Mary Ann Kornelsen
Obituary
Mary Ann was born on June 18, 1945, to Abram and Margaret Kornelsen in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her parents eagerly welcomed her into their home in Heuboden, now known as New Bothwell, where three older siblings were awaiting her arrival. Christ was at the centre of their home, and this Christian upbringing became the early foundation of Mary Ann’s faith. She accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour at an early age and was baptized upon the confession of her faith on August 13, 1961, at the age of 16.
At the age of three and a half, Mary Ann moved with her family from Manitoba, Canada, to Chihuahua, Mexico. Although Manitoba was no longer her home, frequent trips to Canada with her parents to visit extended family sparked her love of travel and allowed Mary Ann to remain connected with her relatives and the church community there.
As her parents’ health declined while they were living in Mexico, Mary Ann committed herself to caring for them during this season of need. After both of her parents passed away, Mary Ann felt it was time to begin a new chapter in the north, and she returned to Manitoba in 1984.
Mary Ann valued education. After spending three and a half years providing live-in care for an elderly woman in Steinbach, she moved to Winnipeg in 1988 to attend a language training school and learn English. At the age of 42, she began pursuing further education. She completed the equivalent of Grades 9 through 12 at the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre before continuing her studies at Red River Community College and later at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon. Her years of caring for her parents, combined with her health care education, prepared Mary Ann for many years of devoted service in home care, where she lovingly cared for and served those who were unable to care for themselves.
Even more important to Mary Ann was her faith. In every community where she lived, she found fellowship with other believers at a local EMC church. From Steinbach to Winnipeg, then to Brandon, and finally back to Steinbach, she remained connected to a community of faith. Mary Ann’s greatest desire in life was to live for the Lord and to see those who had not yet accepted Him come to know Him. She wanted to shine for Jesus!
Friends and family were deeply important to Mary Ann. She cherished time with her siblings, nieces and nephews, and even her great-nieces and great-nephews. A special project she took on was to make a family book, so she collected photos, birth information, and baptism dates of all her siblings, nieces, & nephews, and their families to organize and display in a book.
Playing games was one of her favourite ways to spend time with loved ones. She was quite serious about her games so don’t even joke about cheating by looking at her cards in the reflection of her glasses! Over the years, Mary Ann especially enjoyed playing dominoes, Elfer Aus, and Skip-Bo with her sisters, Elizabeth and Susie.
As Mary Ann’s brother, Abe, began to struggle with his health, she travelled to Mexico in 2021 and stayed for two months with her sister Elizabeth so that she could visit Abe almost every day during the final months of his life. Mary Ann treasured the opportunity to play dominoes with Abe, Elizabeth, and Susie during this time.
No distance was too great for Mary Ann to travel for the joy of visiting people! She even drove her car from Canada to Belize, picking up her sister Nettie in Mexico along the way.
In her later years, Mary Ann moved to Bridgepark Manor in Steinbach in 2017. Her sister Susie had a standing date with her nearly every Sunday to play Skip-Bo together, until Mary Ann’s fading clarity of mind made this no longer possible. After the many moves between countries and cities throughout Mary Ann’s life, her move to Rest Haven Nursing Home on March 11, 2025, was her final earthly move.
Though her life was filled with experiences, memories, and events too numerous to recount, the whole of Mary Ann’s life can be summed up in these two beautiful truths: she loved God, and she loved people.
Her favourite Bible verses were Psalm 103:1-4:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”
Mary Ann Kornelsen, age 81, of Steinbach, Manitoba, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2026, at Rest Haven Nursing Home, surrounded by family and friends.
She is survived by her two sisters, Susie Kornelsen and Elizabeth (Jacob) Reimer; many nieces and nephews; and their families. She was predeceased by her parents, Abram and Margaret Kornelsen; her sister Margaret, who died in infancy; her brother and sister-in-law, Abe and Sara Kornelsen; her sister, Nettie Kornelsen; and her brother-in-law, Corny Kornelsen.
Special thanks to Mary Ann’s nephew, Delbert Kornelsen, and his wife, Lisa; her niece, Greta Fehr, and her husband, Peter; and the staff at Rest Haven Nursing Home for the compassionate care, kindness, and support they provided to Mary Ann.
A come-and-go viewing will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Viewing will also be available at the chapel prior to the funeral service.
The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB. Interment at Heritage Cemetery and a reception will follow.
