Margaret Rempel

Eulogy for Margaret Rempel

Margaret Rempel (nee Voth) went to be with Jesus on Sunday July 3, 2011 at the Menno Home, Abbotsford, BC.  She was born on May 1, 1923 in Kalantarafka, South Russia to Herman and Maria Voth, the youngest girl in a family of 7.  She came to Canada with her family as a 7 month old and lived in various places, mostly in southern Manitoba during her growing up years.  She loved going to school and her dream of becoming a teacher was cut short by the need to care for her parents.

In the early 1940’s the family moved to British Columbia, settling in Chilliwack.  She married Cornelius J. Rempel on March 10, 1946 and they had a very loving relationship.  They always worked together, first in construction where she drafted the houses while CJ and her brother John built them. Later they partnered in a poultry farm.  In 1970, together with a good friend, Elizabeth Teichrob (later Marshall), they opened a fabric store called Mar-Elle Boutique where they taught stretch-and-sew lessons to many grateful mothers. We all wore her instructional samples with various effects – sometimes matching other children whose mothers had taken the course.  In the fabric store they also carried a line of fine bridal fabrics and were known as the place to have your wedding gown custom-made in Chilliwack. 

In 1975 she had her first major stroke.  The doctors told her she would possibly not walk again.  She worked very hard at her therapy and not only walked but later worked as a secretary again.  Teaching herself to type and not giving up was a big reason for her successful rehabilitation. 

During those years there were many more strokes and TIA’s but she always fought back. When her beloved CJ passed away July 13^th 1996, she was extremely lonely and felt she had little purpose in life.  In June of 2003 we celebrated her 80^th birthday with a big family party and she loved seeing so many nieces and nephews.  Her sister came from Manitoba and that was very special to her. After that event she wrote this email to some of the family that describes so well how she was always positive and encouraging to others no matter what her circumstances were. She said in this email; “It is Monday night, can I just drop in for a bit? After all the excitement, surprise and suspense of the last few weeks, it seems very quiet and calm here now, but the memories remain & they are precious and wonderful! Thank you so very much! I had all the "evidence" stacked up on my dining room table. Now, as I try to work it all into my everyday routine, I can’t just put it away – I go over every detail again and again! I BOUGHT A SPECIAL box big enough to hold all the cards and papers with those special notes and wishes written on them, I will always keep them on hand and readily available. What a blessing they are to me! All those loving thoughts are so very special, how I wish I could share them with Cornie. How he would have enjoyed this time with you, our loved ones! I miss him so much; seven years ago yesterday the Lord took him home to be with Him forever. At that time I actually thought that He (Jesus) would send a chariot to pick me up – but I am still waiting. How wonderful to know that when He does come for me, it is for all eternity! I have it good here now, but I long to be with the Lord – What a day that will be, when my Savior I shall see - - -. This longing  seemed to just almost overwhelm me – until this morning when Ruth Thoutenhoofd called and asked whether I would like to take on a new assignment - - oh, yes I am still here and there are opportunities here & now – I had better wake up and face reality - -  - - it is so easy for me to get caught up in my alone-ness. So now I want to face whatever the Lord has for me, I know  He will do the equipping, He has done it before! I trust Him! So for tonight, I will just leave it there, we will "talk" again, another time. I wish you a good & satisfying week, Marg.

During this time, the signs of dementia were becoming evident, creating an unsafe environment for her, so she agreed to move into Hallmark Assisted Living.  She was there for 3 years and enjoyed the company of a former neighbor from Chilliwack who lived across the hall.  After several more medical incidents, she required even more care and eventually came to live at Menno Home.  Anyone that visited her will recall how grateful she always was for your visit, never making you feel as though you owed her more than that.  She was known for her spontaneous good humour and her cheerfulness. Mostly she was known as having a strong faith in God and a hope for the future coming-again of her precious Saviour.

She is predeceased by her husband, parents, all of her siblings except her sisters-in-law Catherine Voth and Elfrieda Baerg.   She will be lovingly remembered by her daughters and sons-in-law: Marilyn and Rudy Hiebert, Darlene and Dave Neufeld, Jennifer and Dean Martin.  Her 7 grandchildren and their spouses: Kevin Hiebert and Nubia Martens, Corwin and Eileen Hiebert, Carla and Tim Neufeld, Aaron and Leah Neufeld, Andrea and Stan Peters, April and Mike Breslin, and Pam and Sean Riley.  She loved her grandchildren dearly and prayed for each one daily.  She also had 9 great grandchildren: Brendan and Cole Breslin, Levi and Jayden Peters, Ella and Colby Neufeld, Haven and Oliver Neufeld, and Jack Riley.

In August 2010 she fell and broke her hip and arm.  The bones healed, but 9 months later an infection set in and eventually she was not able to fight it off.  The last month was a difficult journey toward death but she is now victorious and safe in the arms of Jesus – right where she always wanted to be!

There will be a graveside service on Friday, July 8^th at Maclure Road Mennonite Cemetery at 10:30 am followed by a memorial service at Central Heights Church at 1:30 pm on Friday, July 8^th.  Donations can be made payable to Columbia Bible College, 2940 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, BC  V2T 2Z8,   On line donations can be made at http://www.columbiabc.edu/ or http://bit.ly/pC2BpT to the Student Residence Fund (to furnish a dorm room) with the comment being “In memory of Margaret Rempel”.