Parcourez la nécrologie de Jessie Klassen Cornies March 19 1925
February 4 2024 résidant dans la province Colombie britanique pour le détail des funérailles.
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Born Jessie Cornies, her remarkable journey began on March 19, 1925 in Mariville, Ukraine, where she was born to struggling parents. Clothes were donated for her due to their dire circumstances. She was born into a family of 8 brothers, two of whom died during childbirth, and three sisters. Unfortunately, she was never able to meet her sisters as they died within three weeks of one another from Typhus a few years before she was born. Six months after Jessie graced this world with her presence, her family made the decision to board the Modessa, and immigrated to Canada in search of a better life.
Her family settled in southern Manitoba and initially took up residence on a farm. Due to the rigors of farm life, her father had to move her family numerous times to find work that he was more physically able to handle. This led Jessie to change schools every year. These disruptions caused her to leave school at the end of Grade 7. Due to her father’s continued health struggles, the family moved once again and landed in Winnipeg, where her son Peter relocated his family many years later. While in Winnipeg, she began working at a pickle factory when she was 15.
When Jessie was in her early 20’s she moved with her parents out west to British Columbia. They settled in Surrey, specifically the area of Newton. Soon after, she left her family home and embarked on her own adventures. She moved to Vancouver and ended up living in a boarding home, run by the Mennonite Churches, for young single women. Her first job in Vancouver was working at Farinas, a local laundromat. After employment was taken care of, she quickly found her weekly church services at the United Mennonite Church that participated in running the boarding house. Finding her church was paramount as her faith was incredibly important to her throughout her life. Little did she know that this decision, changed the course of her life more than she could have known at the time. This is because church is where she met a dapper older man named Arthur Klassen.
They courted and fell in love soon after. This led to Jessie and Arthur declaring their love to the world when they got married February 14, 1948, at the same United Mennonite Church. As their love grew in the early years of their marriage, they were elated to welcome their eldest daughter Linda in 1949 and then their eldest son Bob in 1951. Their young family, guided by their immense faith in God, was blossoming in Vancouver until 1952.
When Linda was three years old, and Bob was one year old, they packed up and moved east to Surrey. They bought a rural property that had the space for them to continue growing their loving family. As they lived in Surrey, Jessie gave birth to three more children. They welcomed Peter in 1953, then in 1955 Don arrived. He was born at home, which Jessie was always very proud of. This was just another testament to her strength and resiliency. Finally in 1958, she gave birth to their youngest daughter Pat. Jessie was a wonderful homemaker and mother to her husband and five children.
She was continuously a pillar of strength and support for her children and husband Arthur. While lovingly taking care of her 5 children, she could also be found helping Arthur dig a new well for the family. While Arthur got all the credit for building the home they raised their kids in, many don’t know that while pregnant with Pat, she helped nail down flooring on the split level they were adding. The family, maybe not so much Arthur, ended up laughing when they realized how many joists her nails missed.
After her children were all in school, she got her driver’s license and then became a very successful Watkins sales lady. She sold numerous products for them, including animal vitamins. She sold these animal vitamins to a local farmer who ended up with his sow in the Surrey Leader newspaper for the enormous litter of piglets she had.
Jessie enjoyed attending and was a passionate member of Cedar Hills Mennonite Church. Later in life, Jessie and Arthur also enjoyed volunteering together at MCC 10,000 Villages. Jessie was always the consummate hostess and often hosted relatives from the prairies for overnight visits. Everyone loved visiting Jessie so much they were even willing to set up tents in the backyard just to get a taste of her amazing home cooking and baking. She also hosted her children’s youth groups and friends. Everyone loved her warm hospitality and great sense of humour.
Jessie’s life wasn’t without challenges and in her mid forties and early fifties had to deal with severe ill health, where she said 3 times the doctors told her husband she wouldn’t make it. However her she said Jesus wasn’t yet ready to call her home.
In 1985, Jessie and Arthur retired to a condo in Abbotsford. As an avid swimmer, she loved the pool and enjoyed swimming half a mile per day. Her doctors said this helped her live such a long life. Arthur and Jessie enjoyed their retirement and travelled all over North America via bus tours, campers, and numerous cruises. She often beamed with pride when recalling sleepovers, play time, and forging beautiful relationships with her 12 grandchildren in that Abbotsford home. Their love of cruising had them set sail on a cruise to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, Jessie faced yet another test of her faith and strength when Arthur had a heart attack. She was heartbroken as he was flown back to Royal Columbian Hospital and unfortunately passed away.
Jessie found it difficult to live without her best friend and husband of 60 years. She relied on her strong faith and incredible family to help her embark on the next chapter of her life. Jessie did not let her broken heart detract from her passion for numerous hobbies, including baking, swimming, knitting, jigsaw puzzles, cribbage and reading. As she aged, her vision was not as resilient as her spirits and she became legally blind. In the last years mom embraced audiobooks to continue her passion for literature. Jessie’s love for babies and children came to the forefront again as she was blessed with 17 great grandchildren. These new members of her family brought her great joy and she continued to relish her matriarchal role in the Klassen clan.
In 2011 Jessie moved to White Rock to Evergreen Manor and enjoyed the chapel and grounds, most notably the beautiful gardens. Jessie also enjoyed the fun games and activities at the Manor. In fact she ended up winning a lot of those games that rewarded her with many mini chocolate bars. In alignment with her loving heart and generosity she would not eat these treats herself, but rather shared with her great grandchildren when they came to visit. People were always impressed with Jessie‘s 21st century skills. She was the most tech savvy Great Grandma many had ever seen, all while learning these skills when she was legally blind. This was most evident as she enjoyed keeping up with her extended family through Facebook. Her ability to use technology as she aged was due to her feistiness, or as many close to her would describe as stubbornness. As one doctor noted towards the end of her life, “you don’t live past 90 years old without being feisty”. Jessie was an extraordinary mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend, whose presence and sunny disposition left an enduring impact on all fortunate enough to cross her path. She is lovingly survived by 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren who are so grateful for everything she has done for them over the years. On behalf of the family, I would like to thank all of you for coming out to celebrate my mom’s amazing life.
March 19 1925
February 4 2024
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Jessie Klassen Cornies March 19 1925
February 4 2024..
Décès pour la Ville: Abbotsford, Province: Colombie britanique
avis deces Jessie Klassen Cornies March 19 1925
February 4 2024
necrologie Jessie Klassen Cornies March 19 1925
February 4 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Jessie Klassen Cornies March 19 1925
February 4 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.