Our dear mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Charlotte Louise (Poesze) Janz passed away at Rest Haven Nursing Home in Steinbach and went to her heavenly home on Thursday, December 10, 2009. She was born in East Prussia, Germany on October 3, 1913 to loving parents, Leopold and Emma Poesze. Mom married our dad, Erich Janz on July 23, 1934. She became dad’s helpmate not only in the home but also in the barbershop and beauty salon. Since dad was in the German army and the Russian army was advancing to a few miles of our home, mom decided to flee with her three children. How grateful mom was for the Lord’s protection as we arrived safely, in what was later to become West Germany where mom’s sister lived. A kind family shared their home with us strangers. When dad returned from the prisoner of war camp, in the fall of 1945, they started their business in our home and later bought a pre—fab building for their shop. In 1951 the opportunity came from MCC to immigrate to Canada. Taking the big step, we arrived in Canada aboard a ship on Feb. 6, 1952 the day King George died. Although mom had left her loving parents and siblings in Germany and missed them, she was glad to be in Canada. We were welcomed with open arms by our sponsors, Diedrich and Margaret Peters who were so helpful to mom and dad in starting their business in Plum Coulee. We were very thankful for the people and the churches in Plum Coulee who made us feel welcome. Mom and dad enjoyed serving the community in their barbershop and beauty salon. In 1977 they retired to Morden where they enjoyed and joined the fellowship of the Bergthaler Church family. Dad and mom both were not well and so they decided to buy a condo in Steinbach to be closer to family. But dad passed away in December, 1996 before they moved. Mom lived in Woodhaven Manor until August ‘97 when she was able to move to Rest Haven Nursing Home where she received wonderful care as she had developed Alzheimer’s disease. Mom was our spiritual encourager and mentor. Daily family devotions were very important to her. She enjoyed crocheting afghans for each child and grandchild. Family and friends were the beneficiaries of her delicious cooking, baking and beautiful sewing. She enjoyed the church Bible Studies, prayer meetings and church ladies’ Vereins. We as family loved and admired mom’s unconditional love and acceptance. She was an awesome mom. We will miss her very much but are also thankful that she is relieved of her suffering and enjoying fellowship with Jesus whom she loved and served faithfully. Charlotte was predeceased by her loving husband, Erich, her sisters Martha [Erich], Anna [Ernst], Ella [Walter], and brother Alfred as well as sisters-in-law Erna [Tim], Trudchen [Albert, Adolf] and Edith (Horst) and son-in-law Abe Bestvater. She is survived by her loving children, Ulrich [Pat], Ernst Heinrich [Bernadette] and Brigitte; grandchildren Bruce, Judy, Kathleen, Anita, Karen, Vickie, Nathan, Tim, Steve and Stacy and their spouses, as well as 20 great grandchildren. We’d like to thank all the Doctors, nurses and homecare people who took such good care of mom. Viewing will be held at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB on Monday, December 14, at 7:00 with a devotional at 7:30 p.m. and at the church prior to the service. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, December 15 at 11:00 a.m. at the Morden Mennonite Church with interment at Hillside Cemetery, Morden. If friends so desire donations in Mom’s may be made to Haven Group (Rest Haven Nursing Home), 177 Wood Haven, Steinbach, MB, R5G 1K7 or to Die Frohe Botschaft.