Mary Janzen Barg was born May 6, 1909 in Russia and came to Canada with her parents in 1925. She lived in Chinook, Alta., then moved to Rosemary where she met Jacob Barg. They made their home in Duchess, Alta. They would come on a motorbike to visit the family in Rosemary.
During the war years, she and her husband moved to a dairy farm in Chilliwack. Here they milked cows, grew plums, apples, boysenberries and pole beans. Mary’s love of flowers was evident in the daffodils, tulips and peonies that grew around the farmhouse. Eventually they sold the farm and moved to a house on Riverside Dr.
Mary filled the yard with hanging baskets brimming with flowers. From there they moved into Redwood Manor. Here there were plenty of people socialize with and all the activities at her beloved Eden Church were just steps away. Mary and a group of friends from Eden Church made hundreds of patchwork quilts, that were, and are still today, sent to people in many parts of the world.
Almost six years ago, Mary and Jacob moved to the Menno Home in Abbotsford. It was here that the Janzen and Barg families and friends joyfully celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Mary was one of the founding members of the Ladies Aid at the East Chilliwack Mennonite Church on Prest Rd. She was always ready with a helping hand for whoever needed one, whether it was a meal or room and board for a while. Everyone was made to feel at ease. She was always willing and able to help. A wonderful example of her commitment to the church was in the winter of 1950, when there was a big, big snow storm and then a silver thaw, she and a neighbour hiked a mile through the icy snow because she had promised to attend a Ladies Aid meeting to make plans for a meal to be served at the church.
She is survived by Jacob, her husband of 73 years; two sisters, Edna Swinnard of Chilliwack, and Anne Bergen in Coaldale, Alta.; also two brothers, Peter Jansen in Rosemary, Alta., and Dr. George Janzen in Prince Albert, Sask. She also leaves many in-laws, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and nephews, and a few, great-great nieces and nephews.
Mary Barg was a kind, generous, and loving lady who will be greatly missed.
The funeral service is April 20, 2004. The viewing will be at 10 a.m. at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 45865 Hocking Ave., with interment to follow. The memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. at Eden Mennonite Church, 46511 Chilliwack Central Rd. Coffee will be served in the basement following the service.