Tribute

Martha Wiebe passed away on 19 July 2023 at Abbotsford Regional Hospital with her niece
Verna by her side after suffering a stroke six days earlier. She is survived by her sister Freda
Andem of California and nine nephews and nieces, and the family of her Aunt Gertrude Bergen.
She was predeceased by her parents, Aron and Elizabeth Wiebe, her siblings Kay Isaaks, Lucy
Epp, Aron Wiebe, and adopted brother Abe Thiessen, and four nephews and nieces.
Martha was born on 19 November 1923 in Prangenau, Molotschna, Ukraine, the third of five
children of Aron P. Wiebe and Elizabeth (Delesky) Wiebe. In May 1928 the family arrived in
Canada and after initially settling near Watrous, Saskatchewan, made their home in
Winnipegosis, Manitoba in 1930, where Martha attended school. In 1941 the family moved to
Yarrow, British Columbia, where Martha was baptized into the Yarrow Mennonite Brethren
Church on 17 September 1944.
In adulthood, Martha moved to Vancouver where she worked first as a domestic servant and
eventually as an office administrator with a machinery company. She relocated to Los Angeles
for a time, but soon returned home to Vancouver. She was very good with her personal finances,
and certainly knew how to save money during her working years. Upon retirement she moved to
Richmond and was joined by her mother, who lived with her until her passing in 1990. In 1985,
Martha relocated to Abbotsford. She moved to Primrose Gardens in 2017.
Martha was a very gifted seamstress and sewed clothes for hundreds of people over the years.
She carried on with this work until well in to her 90s. She loved to travel and made many road
trips to visit family and friends in British Columbia, California, Manitoba, and elsewhere. In her
retirement Martha also worked as a tour guide with Maverick Tours.
Martha had a wide circle of friends. Well after her friends had given up driving, Martha
continued to drive her friends, often 20 years younger, to their medical appointments until she
turned in her driver’s license just a few years ago.
Martha was a strong, independent woman who was kind and compassionate and loved to laugh.
She loved her family and showed great interest in all of them. She prayed that all of them would
know the Lord. Martha also had a strong interest in politics and liked to keep up with world
events. Martha was an active member of Bakerview Church after moving to Abbotsford, where
she ushered people to the balcony in her 90s, and was also a volunteer at Garden Park Tower for
many years.
Martha has been cremated and her ashes will be interred at Maclure Road Mennonite Cemetery.
A memorial service for Martha will be held on Friday, 25 August 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at The
Gathering Church (formerly Bakerview Church), followed by a reception at the church.