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Obituary of Mary Martens
Mary (Minnie) Martens, the sweetest lady you could ever meet peacefully ascended to heaven on April 18, 2020.
Our much-loved sister, aunt, great aunt, sister-in-law, great-great aunt & friend.
She is predeceased by her parents Jacob & Mary Martens, sisters Kay Martens, Marge Klassen, & brothers George & Jack Martens.
Left behind to cherish her memory, youngest sister Claire Dionne (Rollie), sister-in-law Arlene Martens, nieces Twylla Verwymeren (Ron), Kim Dionne and Deneen Klassen. As well as her great nieces/nephews Kelly Jeske (Nathan) and their children Grady & Emily, Brent Verwymeren (Melissa) and daughter Paige, Derek Verwymeren (Morgan). As well as many extended family & friends.
Mary was the second child to Jacob & Mary Martens she lived in Margaret Manitoba before settling in Headingley in her teens. Mary worked at Eatons for many years & after retiring from Eatons, worked at Walmart. She retired from Walmart at 81.
Mary was a very loving and warm person who had a smile for everyone. I (Claire) was the youngest of my siblings and I wish I could have been there for her but due to Covoid restrictions this was not possible. She will always hold a special place in my heart as she was like a second Mother to me while growing up. She always waited up until I got home in my dating years! She was especially fond of her nieces. She cherished them deeply. Twylla & Deneen were always there for her in the latter years when she was unable to make decisions for herself. They assisted her unselfishly. She also loved her great niece & great nephews and their children dearly. They were always a topic of her conversation.
Mary gave her life to Christ and became a Christian at a very young age at Red Rock Bible Camp. Her Uncle A.D. Penner from Steinbach graciously sent Mary and her siblings to camp as their mother was a single mom and couldn’t afford a luxury like this. Little did Uncle Abe know the heavenly gains that were to come from his earthly investment. Mary attended the Alliance Church in her younger years and taught Sunday School there for years. In her later years she attended Whyte Ridge Baptist.
Twylla and Deneen will greatly miss their Aunt Minnie. They have fond memories of visits to Pineridge Hollow (one of Mary’s favourite places to go!) with her. They called Friday “senior fridays” as they took care of four seniors for years. Many adventures occurred and tasks were taken care of on “senior fridays”! Deneen and Twylla were both honoured and blessed to enter at separate times to sit with Mary near the end and comfort her. Aunt Minnie and Deneen were listening to the hymns Sweet Hour of Prayer and then His Eye is on the Sparrow when she went to glory. Both Twylla and Deneen were grateful to be able to sit at their Dad’s bedside passing and then 5 days later in the same nursing home (River Park Gardens) with Mary. Due to Covoid many nursing homes would not allow this but with the proper PPE they were granted access. The presence of Angels and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, were very evident at both passings they said.
Twylla found a quote and poem in Mary’s papers and on it Mary wrote “The really happy person is the one who can enjoy the scenery when you have to take a detour”
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed”.
OTHERS
Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for - others.
Help me in all the work I do,
To ever be sincere and true,
And know that all I’d do for you
Must needs be done for - others.
Let “self” be crucified and slain,
And buried deep; and all in vain
May efforts be to rise again,
Unless to live - for others.
And when my work on earth is done,
And my new work in Heaven begun,
May I forget the crown I’ve won,
While thinking still of - others.
---Charles D. Meigs
Thanks to the staff at River Park Gardens who made Mary's last days comfortable.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba in Mary's memory or a charity of your choice.
Love,
Her sister Claire (Rollie) and Kim and the rest of her family
***Please note this death was not Covid-19 related.
