Mary Zacharias
April 19, 1936 - January 25, 2025
Following a lengthy battle with cancer, Mary Zacharias of Winkler, formerly of Niverville and Winnipeg, passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of 88 years.
She will be lovingly remembered by her sister Margaret Redekop, nephew Karl, special friend Wendy, niece Louise and great-niece Kaytlen, as well as extended family on the Elias and Zacharias side and friends.
She was predeceased by both her parents, Wilhem Zacharias and Margaretha (Elias) Zacharias, and her brother-in-law, Jacob Redekop.
Mary grew up in Winkler, Manitoba. She was baptized as a teenager on the confession of her faith at Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Following her graduation from Winkler Collegiate, she embarked on a career in bookkeeping and accounting. Upon recommendation from her high school principal, so got her first book-keeping job at Hooge Cleaners' in Winkler.
After working for a few years, Mary decided to go study at Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg. There she was able to sing in a number of choirs and quartets.
Following her two years of studies, she headed to Rosthern, Saskatchewan, to work at Rosthern Mennonite Bookstore.
While working in Rosthern she decided to go volunteer with MCC. She spent two years volunteering in Paraguay and Pennsylvania.
When she returned home from her work with MCC, Mary set down roots in Winnipeg. Mary bought her first home in North Kildonan. Over her career, Mary has done bookkeeping/accounting for the Psychiatric Nursing Association, Bethania Personal Care Home, and Donwood Manor. She also volunteered at her church, RiverEast Church, and for MCC Thrift stores.
Mary loved gardening and cooking. Her home and yard in North Kildonan were meticulous. She also enjoyed travelling and took memorable trips to Alaska, East and West coast of Canada, Mexico, Arizona, Florida and parts of the eastern United States.
Upon her retirement from Donwood Manor, she sold her home in Winnipeg and moved to Niverville in 1998. She continued to volunteer to do the bookkeeping for Silver Courts, where she lived and also volunteered in the Niverville Thrift Store. In 2013, Mary decided to move back "home" to Winkler. She spent a number of years living at Garden Parks and then moved to Buhler.
Mary had many hobbies. She loved gardening and was known for her beautiful roses. Mary was also an excellent cook. Her pumpkin pies and grasshopper pies will definitely be missed. Mary also loved to read, listen to good music, knit and quilt. She hand- stitched many a beautiful quilt and wall hangings.
She was fiercely independent. This summer when she was becoming so weak, she made the decision to give up driving, which was a very difficult decision for her to make as it meant having to give up some of her independence.
Mary had a great interest in family genealogy. She was instrumental in compiling and publishing the Elias Heritage Family History Book, two Elias family cookbooks and the Peter Zacharias Family History. She organized a number of Elias Family Reunions. She was a very efficient organizer.
In spring of 2021, Mary was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. She fought hard, enduring radiation treatments and then surgery. However, 6 months after surgery, cancer was again discovered, but this time on her adrenal glands. She opted not to have surgery and live her life out to the best of her abilities. At the time of her second diagnosis, she was given a year, but with her strong faith, determination, and stubbornness she lived another 2+ years.
We, as a family, would like to thank the many people that helped her along the way. Thank you to the staff at Buhler for their support and care. Thank you also to the number of residents who helped care for her when we could not be there, especially 5th-floor residents. Thank you to Elsie Rempel for driving Mary to the many appointments she had. Thank you to Palliative and Home Care for all you did to care for her. Thank you to Cancer Care, Boundary Trails and St. Pierre Hospital for your wonderful care. Thank you also to Tim Goertzen from Grace Mennonite Church, Don and Sharon Read, pallbearers and Wiebe Funeral Home for your guidance and support during this time.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to Boundary Trails Cancer Care Foundation.
April 19, 1936 - January 25, 2025
Following a lengthy battle with cancer, Mary Zacharias of Winkler, formerly of Niverville and Winnipeg, passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of 88 years.
She will be lovingly remembered by her sister Margaret Redekop, nephew Karl, special friend Wendy, niece Louise and great-niece Kaytlen, as well as extended family on the Elias and Zacharias side and friends.
She was predeceased by both her parents, Wilhem Zacharias and Margaretha (Elias) Zacharias, and her brother-in-law, Jacob Redekop.
Mary grew up in Winkler, Manitoba. She was baptized as a teenager on the confession of her faith at Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Following her graduation from Winkler Collegiate, she embarked on a career in bookkeeping and accounting. Upon recommendation from her high school principal, so got her first book-keeping job at Hooge Cleaners' in Winkler.
After working for a few years, Mary decided to go study at Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg. There she was able to sing in a number of choirs and quartets.
Following her two years of studies, she headed to Rosthern, Saskatchewan, to work at Rosthern Mennonite Bookstore.
While working in Rosthern she decided to go volunteer with MCC. She spent two years volunteering in Paraguay and Pennsylvania.
When she returned home from her work with MCC, Mary set down roots in Winnipeg. Mary bought her first home in North Kildonan. Over her career, Mary has done bookkeeping/accounting for the Psychiatric Nursing Association, Bethania Personal Care Home, and Donwood Manor. She also volunteered at her church, RiverEast Church, and for MCC Thrift stores.
Mary loved gardening and cooking. Her home and yard in North Kildonan were meticulous. She also enjoyed travelling and took memorable trips to Alaska, East and West coast of Canada, Mexico, Arizona, Florida and parts of the eastern United States.
Upon her retirement from Donwood Manor, she sold her home in Winnipeg and moved to Niverville in 1998. She continued to volunteer to do the bookkeeping for Silver Courts, where she lived and also volunteered in the Niverville Thrift Store. In 2013, Mary decided to move back "home" to Winkler. She spent a number of years living at Garden Parks and then moved to Buhler.
Mary had many hobbies. She loved gardening and was known for her beautiful roses. Mary was also an excellent cook. Her pumpkin pies and grasshopper pies will definitely be missed. Mary also loved to read, listen to good music, knit and quilt. She hand- stitched many a beautiful quilt and wall hangings.
She was fiercely independent. This summer when she was becoming so weak, she made the decision to give up driving, which was a very difficult decision for her to make as it meant having to give up some of her independence.
Mary had a great interest in family genealogy. She was instrumental in compiling and publishing the Elias Heritage Family History Book, two Elias family cookbooks and the Peter Zacharias Family History. She organized a number of Elias Family Reunions. She was a very efficient organizer.
In spring of 2021, Mary was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. She fought hard, enduring radiation treatments and then surgery. However, 6 months after surgery, cancer was again discovered, but this time on her adrenal glands. She opted not to have surgery and live her life out to the best of her abilities. At the time of her second diagnosis, she was given a year, but with her strong faith, determination, and stubbornness she lived another 2+ years.
We, as a family, would like to thank the many people that helped her along the way. Thank you to the staff at Buhler for their support and care. Thank you also to the number of residents who helped care for her when we could not be there, especially 5th-floor residents. Thank you to Elsie Rempel for driving Mary to the many appointments she had. Thank you to Palliative and Home Care for all you did to care for her. Thank you to Cancer Care, Boundary Trails and St. Pierre Hospital for your wonderful care. Thank you also to Tim Goertzen from Grace Mennonite Church, Don and Sharon Read, pallbearers and Wiebe Funeral Home for your guidance and support during this time.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to Boundary Trails Cancer Care Foundation.