Helga Stobbe

Helga Stobbe of Chilliwack B.C passed away peacefully in the arms of her daughter Lora Dijk in Menno home, Abbotsford. As her health declined over the years, she was no longer able to remain at home and resided in care for about a year and a half.

Born to Abram A Olfert and Margaret Sawatzky, she started her life out in Gnadenthal, Manitoba. She had many great memories of Village life and delighted in regaling us with the joys of her childhood. She loved all the music in church, in school, helping in the store with her father, and playing with her family, cousins and friends. Singing with her family, Jake, Hilda, Abe, Henry and Heidi was always a highlight, and she was continuously thankful for her Dad’s encouragement to use music to bless others.

In 1947, the family moved to B.C. eventually settling on Bradner Road in Aldergrove. Helga remembered the fabulous strawberries that grew there and told of her antics in the strawberry patch, singing excerpts from the Magic flute with Henry, her brother while they were supposed to be picking berries. She loved working in the store with her Dad, and when she was employed by Woodwards in Vancouver, she was thrilled that they noticed her abilities quickly and promoted her almost immediately, an experience she talked about for years.

Helga and Henry met in Bible School and after his proposal to “Come Fly With Me”, they married on June 2, 1958. Henry became a farmer and Helga had to say good-by to Clearbrook city life to join him on the green acres of Chilliwack. This was a great place for them to raise their two children Lora and Owen who loved to play on the farm and later helped with the chores such as feeding calves, watching cows, driving tractor and more.

Helga helped Henry milk cows, worked in church, sang everywhere she was needed, sang in choirs, solos, duets, conducted Sunday school singing and sang duets with Lora. To earn extra money, she worked in different retail stores through the years and eventually bought a card store in the Cottonwood Mall. Later she bought the store portion of Olferts in Abbotsford. When she retired from that, she began to work doing another one of her favourite hobbies which was driving. She and Dad would pick up vehicles for the dealership and that is when she said she drove professionally.

Lora married Peter and they had two children, Jennifer and Michelle. These two were a constant joy for Henry and Helga, filling their lives with joy and laughter. Helga was thrilled to be able to sing with Lora, Jennifer and Michelle, and have lunches and fun with Owen.

When Henry, the love of her life and almost life itself, passed away, Helga focused on her friends, family, church and singing. She was thrilled when Jenny came into Owen’s life and always looked forward to their visits. She rejoiced when Jennifer married Sean and loved to encourage them in all they did. When Jennifer and Sean presented her with a Great Granddaughter, her life took on a new joy and she just beamed with love for her.

As Helga’s health got worse, she needed the extra care in the care home. But she derived joy from her daily visit with Lora, and many mother daughter outings, weekly visits from Michelle and Maria, and friends and family that came. She was especially thrilled for the times, when the whole family was able to sit together for a meal again. When at Menno Home she was able to attend church again and was thrilled to be part of her church family, praising God together. Just a week before she died, Helga was in church looking wonderful, commenting on the beautiful music, excellent sermon, and visiting with her friends. The following Sunday morning she was able to hear Lora sing on zoom, the song, “God and God alone" will be the joy of our eternal home. He will be our one desire; our hearts will never tire of God and God alone. Little did we know it would be her last service. Rushing to see her, after church, Lora was able to see her pass to her eternal home, where she will never tire of God and God alone. We are thankful, that when God calls us home, we will join her in our eternal home. Praise the Lord for this amazing hope.

Helga is predeceased by her Mother, 1958, brother Jake Olfert, 2004, Father, 2005, and her Husband Henry in 2011. Survived and lovingly remembered by daughter, Lora (Peter) Dijk, Son Owen Stobbe, (Virginia McIntyre), granddaughters, Jennifer (Sean) Regehr, and Michelle Dijk, great granddaughter Maria, siblings, Hilda Redekop, Abe (Marion) Olfert, Henry (Sharlene) Olfert, Sister in-law, Gaye Olfert, and Heidi Olfert.

Helga will always be remembered for her fierce loyalty to her family and friends whom she cared for and loved deeply, her joy of sharing God’s love through music and the twinkle in her eyes when they were full of fun and laughter.

We will miss you Mom, sister, grandmother and friend.