Olga Wiens

Mom was the first of 10 children in the home of Martin and Maria August.  She was born on June 7, 1927 in Schöntal – Slagorod, in Russia.  The family left under duress and via China they arrived in Paraguay, where she studied up to the equivalent of middle school.  After that she had to work with her dad (our grandfather) in the co-op in Orloff until her marriage.

She was baptized in Karlsruhe.  Our parents David and Olga were married on November 13, 1948 in Karlsruhe – Filadelfia, in Paraguay.  Because of Mom's health, they left the heat of the Chaco and moved to Curitiba, Brazil with their daughter Helga.

Mom sewed a lot and taught many ladies how to sew.  Many wedding dresses were sewn in the home.  That's where the name Schniedawiense was born.

3 more children were born to David & Olga in Brazil, Werner, Inge, and Wilfried.

Mom, loved singing and always sang in choirs, and often solos.  She sang many songs with us children while she was sewing.

On June 13, 1970, they arrived in Abbotsford BC to start a new life.  Mom soon started working at Tabor Home, where she cooked for 6 years.  Later she served as a Dietitian for 15 years at Menno Home.

At home in the kitchen, she enjoyed cooking and baking.  She was proficient at it and blessed many people with her food.  If you happened to arrive late at night from out of country, you could be sure a steaming bowl of her homemade chicken noodle soup was available.  There was also always something in the freezer for a quick coffee-time.

Mom was preceded by her husband, David in 2009 as well as one son-in-law Waldemar Janzen, one grandchild, Wolfgang Janzen and one great-grandchild Malachi Wiens.  She lived in her apartment for a time, before moving to Tabor Court and later to Tabor Home, where she passed away on August 25, 2023

She is mourned: by her 4 children, Helga Janzen, Werner (& Irene) Wiens, (David &) Ingrid Van der Flier, and Wilfried (& Betti) Wiens, by 11 grandchildren along with spouses as well as 15 great-grandchildren.