DYCK, Agatha Jantzen 1919 - 2012

Agatha Dyck passed to her home and glory on July 17, 2012 at Menno Home, Abbotsford, BC.

Agatha was born in Pavlodar, Russia on May 12, 1919. Her parents were Johann J. & Helena (Klippenstein) Janzen. She was the eleventh child of a family of twelve. Her siblings: Jacob, Helena, Anna, Margarethe, Jacob, Sara, Helen Johann, Elisabeth.

In 1925, with the dream of a new peaceful life, the family moved to Canada. They first settled in Grunthal, Manitoba. Here she attended school up to grade 7 but, due to her mother's illness, was required to stop and assist with household duties. Weekly youth meetings, youth choir, and playing in the guitar band brought her great joy.

Jobs were scarce. The children needed to support the family. With stories of better times on the West Coast, the family moved to Yarrow, B.C in 1937. At that time, co-ordinated by MCC, homes were established in Vancouver where girls could live and work as maids. Mom often told about being asked to prepare foods she had never seen in the Mennonite Cook Book!

It was in that "Girl's Home", by herself, in 1938 that Agatha committed her life to the Lord. She was baptised later that year by Rev. J. Harder. The rest of her life she was faithful in service to her Lord. She attended the Yarrow Bible School for 2 years.

At the Yarrow MB Church she met John Dyck whom she married on November 29, 1942. They enjoyed 56 years together. Agatha and John moved to Vancouver in 1951 and were members of Fraserview MB Church where they were deacons for 21 years. Four sons were born to them: Ralph, Kenneth, Stanley and David.

On July 17, 2012, Agatha (nee Jantzen) Dyck, was peacefully called home to be with her Lord and Saviour at the age of 93. For the last number of years she had much pain, however, she remained mentally alert insisting on living independently as long as possible

Agatha is survived by her 4 sons, Ralph (Aggie), Ken (Sally), Stan (Nora), and David; 9 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and her younger sister, Betty (Walter Martens), and sister-in-law Helen Jantzen. Agatha, was predeceased by her husband, John (1998), father Johann Johann Jantzen (1948), her mother Helena (nee Klippenstein, 1968), and siblings: Jacob, Helena, Anna (Henry Schartner), Margarethe (Johann Janzen), Jacob, Sara (Henry Spenst), Helena, Lise, Johannes (Helen Mathies), Jacob (Sara Neufeldt).

Interment was at Valley View Memorial Gardens, 14644 - 72nd Avenue, Surrey. Funeral Service was at Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford.