Marie Neufeld
Maria Loewen (Marie) was born Dec 25th, 1929, near Hochfeld, Saskatchewan. The oldest of 6 siblings, she attended Passiondale school near Hague, Saskatchewan. It was in those early years that she met Neil Neufeld. In 1948 Marie’s family moved to Winkler, Manitoba to find work and Neil followed shortly thereafter. They were married in Winkler in 1951 and moved that year to Winnipeg. They had three children, Jeanette, Linda and Clifford.
In 1952 the EMMC conference started a new Winnipeg church, Gospel Mennonite Church. Neil and Marie joined in that effort and held numerous leadership roles within the church for the time that they lived in Winnipeg. Neil had a wonderful singing voice, and Marie was an accomplished pianist and organist. Together they led the church choir for many years. Marie was also active in the ladies’ programs and ministry of the church.
In 1965 Marie decided to go back to school, taking her upgrading classes and then graduating as a Library Technician in 1969. She worked in the library at Providence College over the next few years.
In 1982 at the age of 53, Neil and Marie made a bold move to quit work and join MCC to volunteer in Germany working with Mennonite immigrants coming from Russia. This was a personal goal to give back to the organization (MCC) that had helped to bring Neil’s parents to Canada. Neil and Marie served there for 2 ½ years before returning to Winnipeg. This was a rewarding time spent in humanitarian efforts.
After a brief time back in Winnipeg, they moved to Winkler in 1986 where Neil worked as the General Manager for Lion’s Manor, a seniors independent living facility. Marie also worked in the facility, cooking meals for the tenants - this was a way to work alongside each other and brought them much joy in giving back to the community.
It was at the age of 53 that Marie took up quilting as a hobby. With a creative eye for colour and pattern, our family has been blessed with beautiful works of art, many of which won awards in adjudicated shows. As children and grandchildren, we have received countless quilts and wall hangings that are a treasured memory. Marie’s creativity also extended to her cooking. She was a great cook, never afraid to try something new and spent many memorable times cooking with her daughters.
As a family there were many gatherings, summer camping trips across Canada and family vacations. Over their 67 years together Neil and Marie travelled extensively both internationally and closer to home.
Marie had a huge heart, a compassionate and peacemaking nature, and was a devoted wife to Neil until his passing 6 years ago, and a loving mother and role model to her surviving 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, and sister to her surviving 3 siblings. She had a great sense of humor, enjoyed music, reading, games and was found beating all of us at Scrabble well into her 90’s.
Marie always exuded warmth, love, generosity and care to everyone she met. We as a family were blessed to have her and will miss her deeply.
Maria Loewen (Marie) was born Dec 25th, 1929, near Hochfeld, Saskatchewan. The oldest of 6 siblings, she attended Passiondale school near Hague, Saskatchewan. It was in those early years that she met Neil Neufeld. In 1948 Marie’s family moved to Winkler, Manitoba to find work and Neil followed shortly thereafter. They were married in Winkler in 1951 and moved that year to Winnipeg. They had three children, Jeanette, Linda and Clifford.
In 1952 the EMMC conference started a new Winnipeg church, Gospel Mennonite Church. Neil and Marie joined in that effort and held numerous leadership roles within the church for the time that they lived in Winnipeg. Neil had a wonderful singing voice, and Marie was an accomplished pianist and organist. Together they led the church choir for many years. Marie was also active in the ladies’ programs and ministry of the church.
In 1965 Marie decided to go back to school, taking her upgrading classes and then graduating as a Library Technician in 1969. She worked in the library at Providence College over the next few years.
In 1982 at the age of 53, Neil and Marie made a bold move to quit work and join MCC to volunteer in Germany working with Mennonite immigrants coming from Russia. This was a personal goal to give back to the organization (MCC) that had helped to bring Neil’s parents to Canada. Neil and Marie served there for 2 ½ years before returning to Winnipeg. This was a rewarding time spent in humanitarian efforts.
After a brief time back in Winnipeg, they moved to Winkler in 1986 where Neil worked as the General Manager for Lion’s Manor, a seniors independent living facility. Marie also worked in the facility, cooking meals for the tenants - this was a way to work alongside each other and brought them much joy in giving back to the community.
It was at the age of 53 that Marie took up quilting as a hobby. With a creative eye for colour and pattern, our family has been blessed with beautiful works of art, many of which won awards in adjudicated shows. As children and grandchildren, we have received countless quilts and wall hangings that are a treasured memory. Marie’s creativity also extended to her cooking. She was a great cook, never afraid to try something new and spent many memorable times cooking with her daughters.
As a family there were many gatherings, summer camping trips across Canada and family vacations. Over their 67 years together Neil and Marie travelled extensively both internationally and closer to home.
Marie had a huge heart, a compassionate and peacemaking nature, and was a devoted wife to Neil until his passing 6 years ago, and a loving mother and role model to her surviving 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, and sister to her surviving 3 siblings. She had a great sense of humor, enjoyed music, reading, games and was found beating all of us at Scrabble well into her 90’s.
Marie always exuded warmth, love, generosity and care to everyone she met. We as a family were blessed to have her and will miss her deeply.