Obituary for Mary Hildebrand
January 9, 1947 - May 29, 2024
The world was graced by the life and presence of Mary Hildebrand for seventy-seven years. The first to enjoy her quiet but strong spirit were her parents Johann J and Eva Epp, her two sisters, eight brothers and many friends and relatives. She was the seventh of eleven children and the middle daughter.
She grew up on the family farm near Lowe Farm, Manitoba where she cultivated a strong work ethic working in the beet field and grew a love for gardening and canning. She enjoyed picking wildflowers, running around barefoot in the mud, and swimming or canoeing in the pond.
After high school, Mary worked in nursing homes, one north of Winnipeg and then in Morden during which time she met her husband, Henry Hildebrand. They were married July 12, 1970 and a year later their first son, Walter was born. Initially they lived in Kronsgart, then Carman, welcoming both Clifford
and Kenny into the fold. They finally settled in at the Hildebrand family homestead just north of Winkler in 1976, one month prior to their arrival of their daughter, Tracy.
For a number of years they farmed the land, raised livestock, harvested an abundant garden, while Mary also made school runs, babysat neighbourhood children and kept her family well fed. Annual camping trips to the Whiteshell and an occasional trip west were highlights of summers. Together
Henry and Mary provided a strong and welcoming home where a faith in and walk with God was modelled and nurtured.
Once the children were grown, Mary found employment at Winkler Meats and later served the residents of the Pineview Home of Gateway Resources where she did what she does best, caring for the needs of others.
Mary treasured her church family at Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Serving as a teacher, and later, with Henry, as deacons, her eyes and heart were opened to the many gems to be found there. She also served on the Missions committee and Prayer Team where she developed solid friendships.
With their grown children all across the globe, Mary traveled with Henry to Niagara Falls, Pennsylvania, Taiwan, New York, and Savannah.
They also spent many hours fishing with friends, watching football, and enjoying their growing family. Mary grieved the sudden passing of Henry in 2006. Many thought this would prompt her to leave her country home but she stayed on six more years tending the garden, and fending off skunks and other wildlife before handing over the keys to her daughter and husband, Davis, in 2012 and moving to 4th street in Winkler.
Her seven grandchildren were her delight. She rarely turned down an opportunity to babysit, serve them cookies, or watch them decorate her Christmas tree. She soaked in all of their adventures growing up even if it was just in hearing the stories.
2015 brought in the start of a variety of health challenges and by 2019 she had moved into Buhler Active Living Centre where she found a loving community, supportive staff and a great city view on the eighth floor.
She has left to mourn, in her sudden departure, son Walter (and Sherrie), son Clifford (and Leanne), son Kenny (and Jolene) with grandsons Tate, Milo, Arjei, and Lucas, daughter Tracy Wieler (and Davis) with grandchildren Seth, Troy and Vivian, brothers Henry (and Katie), Cornie (and Bertha), Ben (and Ann),
George (and Leora), sisters Martha Dyck (Abe), Helen (and John Friesen), sister-in-laws Norma Massey (John), Martha Epp (David), Alice Epp (Jake), Mary Epp (Abe), and brother-in-law Bert (and Elva) Hildebrand, along with many nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Henry, four
brothers, John, David, Jake, and Abe and one brother-in-law, Abe Dyck.
We would like to thank the staff and her friends at the Buhler Active Living Centre as well as the Home Care staff who supported and honoured Mary during her time there. We also appreciate the family and friends that called or came to visit with her as her mobility decreased. We have probably been told of each and every visit. A big thank you to Pastor Victor Engbrecht for your help with planning today’s service and to all those that have walked with us and served here today during this unexpected time of mourning.
One final note. Mary loved to sing hymns. I’m not sure if she ever joined a choir but if you were working alongside her you might have been treated to a subtle yet joy filled solo, sometimes with words. In all probability she is singing her heart out right now in the presence of the One her heart has been longing for.
January 9, 1947 - May 29, 2024
The world was graced by the life and presence of Mary Hildebrand for seventy-seven years. The first to enjoy her quiet but strong spirit were her parents Johann J and Eva Epp, her two sisters, eight brothers and many friends and relatives. She was the seventh of eleven children and the middle daughter.
She grew up on the family farm near Lowe Farm, Manitoba where she cultivated a strong work ethic working in the beet field and grew a love for gardening and canning. She enjoyed picking wildflowers, running around barefoot in the mud, and swimming or canoeing in the pond.
After high school, Mary worked in nursing homes, one north of Winnipeg and then in Morden during which time she met her husband, Henry Hildebrand. They were married July 12, 1970 and a year later their first son, Walter was born. Initially they lived in Kronsgart, then Carman, welcoming both Clifford
and Kenny into the fold. They finally settled in at the Hildebrand family homestead just north of Winkler in 1976, one month prior to their arrival of their daughter, Tracy.
For a number of years they farmed the land, raised livestock, harvested an abundant garden, while Mary also made school runs, babysat neighbourhood children and kept her family well fed. Annual camping trips to the Whiteshell and an occasional trip west were highlights of summers. Together
Henry and Mary provided a strong and welcoming home where a faith in and walk with God was modelled and nurtured.
Once the children were grown, Mary found employment at Winkler Meats and later served the residents of the Pineview Home of Gateway Resources where she did what she does best, caring for the needs of others.
Mary treasured her church family at Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Serving as a teacher, and later, with Henry, as deacons, her eyes and heart were opened to the many gems to be found there. She also served on the Missions committee and Prayer Team where she developed solid friendships.
With their grown children all across the globe, Mary traveled with Henry to Niagara Falls, Pennsylvania, Taiwan, New York, and Savannah.
They also spent many hours fishing with friends, watching football, and enjoying their growing family. Mary grieved the sudden passing of Henry in 2006. Many thought this would prompt her to leave her country home but she stayed on six more years tending the garden, and fending off skunks and other wildlife before handing over the keys to her daughter and husband, Davis, in 2012 and moving to 4th street in Winkler.
Her seven grandchildren were her delight. She rarely turned down an opportunity to babysit, serve them cookies, or watch them decorate her Christmas tree. She soaked in all of their adventures growing up even if it was just in hearing the stories.
2015 brought in the start of a variety of health challenges and by 2019 she had moved into Buhler Active Living Centre where she found a loving community, supportive staff and a great city view on the eighth floor.
She has left to mourn, in her sudden departure, son Walter (and Sherrie), son Clifford (and Leanne), son Kenny (and Jolene) with grandsons Tate, Milo, Arjei, and Lucas, daughter Tracy Wieler (and Davis) with grandchildren Seth, Troy and Vivian, brothers Henry (and Katie), Cornie (and Bertha), Ben (and Ann),
George (and Leora), sisters Martha Dyck (Abe), Helen (and John Friesen), sister-in-laws Norma Massey (John), Martha Epp (David), Alice Epp (Jake), Mary Epp (Abe), and brother-in-law Bert (and Elva) Hildebrand, along with many nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Henry, four
brothers, John, David, Jake, and Abe and one brother-in-law, Abe Dyck.
We would like to thank the staff and her friends at the Buhler Active Living Centre as well as the Home Care staff who supported and honoured Mary during her time there. We also appreciate the family and friends that called or came to visit with her as her mobility decreased. We have probably been told of each and every visit. A big thank you to Pastor Victor Engbrecht for your help with planning today’s service and to all those that have walked with us and served here today during this unexpected time of mourning.
One final note. Mary loved to sing hymns. I’m not sure if she ever joined a choir but if you were working alongside her you might have been treated to a subtle yet joy filled solo, sometimes with words. In all probability she is singing her heart out right now in the presence of the One her heart has been longing for.