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“I’m just a poor farmer”
She said, in her quiet German accent
Eliesabeth Toews (nee Tersen) was born to Maria & Theodore Tersen on February 23, 1941 in Ukraine. At age 7 she sailed on the Volendam to Paraguay. There was never much as a child, and this shaped Eliesabeth into the woman she was. What she had she gave, what she could do she did, always humbly in the background, diligently, tirelessly, without complaint. Maybe it was this trait or maybe it was her stunning blue eyes that caught the attention of the robust young Jakob either way he was smitten enough to whisk her off to be his wife on December 5, 1959.
Born to Eliesabeth and Jakob were 6 children with infant son Henry passing before his first breath.
Jake the adventurous sort, packed up Eliesabeth and their children moving to Winnipeg, Abbotsford, and Yarrow. Yarrow was the home of Eliesabeth’s heart.
She worked the farm tirelessly, with tenacity, using one hand to gently swat away the playful hands of her husband while using the other to fill up the jujube jar. Humming along with her favorite German songs her hands would equally bake bread or chop off a chicken’s head. Not wasting anything, one could find themself leaving the house with jars of canning, bags of buns and the occasional expired can of parmesan cheese with a ‘ Woodward’s Food Floor’ sticker stuck on the bottom. Soft spoken Eliesabeth was no pushover, proving it when she took your trick with her rook, no word was said, with a sly grin she would look at you, her blue eyes dancing in victory.
15 grandchildren were cuddled in Eliesabeth’s arms and whenever they opened their mouth she would fill it with cake.
Eliesabeth loved serving, her family, her church, her community and her God, her faith in Jesus was exactly as she was, quiet and humble.
On March 10, 2022 at Chilliwack General Hospital, Eliesabeth stepped into her heavenly home surrounded by her family.
Eliesabeth was anything but a poor farmer, she cultivated love.
Left to mourn her and celebrate her life are husband Jake, their children Giesela Mcarthur (Norm), Jake Toews (Janette), Elsi Buckman (Patrick), Rudy Toews (Corinne), Haney Toews (Glenda), 15 Grandchildren and 11 Great Grandchildren.
We will be honoring her life on March 18 2022, 1pm at Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church interment at the Yarrow Cemetery.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Eliesabeth Toews Tersen February 23 1941
March 10 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Abbotsford, Province: Colombie britanique