Esther Petkau

Esther Petkau

1931 - 2019

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Esther

Obituary of Esther Petkau

Esther Petkau was born on April 3, 1931 and was taken to her heavenly home on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 10:10 a.m. at Ste. Anne Hospital, Ste. Anne, MB. She was born to Abram and Elizabeth Plett in Greenland, Manitoba, Canada.

She grew up in Greenland, Manitoba, through her youth and school years and received Christ as her personal Saviour and experienced deep joy and peace through it. She was baptized by Reverend P. Reimer in Blumenort, Manitoba on July 27, 1947. She moved to Mexico with her parents in 1952, at the age of 20, to Quellen Colony.

She married our dad on November 1, 1953, where Abram J. Thiessen officiated. They lived in Mexico for 33 years, where they raised their family of 10 children. Her love for family was evident in taking in two nieces for several years and a nephew for 10 years. Most of the years in Mexico were spent on the farm and trucking. Mom was also elected as a Carillon News editor for the Quellen Colony in her early years in Mexico.

Mom’s hobbies were gardening, canning, quilting and knitting. She was a leader of a committee that made hundreds of blankets and she enjoyed distributing these blankets and clothing to the poor. She also enjoyed planning family activities and preparing food for these events.

Mom was humble, content and kind. She had a good sense of humour even when times were tough. She was a prayer warrior 24/7 for the whole family and many friends, for the sick in the hospital and all those in need. She mentioned how important it was to pray for and to visit the sick in the hospital because she spent so much time there and knew what it was like. Her strength through loneliness, when her parents and siblings moved back to Canada in her early married life, was shown by helping others to make them happy. This gave her joy.

She moved to Canada in 1986, where she was diagnosed with cancer. Dad spent a lot of time at the hospital not knowing what would happen but the operation was successful. In 2004, she had a brain tumour operation which was also successful but left her with seizures on and off for the rest of her life. In the last 10 years she had a kidney trouble, which led to her passing, with Abe and Mary, Margret, and Anita by her bedside.

Mom spent a lot of time at home reading and writing letters to friends and family. In later years, it was on her iPad where she communicated with family and friends. Sitting in her recliner and being able to stay in touch made her happy and put a smile on her face.

Esther is survived by her loving husband John, six sons, four daughters along with their spouses, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters, two brothers, and five in-laws.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, three sisters, three brothers and five in-laws.

We, the whole family, want to thank everyone for praying, supporting and helping us with food and other needs. We want to thank the pastors, Birchwood Funeral Chapel and everyone involved with arrangements. We would like to thank all the staff, nurses and doctors at Ste. Anne Hospital for taking care of our dear mother, Esther Petkau.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, December 23, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at Blumenort Community Church, Blumenort, MB., followed by the interment at the church cemetery.

 

 

Monday
23
December

Funeral Service

2:00 pm
Monday, December 23, 2019
Blumenort Community Church
59 Centre Ave
Blumenort, Manitoba, Canada