Obituary of Ethel Rosella Wiens

August 25, 1933 - June 26, 2023

89 Years

Ethel Rosella Wiens was born on August 25^th, 1933, to Peter & Katharina Harder.

 

She was the second of seven children, 5 brothers & 1 sister. She grew up on the farm close to the North Saskatchewan River, (N.W. 13-43-6) about 10 miles northwest of Waldheim.  Life was never boring. She had many fun times in the river hills with her siblings and learned to enjoy work. Due to polio that affected most of her brothers, she became her dad’s helper.  Her siblings referred to her as their dad’s pet.

 

During her teen years, she loved young peoples at their church and that is where she met her husband, David Wiens.  He proposed to her on her 21^st birthday and they were married on April 29, 1955.  She was the best “farmerette” in the community. 

 

They started their family in November of 1957 with their first of 4 sons and 2 daughters. Ethel always loved her children and enjoyed days when there was no school.  She was instrumental in leading all six of her children to the Lord.

 

Her faith was a very important part of her life. She accepted Jesus as her Saviour at the age of seven and was baptized at the age of eleven.  She struggled with doubts, but when she attended Millar Bible College she learned, “We are kept by the power of God” and she never doubted again. She was involved in many ministry opportunities both in the local church and in the community.  These included Sunday school, choir, mid-week Bible clubs, Bible correspondence, VBS, camp cook, & ladies' Bible study.

 

As Ethel’s mind deteriorated later in life, the Word of God that she had hidden in her heart remained clear and she was still able to recite scripture and remained strong in her faith.

 

She enjoyed farm work but also learned to cook and bake.  Her butter horns were a favorite of all her grandchildren.  Her Grandma Loewen taught her to quilt, and this resulted in many blankets and baby quilts over the years.  In her last years, she embroidered Bible verses onto pillowcases.

 

In 2002 they moved off the farm into a house in Waldheim directly across from the Salem Church where they attended faithfully.  Together with her husband Dave, she used her gift of hospitality and hosted many people in their home.  Ethel could often be seen on the streets of Waldheim walking.  She was determined to stay active and even in her later years when she had to use a walker, she had only one speed, which was “fast”.

 

In May of 2016, she moved into assisted living at the Rosthern Nursing Home to be closer to her husband Dave who lived in the full care portion of the home.  A few weeks later Dave passed away and she decided to remain there.  Over the next 7 years, she lived in several care homes, Sunrise Place (Rosthern Nursing Home), North View Personal Care in Warman, and her final residence, Warman Mennonite Special Care Home.  Thank you to each of these homes for providing excellent loving care to her. Special thanks to the staff at the Warman Mennonite Special Care Home for providing such loving care in Ethel’s last days. 

Ethel went to be with her Lord & Saviour peacefully in the early hours of Monday, June 26^th, 2023, at the Warman Mennonite Special Care Home.

We rejoice that she is with her Lord and Saviour, but she will be dearly missed.

She leaves behind a legacy of modelling graciousness and kindness in her daily life.

She is survived by her children: Linda (Ed) Hamm, Debrah McLaren, Rodney (Brenda) Wiens, Norman (Angela) Wiens, & Darrel (Melissa) Wiens; daughter-in-law Sherri Wiens; 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

She is predeceased by her husband David Wiens, her son James Wiens, and her siblings, Sam Harder, Art Harder, Harry Harder, Renetta Dickman.

 

PUBLIC VIEWING

Thursday, June 29, 2023

12:30 - 1:30 P.M.

Salem Church

Waldheim, SK

 

FUNERAL SERVICE

Thursday, June 29, 2023

1:30 P.M.

Salem Church

Waldheim, SK

 

 Livestream Link (click here) - Ethel Wiens Funeral Service 

 

INTERMENT

Salem Cemetery

 

Arrangements entrusted to Funk's Funeral Home, Rosthern, SK

 

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