Obituary of Helen Penner Toews
Our dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Helen Penner Toews was born to Cornelius and Annie Bartel Penner on September 19, 1931. God took her home on March 18, 2020.
She enjoyed her childhood years, growing up on the family farm near St. Anne, Manitoba together with her 12 siblings.
At the age of 12 years she felt God calling her and gave her heart to Him, and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. She was faithful to God all her life even though home life in her youth years was very difficult. Her children and grandchildren are thankful for the heritage of the true faith that she and grandpa passed down to them by their wonderful example of a simple, faithful life.
During her youth years, Mom worked as a caregiver for an elderly lady, whom she called Grandma. On a trip to Alberta, she met our dad, Elmer Toews. Our parents were married on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1954. As Mom would say, “We were blessed with three children.”
They farmed in the Entice and Swalwell, Alberta areas until 1973 when they moved to the young congregation at Stettler, Alberta, where dad was ordained as a deacon one year later. They also spent two years as houseparents at the Carrot River Outpatient Home.
Mom was a very cheerful person, her ready laugh and singing while she worked are special memories in our hearts. She enjoyed cooking and gardening and was well known for her good food and hospitality. Dad and Mom’s doors were always open to family, friends, and strangers alike. Many times they opened their home to different individuals who needed a place to live for awhile.
Those left with precious memories are: daughter Rosanna and George Toews, Stettler, Alberta, and children: Noreen and Jody, Kevin and Val, Eric and Rachel, Dennis and Melissa, Linda and Phillip; son Mervin and Diana Toews, Welsford, Nova Scotia, and children: Jenn and Rob, Daniel and Grace, Brad and Fen, Lori; daughter Kathy and Keith Klassen, Stettler, Alberta, and children: Cam and Heather, Randy, Rilla and Scot, Nat and Kyler; 27 great-grandchildren; her siblings, Lydia Toews, Moundridge Manor, Kansas; Marianne and Leroy Reimer, Linden, Alberta; Naomi and Clifford Warkentin, Rio Verde, Brazil; Cornie and Linda Penner, Linden, Alberta; Joseph and Adeline Penner, Whitemouth, Manitoba; sisters-in-law, Esther Penner, Walker, Missouri; Marlene Penner, Red Deer, Alberta; Caroline Penner, Steinbach, Manitoba, Barbara and Harvey Thiessen, Pincher Creek, Alberta; brother-in-law, Harvey and Susan Toews, Linden, Alberta.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, her parents, and seven siblings.
We wish to express our thanks to Dr. Bouwer and the staff at Points West Living and Heritage House for their excellent care of Mom.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Helen
Penner
Toews 1931 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Linden, Province: Alberta