Obituary of Mathilda Plett

A come & go viewing will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at Morweena EMC, Morweena, MB., with burial to follow at Morweena EMC Cemetery, viewing will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Family and friends are invited to join the livestream on the Morweena EMC website https://livestream.com/morweenaemc.

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Mathilda Plett (nee Kornelsen), aged 86 years, of Arborg, MB., passed away on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at her residence.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” (Ps. 116:15NIV)

Mathilda Kornelsen Plett of Arborg, MB, wife of Joas Plett, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter, Sara and Henry Reimer on February 9, 2022.

Mom was born to Isaac U. and Elizabeth Kornelsen on February 21, 1935, the 6th child of 11. The family lived in Heuboden, MB at the time. Mom received her 6 years of grade school in Kleefeld, MB. To her disappointment, her schooldays ended with the family’s move to Mexico in summer of 1948.

Mom lived her teen years and early married life in Jaqueyes, Mexico. Her work included helping with house and farm work at home, childcare and housekeeping for her older  sisters and office work at the local business center.

As mom moved along in the teen years, awareness of her need for a personal Savior became real to her. In accordance with the teaching of the local Kleine Gemeinde church, she made her peace with God, attended convert instruction classes and was baptized on confession of her faith.

In mom’s early 20s, she began to notice Joas Plett as an attractive young man. The beginning of the courtship was complicated by the fact that he did not claim the faith in Jesus for salvation that she had. To her joy, he decided to follow Jesus too. They were  married on April 29, 1956. Motherhood came quickly. How she loved each of their nine children! As she worked hard to feed, clothe and nurture her brood, she often sang.

Dad and mom moved back to Canada in 1964, settling in Morweena, MB. This move happened during difficult financial times but mom was frugal and hardworking, willing to adjust to make things work. She also loved to show hospitality to relatives and friends, even inviting nephews and others to board for awhile. 

The ‘80s brought the new experience of children getting married and grandkids joining the family. How she loved everyone! She stretched her table and cooked larger meals. She sewed, she quilted, she babysat, she loved. All 109 family members were special, right down to the 2 great grandchildren born within the last 3 weeks of her life. Family life also brought intense relationship struggles and mom was nearly consumed by these at times. Mom was willing to confront and then chose to adapt to other’s decisions.

The years did eventually bring an empty nest. To accommodate semi-retirement from the farm, mom and dad had a new house built in 2001. They still had space to host many family gatherings. In 2017, the time came to move into senior housing in Arborg. This was a happy move for mom, giving her lots of opportunity to interact with friends also living in House of Hope. But the Covid pandemic in 2020 brought a sad set of restrictions, mixing limited access to family with increasing health issues. She faced these inconveniences bravely, but they wore on her. On January 10th of this year, mom and dad moved in with Sara and Henry Reimer to receive personal care by family. Mom’s health gradually declined until on Feb 9th, her spirit was released to go meet her Maker and Savior.

Left to mourn her passing is her husband, Joas Plett, two sisters nine children and spouses, 46 grandchildren and spouses, and 27 great-grandchildren.

Mom is predeceased by her parents, one grandson, one daughter-in-law, six brothers and two sisters.

A come & go viewing will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at Morweena EMC, Morweena, MB., with burial to follow at Morweena EMC Cemetery, viewing will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Family and friends are invited to join the livestream on the Morweena EMC website https://livestream.com/morweenaemc.