Susan Toews
Susan passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord on January 11, 2017. She was born to Henry and Katherine (nee Thiessen) on June 21, 1921 in Orlof, Ukraine. The family immigrated to Canada in 1924 and settled in the farming community at Arnaud, Manitoba. Susan attended a one-room prairie school for nine years. She took her Grade 10 at the MCI in Gretna, and later a 3 year course at the Winkler Bible School, subsequently completing Grades 11 and 12 at the MBCI in Winnipeg. Susan took the teacher training course at the Winnipeg Normal School, and then taught in one-room rural schools in Manitoba for 12 years. She was a counselor at the Arnes Camp on Lake Winnipeg for 10 summers. Susan taught in the Langley School District for 23 years. During these years she attended Summer School at UBC and graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree. At the age of 10 Susan accepted Christ as her Saviour and through baptism joined the MB Church in 1940. In 1960 she moved to Abbotsford, BC, and joined the South Abbotsford MB Church. After retiring Susan joined the Central Heights MB Church. With great dedication she was active in Church related activities; choir, Sunday school, Youth work, library, and clubs, and served on the executive of the Senior Women’s Ministry. She was also hostess for 20 years at the Community Center’s Friday dinners. She enjoyed entertaining friends and family and always brought out her finest china and cutlery for her culinary feasts. Susan collected vintage dolls and crèches from around the world, and travelled extensively including to the Holy Land and Europe, often visiting her good friend Anna Liese in Germany. Susan was predeceased by her parents, brothers Heinz, Eric, her twin brother George (Eira), Henry (Annie), and Jacob (Anna), and nephews Kenneth Toews and Bill Haberlin. Survived and missed by her nephews, nieces, and their families. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the exceptional care Aunt Susan received over the past 8 years at Tabor Home. Special thanks to friend, caregiver, and family ‘stand in’ during all these years, Edna Schmidt. A Memorial Service at Woodlawn Funeral Home chapel on Tuesday, January 17 was followed by a graveside service at the Maclure Road Mennonite Cemetery with Pastor Roland Balzer officiating. Online condolences to the family may be made at: www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com
Woodlawn Funeral Home ~ 604-853-2643