Obituary of Maria Unrau

Maria Unrau (nee Hiebert), age 71, passed away peacefully following a lengthy illness on Saturday, June 3, 2023, surrounded by family at Rest Haven Care Home in Steinbach, MB.

Mary is survived by her beloved husband Ben Unrau and their eight children, Willie, Frank (Helen), Pete (Tina), Lisa (Herb) Toews, Anna (Wendel) Dueck, Cornie (Tina), Tina (Wendel) Harder, Henry, 34 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. She will also be lovingly remembered by her seven siblings, in-laws, and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents, Peter C. Hiebert and Katherina Bergen (Hiebert) Champagne.

Mary was born on October 2, 1951, in Paraguay, South America. At the age of five, her parents, Mary, and her sister Helen moved to Canada and made their home in southern Manitoba, where she has lived all her life. Mary got baptized upon the confession of her faith at the Silberfeld Chortitzer Mennonite Church in the spring of 1969. In the summer of 1968, Mary met Ben and they married the following year on October 12, 1969. Mary was a homemaker, school teacher at the private school her children attended, and volunteered many years at the Steinbach MCC. She loved to do jigsaw and crossword puzzles, reading books and writing down random words that she wrote onto paper, and playing games. Mary loved children and her face brightened every time her grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to see her. Anyone that came into Mary’s life always found a special place in her heart and her squeezing hugs were always freely given.

A very special thanks to the staff at Rest Haven Care Home for the great care and love they gave Mary for the short time she was there with them. We as a family greatly appreciate the time that the staff would spend on their breaks to come up and puzzle with Mom. Her face brightened every time that one of the staff would come in and check on her and quickly squeeze in a short visit. Thank you.

A public viewing will be held on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. with a devotional to follow at 7:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

Funeral Service will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with viewing prior to the service. Interment to follow at the New Bothwell Sommerfeld Mennonite Church Cemetery. 

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Mary may be made to the HavenGroup Foundation, 185 Woodhaven Ave, Steinbach, MB, R5G 1K7.