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BRAUN; Lydia


Long-time Abbotsford resident Lydia Braun was born in 1924 in the village of Nikolaipol (aka Borissovo No. 2) near Konstantinovka in what is now the eastern Ukraine. A few months later her parents, Jakob and Aganeta Dyck, moved the family to Gretna, Manitoba. Later they moved to Neepawa, Manitoba before finally settling in Winnipeg. In 1946, just after World War II, they moved again, this time to Abbotsford, BC. In 1947 Lydia married John Braun of Arnold, whose family was from the same village in the Ukraine. Initially the couple operated a berry farm in Arnold as John slowly transitioned to a career in construction, much of it spent with HB Contracting. In the early years Lydia was often left to run the farm but gradually shifted to full-time home maker as the family grew. In 1964 the couple sold the farm and moved into Abbotsford. For many years Lydia was an active member of the South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church. Both she and her husband were known for their generosity and participation in community life. After John retired they were able to travel extensively to Europe and New Zealand among other places. But in 2008 she lost her beloved John and has spent much of the time since in memory care. Lydia died peacefully at Morgan Place in South Surrey on April 29th. She is survived by her sister Agnes Hildebrand of Vancouver, her five children; John (Nancy) Braun of McMinnville, Oregon; Lynda Braun of Surrey; Hilda Edwards of Surrey; Jamie Braun of Abbotsford and Jerry (Lori) Braun of Abbotsford, as well as thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandsons. A Memorial Service will be held at South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church on May 25 at 2:00 p.m.



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