Mom had a deep trust in God. She repeatedly found comfort in the words spoken by Jesus as recorded in John 14: “Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Marie Doerksen passed away from this earth to heaven very peacefully at the Steinbach Rest Haven Nursing Home at 6:30 p.m. on her 93rd birthday, Wednesday, October 10, 2001. She was born on October 10, 1908 at Kleefeld, Manitoba as the first child of her parents John G. and Helen Barkman. Her young life soon changed when her mother passed away nine months later. She then spent the next five years at her Barkman grandparents near Kleefeld. She had many memories of these early childhood years spent with her Dad, her grandparents, and several of her aunts. When her Dad remarried, she had a new mother, a new home, and after some time new brothers and sisters born into the family. She attended the Clearsprings School but frequently could not attend regularly as her help was needed at home. In 1924, when she was 16 years old, her family moved to Satanta, Kansas. There her Dad was a farmer, a teacher, and a minister in the local church. She has mentioned that, at times, she was needed to be a substitute teacher when her Dad was away. As a token of her faith in God and her commitment to be a follower of Jesus, she was baptized and joined the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Later she fell in love with a young man in their community and at the age of 21 years and six months she married Bernard P. Doerksen on April 20, 1930 (She later was known to stress these additional six months to say she had not married very young, in case some of us might get the wrong idea.) Their three oldest children: Alvin, Gerry, and Leona were born while the family continued to live in Kansas. Our parents worked very hard to keep their modest farm in operation. Eventually, however, the extreme drought and low wheat prices caused many of the farmers to go bankrupt. The young family, as well as a number of other families moved back to Manitoba with merely the belongings that could be loaded on a car and several small trailers. Mom’s experiences and lifestyle showed us truths she taught, such as: “Save a match and buy a farm” or “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Arriving in Manitoba in December 1939, they were able to buy some cheap, stony community pasture land in Blumenort and gradually developed it into the farm as it exists today. In Manitoba, Menno and Janice were born to complete the family. Mom never was a very strong person physically yet she loved to work both inside the house and outdoors (especially gardening) as much as her health allowed. Partly due to this, the family learned to work as a team, doing whatever was needed most. The girls helped milking cows and the boys kneading bread dough for Mom. (The latter not necessarily always done with great enthusiasm, however!) Mom enjoyed sewing, crocheting and especially quilting. She was known to say that whenever she had a quilt on the frame, getting up in the morning was a sheer delight. Each of her grandchildren received a quilt from her as a wedding gift. Among other health problems, Mom had three cancer surgeries. A disease that she hoped very much would not return. Later she developed Parkinson’s Disease. Her husband and our Dad passed away in May 1996. About two month later, Mom fell and broke her hip. As is often the case, this proved to be a watershed mark in her life. Even after extensive therapy, her walking did not return as it used to be. She became mostly confined to a wheelchair for the last number of years. Her youngest daughter, Janice, gradually was required to give more and more assistance, and, as it turned out, was her primary caregiver right until the end. Mom appreciated this immensely; the other family members cannot thank her enough. Eventually, additional homecare was needed as Mom’s abilities decreased. Tremendous assistance, beyond the call of duty, was given. Mom would periodically go to the Rest Haven Nursing Home fore respite care. It was during one of these times that she passed away on October 10. Mom was predeceased by one great grandchild, Desiree, in 1987, by the oldest son, Alvin, in 1988, by the oldest daughter Leona in 1994, by her husband in 1996 and by her daughter-in-law Clara in 2001. She was also predeceased by her sisters, Nettie, Sara, and Helen, by her brother Jake and by two sisters-in-law. She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Mary, by son Gerry, by son Menno (and his wife Laura) and by daughter Janice, by 12 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, by one brother Pete (and his wife Margaret), by three sisters Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry Friesen), Margaret (Mrs. Abe Klassen), Katherine (Mrs. Henry Plett), and by two brothers-in-law Abe Kroeker and Jacob Doerksen (and his wife Katherine). She is also survived by numerous other relatives and many friends. The family would especially like to sincerely thank the dedicated homecare workers as well as the many relatives and friends who came to visit and encourage Mom. May God richly reward and bless you! We look forward to a blessed reunion in Heaven. The Family