Elma Thiessen (nee Hiebert)
Obituary
Elma Thiessen (nee Hiebert), age 83 years, 5 months and 1 day, of Steinbach, MB, formerly of Roseau River, MB peacefully slipped into the arms of Jesus on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM at Ste. Anne Hospital, Ste. Anne MB with family at her bedside.
Elma leaves to mourn her 10 children and their families – 26 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren:
Esther (Rene) Savard, Daniel (Val) Thiessen, Ruth (Brad) Leis, Rose (Duane) Galston, Agatha (Grayson) Reddekop, David (Christine) Thiessen, Barbara (Nathan) Wessel, Peter (Jessica) Thiessen, Sarah (Edwin) Anstey, Carl (Angela) Thiessen.
Mom is survived by 3 brothers and their families: John (Helen) Hiebert, Abe (Mary) Hiebert, Berny (Marleen) Hiebert. She is also survived by 7 in-laws on William’s side of the family and numerous nieces & nephews.
Mom was predeceased by her husband, William Thiessen of 41 years on March 14, 2007 at 7:28 PM.
She was also predeceased by her parents, Jacob J. & Helena Hiebert, parents-in-law, John & Aganetha Thiessen, brother Peter (infancy), 2 brothers and their spouses Henry (Amy) Hiebert, and Jacob (Anne) Hiebert, sister Martha (Cornie) Wiens, and many in-laws from the Thiessen family.
Mom was born on Wednesday, January 07, 1942 in Steinbach, MB. She grew up near Grunthal, MB and attended GoodWill School for Grades 1-7. Mom did not particularly enjoy the academic subjects of school but she had a unique gift for recalling numbers and dates of birthdays and anniversaries of almost everyone she knew. In her youth, Mom attended Spencer Bergthaler Church where she enjoyed singing in the choir. Mom had fond childhood memories of playing games with her brothers, such as Fox and Goose in the snow, and watching her brothers play outdoor hockey and baseball. As a young adult, Mom was employed at the poultry processing plant in Niverville.
Mom was baptized upon the confession of her faith in Jesus Christ at the Gospel Fellowship Church in Steinbach, August 1965.
On August 28, 1965, Mom married our Dad, William Thiessen. Together they raised their 10 children on a dairy farm 1 ½ miles SW of Roseau River.
Our Mom was dedicated to raising her large family. Mom was extremely hard-working: milking cows, gardening, cooking meals, making countless school lunches, and washing endless loads of laundry (with a ringer/spinner washing machine before she got a more modern washing machine and dryer). Mom spent much time baking, cooking and canning to keep a family of 12 fed; a challenge when living with limited resources. She made everything from scratch – buns/bread, vareniki, kielkhi with schmauntfhat, supsul from chokecherries, donuts, French fries, pies. Our favourite Christmas memories include Mom’s hours of extra time and effort to prepare Christmas baking, such as homemade marshmallows and decorated white cookies.
Mom loved celebrating her birthday, which fell in the weeks after Christmas. Each year she greatly anticipated visits from relatives during her birthday week. She always made sure to set aside extra Christmas baking in the freezer for her company.
Mom LOVED singing and music, joining 2 church choirs in her younger years. Mom taught us the truths of the Scriptures by teaching us to sing hymns. On Saturday nights after chores were done, we often gathered in the living room to sing hymns together. She loved hearing her children sing hymns, right up to her last moments. Mom enjoyed listening to her grandchildren play their instruments, singing along with them; this being a tremendous blessing to her. Listening to her numerous Christian vinyl records and CDs brought enjoyment and comfort to Mom. Today’s hymn choices were made by Mom.
All her life, Mom had the radio playing while doing her daily activities. She enjoyed everything from the weather forecast to Paul Harvey to Christian programs, especially the afternoon hymn program and Calvary Temple.
Walking was a pleasure for Mom and a source of stress relief. In our childhood, when she needed time alone, she would go for walks on the gravel road near the farm. After her move to Fernwood, Mom took her walks in the church parking lot nearby with family or friends. In the past few months, her inability to walk was a huge loss.
In 2001, Mom and Dad moved from Roseau River to Steinbach due to Dad’s illness of early onset Parkinson’s Disease. As his caregiver for many years, this diagnosis for Dad in his mid-40’s brought added challenges for Mom. After this move, Mom had more time to engage in her hobbies. She spent many hours doing hand embroidery, embroidering a tablecloth for each of her children as a wedding gift. Personalized quilts with themed embroidered quilt blocks were lovingly sewn for her grandchildren. Mom also spent many hours sewing picnic blankets and numerous other blankets to donate to charities.
In 2012, Mom moved to Fernwood Place in Steinbach, thriving in her new community through the past 13 years. She regularly enjoyed the activities: church services, music programs, BINGO games, sing-a-long group on Thursdays, and visiting and puzzling with her new friends. As her health declined and fatigue increased, she spent more time in her favourite reclining chair watching her favourite TV shows – game shows, Time to Sing, or Little House on the Prairie. She enjoyed her daily after supper visits in the common area with her neighbours at Fernwood. A highlight of Mom’s days there was having her sister-in-law, Tina Penner, move into a suite on her floor. During the pandemic restrictions, Mom and Aunt Tina would “sneak” into each other’s apartments to catch up and visit with each other.
In her retirement years, Mom spent many hours playing her favourite games with anybody willing to play – Qwerkle, Skip-Bo, Rummikub, Tri-Ominos and Chicken Foot Dominoes. To pass time, Mom also completed many Word Search Books and colouring pages.
In later years, diabetes and its complications, COPD, multiple myeloma and other health issues affected Mom. Mom faced these health challenges with courage and resilience. Numerous fractures over the years did not deter her from working towards a full recovery each time. However, after decades of medical/specialist appts, in January 2025, Mom expressed that she was no longer interested in going to see specialists in Winnipeg. She stated, “it’s God who decides when I die.” She was at peace regarding her remaining days.
The lessons and legacy that Mom has left us by her example are simple and impactful – work hard, persevere in tough times, enjoy the simple, small things, and accept limitations gracefully without giving up. Though Mom received no academic accolades, awards nor diplomas, we honour her memory for a most significant accomplishment: raising her 10 children with Dad! We are grateful for her perseverance during tough times and for keeping her sense of humour right to the end. Mom lived life with determination and a simple trust in her Maker’s plan for her days.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Mom’s brothers, Berny & Marleen, and Abe & Mary, who visited Mom often and supported Mom so faithfully over the years. Thank you to Uncle Berny & Auntie Marleen for driving Mom to numerous medical/specialist appointments when family was unable to take her and to Auntie Marleen for her direct involvement in these appts by taking notes, talking to doctors and relaying details to family. Thanks to Uncle Abe & Aunt Mary for taking Mom to visit relatives and to appointments when needed. Thank you to Rev. Bill Nickel and Hildie for your prayers, hospital visits and for officiating the service today. We appreciate every relative and friend who visited Mom in hospital since February. She so much looked forward to these visits! Thanks to Ste. Anne Hospital staff for their care these past months. A special thank you to nurses Kathryn, Jennifer, Michelle and Vanessa for their loving care for our Mom and supporting the family in Mom’s final days.
Mom’s passing is a deep loss to us, her family, but we rejoice that her struggle in a weary, earthly body is over. Jesus promised to prepare a place in His Father’s house where there are many mansions. Mom has peacefully gone home to her Father’s house. Even though we grieve her parting, we are thankful that her healing has finally come.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” ~ John 14:1-3 (NKJV)
Mom has chosen Grunthal Cemetery as her final resting place.
A livestreamed funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Crossings Funeral Care, with viewing 1 hour prior to the service.
