Helen Toews

Helen Toews (nee Schartner) ~ April 20, 1921 to November 18, 2010 ~ After a courageous battle, Helen Toews passed away very peacefully with her son Terry by her side on November 18, 2010. She will be lovingly missed & remembered by her children Terry (& Susan), Joyce (& Ron), and Russell (& Vera), grandchildren Kim Potter (& Andrew), Starla Ginter (& Gladwin), Nathan Toews (& Allison), Melissa Brown, Kyle Brown (& Lisa), Carmen Fuller (& Jonathan), and Daniel Toews; siblings Elda Toews, Lavina (& Bert) Enns, Nettie (& Gordon) Dueck, Josie Regehr, Bert (& Lue) Schartner and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Helen was born on April 20, 1921 to John & Mary (Esau) Schartner in the Linden area. She remembered her childhood as one that was happy & carefree and appreciated being raised in a caring Christian home. Due to the depression her parents frequently moved to locations where work was available but having a large number of sisters and brothers meant she never felt alone or isolated in a new place. In her young adult years she worked many different jobs including housekeeping/nannying for various families and as a nursing aid at the Sanatorium in Calgary. She married Alva Toews at the age of 24 in 1945 after he returned from service in the Canadian Air Force during the 2nd World War. After marriage she worked alongside Alva running the Linden Co-op, local post office, insurance office and homemaker. Helen and Alva were blessed with three beautiful children...Terry, Joyce and Russell. After the birth of her children Helen felt an urgency to have a change in her lifestyle. In 1958 she made a strong commitment to the Lord, accepting Jesus in her heart. It was through this experience she became aware of how different and wonderful life can be when God's love flows through us. She was baptized in 1961 and became a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Linden. After Alva's death in 1992 she felt some emptiness and sadness but felt very blessed with loving children, grandchildren, siblings and friends. Helen commented that "God has blessed me immensely. He not only loved me but gave me His talent of loving others and enjoying being God's servant." One of the highlights for Helen was travelling to her daughter Joyce & son-in-law Ron's home in St. Catherine's, Ontario which she did each year. Helen's home was always open to any and all. It was a rare day that her dinner table was not overflowing with family or friends. She was a very accomplished seamstress, cook, baker, & hostess. Her talents did not stop there. Helen loved playing games of all kinds. She played a mean game of scrabble and won the Scrabble Championship in the Senior's Division for the Alberta Summer Games one year. Family and friends knew what an amazing person Helen was and were so proud to see her honored in 2003 with the Minister's Seniors Service Award. She was a guest of honor at a ceremony in Edmonton at the legislature and was then honored again in Didsbury later in the year. As humble as she was, Helen was both honored and overwhelmed by the recognition. Helen wished us to thank the many friends, relatives and her church family for loving support and help. Thank you also to all members of the Care & Share, Seniors Outreach and Wellness Centre... too many to list individually that "have helped me to love all of God's creation". Condolences may be sent to [email%C2%A0protected] Funeral Services were held Monday, November 22, 2010, at Linden Mennonite Brethren Church, Linden, AB with interment in Linden Cemetery.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 3 2023, 15:40:05 UTC