the ones who cleaned her room and her clothes, the ones who provided her with recreation activities and spiritual care, the ones who prepared and served her meals, who kept her safe and clean, and who kept her healthy as best they could. We are grateful for Lucy, and volunteers, Anne and Kati who gave us peace of mind when we could not be with Mom. You are a special bunch and we are so grateful for your dedication. Thanks to the many family and friends that brightened her day with their frequent visits.
When Verna was diagnosed with dementia, she continued to welcome us and those around her. Her gift of hospitality was present even in her final weeks of life.
Verna is survived by her children and grandchildren, as well as her brother Edgar Schellenberg (Marge), and sisters, Esther Hiebert (Ben), Leona Driedger (John), Sandi Neufeld and Arlene McLaughlin (Les). She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Leonard Schellenberg, and her sister Delores Gammelseter.
Though we were not sure she knew us in the end, we knew her. And it was such a blessing and an honour to present her to those around her as our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, and friend; as a woman worthy of our honour and respect, even in her diminished mind and body. We have missed her wisdom for some time but felt her love always.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship, 150 Bayridge Avenue, Winnipeg, with interment prior at 12:00 p.m. at Wheeler Cemetery/Mennonite Memorial Gardens, Symington Road. Viewing on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Friends Funeral Service, 2146 Main Street.
Donations in Verna's memory may be made to Mennonite Central Committee.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 23, 2019