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Obituary of Tina Hiebert-Gerbrandt (nee Doell)
Our mom, Tina, was born on September 6, 1926 to Bernhard & Katharine Doell in the Municipality of Rhineland, Plum Coulee area. She was the youngest of 12 children.
As a teenager, she worked in Winnipeg as a nanny for a Jewish family, always bringing her pay cheque home to her parents to help with their finances. She married Walter Gerbrandt at the age of 20 and went on to have 7 children. Her role at home was always that of a caregiver. This included many things such as gardening & canning, cooking & baking, sewing many dresses for the girls, especially for Christmas, Easter and some graduations, etc. In her ‘spare’ time, when she had some, she enjoyed doing handwork.
She was always a very hard worker. When she wasn’t doing the previously mentioned things, you would find her house cleaning, waxing floors, mowing the lawn, planting flowers and numerous times over the years she also scraped and repainted the exterior of the house, not afraid to be up on the scaffolding. On a side note.....in her early eighties we would still find her climbing on top of dressers to do some cleaning.
Her church life was an extension of who she was and what she did. Working in the nursery, choir, ladies auxiliary, and helping in the kitchen, which included many church functions, weddings and funerals. On top of weekly Sunday morning and evening services she regularly attended Wednesday evening prayer meetings. Countless times over the years we would find her reading her Bible and praying. Once her eyesight failed, making it too difficult to read, she depended on others to read her Bible to her, and she always welcomed prayers.
Besides being a gifted caregiver, mom had the gift of hospitality. In our growing up years, our home was always a ‘gathering’ place. The list of guests included, of course, family, from near and far.....’dit seid’ and ‘yan seid’. Missionaries were always welcomed to make our home their home during the church’s annual missionary conference.
Mom never turned away the neighbourhood kids. Whether it was playing inside with one of us kids, or having almost the whole neighbourhood play outside on the yard. One thing that stands out as adult children, is, as kids, especially the youngest four girls, over the years there would be a lot of pretend funerals and weddings together with the neighbourhood kids and mom always let them use her wedding dress for these pretend weddings......WOW!
She had such a big heart for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was always with big open arms, hugs and kisses that we were greeted and welcomed home. She was always prepared with lots of food regardless of when we would pop by. And the time and energy put into preparing for holiday gatherings was second to none. So many memories. She loved each one of her grandchildren and great grandchildren uniquely and individually and she faithfully prayed for each one of them. She loved any time that was spent together with them, whether it was just a visit, playing games, phone calls, sleepovers, or just some good hugs and kisses.
One of mom’s life’s dreams was to become a nurse. With the many years of raising a family this dream would not come true. But in her early fifties she decided to take some courses and become a nurse’s aide. She achieved this goal and took upgrading courses over the years to keep her job current. This was an accomplishment to be proud of. She worked at Rest Haven Nursing Home and Bethesda Personal Care Home, both in Steinbach. She loved her work, her co-workers, and the many patients that she had the privilege to care for. She came home with many stories to share with us over the years.
In 1993, she married her second husband, Lawrence Hiebert, and moved to Winkler where she lived until she needed more care in 2016, when she was moved to Greendale in Grunthal. After 8 months there, and numerous falls, she ended up at St. Pierre Hospital where she spent 6 months waiting for placement at Rest Haven Nursing Home in Steinbach. She finally arrived there on October 26, 2017.
As these last three years went by she experienced a steady increase with dementia. But through that her true spirit and character still shone through. She loved to joke and make people laugh. She loved to receive hugs and was always ready to give one. And if she could sneak in a kiss she would. She had an independent nature which also made her feisty and stubborn. But this is what got her to 94 years old.
Mom was welcomed home by her Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 22 at the age of 94. Peacefully in her sleep at the Rest Haven Nursing Home, her spirit left to be at home with her Lord where her heart had already been for so long.
“And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the
Spirit returns to God who gave it.” Ecc. 12:7
She is survived by 4 daughters & 1 son, 13 grandchildren & 10 great grandchildren.
Shirley (George) Klassen, Ken (Virginia) Gerbrandt, Marilyn Gerbrandt, Carol (Curt) Guenther, Brenda (Mel) Funk.
Grandchildren: Desiree (David) Fox, Douglas Klassen, Corey Klassen, Luke (Hayley) Gerbrandt, Charity Gerbrandt, Jeff Reimer, Greg Reimer, Daniel (Janice) Reimer, Kim Petkau , Mark Guenther, Matthew (Marlaena) Guenther, Kameika Funk, Tassos (Jenni) Funk.
Great grandchildren: River, Zachery, Rachael, Cerina, Joseph, Symairah, Kasia, Merrek, Nevaeh, Zenadia.
She was predeceased by: Her parents, 8 brothers & 3 sisters, one of which is her dear sister and friend, Mary, with whom she was finally reunited.
Her first husband, Walter Gerbrandt, and her second husband, Lawrence Hiebert. Two daughters, Grace Bartel & Noreen Gerbrandt, One great granddaughter, Sierra Funk
“We live with a joyful confidence, yet at the same time we take delight in the thought of leaving our bodies behind to be at home with the Lord.” II Corinthians 5:8
“I will meet you in the morning just inside the Eastern Gate....” (lyrics from song “The Eastern Gate”)
We accompanied mom as far as we could, then released her at the Gate, to the Lord who loved her even more than we did; the Lord who mom loved, trusted and served.
We know that there is an awesome reunion going on in Heaven, just inside the Eastern Gate!
We haven’t lost her. We know exactly where she is. The Bible, in II Corinthians 5:8, assures believers that “to be absent from the body” ..... is “to be present with the Lord.”
We grieve and sorrow at her loss, but as I Thessalonians 4:13 says, we do not “sorrow as others who have no hope.”
Even though we grieve due to our loss, mom is not grieving today. She now resides in a Heaven where there is one eternal day. Twice in the book of Revelation, we are told there will be “no night there”. (Rev. 21:25, 22:5) So, as far as mom is concerned, the separation will be brief, and we will be joining her.....later on today.
To all those (you know who you are) who befriended, encouraged, loved-on, and made mom feel like the special person she was over many years at different locations, we thank you. You helped make her life full and blessed.
Thank you also, to all the people who cared for her not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually the last number of years at Lions Manor, Greendale, St. Pierre Hospital, and Rest Haven. Your kindness and time spent with her did not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to the entire staff of Rest Haven Nursing Home for their warmth, kindness, and very gentle and loving care given to our mom. She loved each one of you and mentioned numerous times over the years she was there that she was getting such very good care. We as a family are very grateful, not only for the physical care she received, but also the spiritual care that was given.
Thank you to Birchwood Funeral Chapel for assisting us in this difficult time. Your professionalism is evident, but more importantly, your personal touch is appreciated.
A private family graveside service to be held at Heritage cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Tina may be made to the Haven Group.
