Elfriede Loewen (nee Richert) was born to Heinrich and Liese Richert in Schonau, Ukraine on September 28, 1928.

Many knew her as Sonja or Tante Sonja. She lived with her parents until October 1943 when she, her mother and her siblings fled the Ukraine during the Second World War.

After a long and hard trek, they arrived in Berlin in January of 1945. It was here in Berlin, at Victoria Luise Platz, during a week of prayer meetings at a revival in the refugee camp they lived at, that mom was the first to give her life to Christ and was baptized on April 29, 1946.

February 1, 1947 the family boarded the ship, Volendam and sailed to Paraguay. They settled in the Volendam Colony. Mom enjoyed meeting with others in the youth group and singing (whether in a church choir or with her sisters).

On April 29, 1950 she married her love, Hans Loewen. She became a housewife and soon after a mother. Three children were born to them in Paraguay: Helmut, Hildegard and Adelheit.

With the assistance of her sister Liese, the family was able to emigrate to Canada on August 20, 1956. Upon settling in Yarrow, mom and dad became members of the Yarrow MB Church.

Mom's involvement in church included ladies aid (Frauen Verein), singing in the church choir and serving in the kitchen during funerals. She also became very involved in MCC by assembling/sewing baby layettes and quilts (one year she aimed for and met her personal goal of completing 100 quilts), and volunteering at the MCC store in Yarrow, as well as baking for the annual MCC Auction.

Mom and Dad acquired an acreage in Yarrow that they developed into a successful raspberry farm. Summers were spent picking berries, as well as employing and boarding many nieces and nephews to help with the work.

After Dad had a heart attack in 1978, she began working at Columbia Bible Camp (Stillwood). She worked for 5 summers in the kitchen. She had a servant's heart, she was a nurturer (not only to her family, but her extended family and church), an open-door for anyone who dropped by.

She was a fervent prayer warrior for all her family: children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. If mom's hands could tell what they have all done, you could fill books. They washed endless dishes, scrubbed cloth diapers and clothing, sawed trees with dad in Paraguay, planted acres of raspberries and vegetable gardens, milked cows, butchered chickens, cows and pigs. Gathered eggs, knotted hay bales (when the baler broke down).

Mom cooked more meals than any of us can count, as well as canning fruits and vegetables. Her kitchen was a hub of activity and her gift for making perishky and zwieback were well known, with many taking some home after faspa (whether in a bag or secreted in a pocket).

She was predeceased by her parents, Heinrich and Liese Richert; her siblings Mariechen, Tina, Liese and George. Her beloved husband of 66 years, Hans, passed away on September 20, 2016.

She leaves behind her children Helmut (Linda), Hildegard (John Boschmann), Adelheit (Rod Smith), Luise (Gerry Willems), Rudy (Patricia) and Elfriede (Leo Jean); 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Sadly, mom will miss the birth of great grandchild number 17 (due in June 2017).

Our family would like to thank everyone for their kind words, prayers and support.