Stella Reimer

One of mom’s first memories was starting school in Wingard SK at the age of six. She had a little red(lard) pail for a lunch box and lunch consisted of pork crackling sandwiches.

In 1934, when they moved to Carlton (age 7) Stella and her sister Gertie went to a Catholic school. Life was hard – the crops had dried up – so they packed up and moved to Kronsgart, Manitoba.

A year later (1937) the Giesbrecht family moved to a farm in Purvis MB. Here mom helped plough the fields with horses, milked cows, and hauled grain for other farmers.

Mom was born to parents with a strong Christian heritage – and because churches were too far away, families would meet in neighbouring homes and sometimes invite special speakers. It was at one of these meetings, through the ministry of Henry Schumacher, that our 14-year-old mother received the Lord Jesus Christ as her Saviour – and said...” I’ve never been sorry.”

In 1943, when mom was 16, the family moved to Crystal City, Manitoba. At this time, she had the opportunity to attend Winkler Bible Institute for one semester. Mom enjoyed singing in the choir and learning Bible verses. Her one regret was that she had only been able to go to grade 5 in school. Despite her lack of schooling, our mom was very knowledgeable, an avid reader and even kept journals for the last 50 years. While collecting her things these last days, we saw bible verses handwritten, sprinkled throughout her home.

In the fall of 1944, mom’s family moved once again to beautiful B.C. The family worked together…picking hops, strawberries, and raspberries. Stella went on to work in a fish cannery at Steveston, B.C. During those times, all money earned was given to the family.

Once they moved to Clearbrook, Stella was able to attend church regularly, which she enjoyed very much. In 1945, she was baptized in a creek and joined Clearbrook MB Church.

In 1947, Stella met Peter Reimer at an evangelistic meeting at the MEI. They had a short courtship, and were married on February 8, 1948, at Clearbrook MB Church.

The young couple moved to a 20-acre dairy farm on Matsqui Prairie. Stella helped with the farming chores, milking cows, and cleaning the milking equipment. After a few months of marriage, they were forced to leave their farm due to the flooding of the Fraser River.

Peter and Stella had five children, Sharon (1949), Luella (1950), Douglas (1952), Peter (1955), and Shirley (1959). Farming chores continued for her until the children were old enough to help.

Stella loved to sing and would initiate ‘round’ songs – it taught us all to harmonize. Knowing how much our mom loved to sing, we spent our time sitting with her in hospital her last days singing harmony to her. Our mom also liked to bake and has blessed us continually with birthday cakes and her famous rhubarb platz and fresh fruit pies.

During our years in Matsqui, we attended the Matsqui MB Church. Every year she would teach VBS and taxi children from the community back and forth to VBS. She was very social and had to keep busy. She would take us, with our friends, roller skating in Lynden, to the beach at Hatzic, young peoples, choir practice and many other outings.

Later, Mom and Dad attended Central Heights Church, where she enjoyed being part of a small care-group and for many years singing in the Jubilee Singers choir.

In 1978, Mom and Dad sold the farm and moved into town. During their time there, they were able to travel. They bought a camperized van and took a cross-Canada trip, as well as several trips to the U.S. Mom enjoyed being with people and travelling. In 1993, Mom and Dad downsized and moved into a condo on Old Yale Road and transferred their membership to Clearbrook MB Church.

In 2006, after mom was unable to care for our dad at home, he became a resident at Sherwood Home. Our mom faithfully visited our dad every day till he passed away on July 29, 2012. Once he was gone, she took every opportunity to visit with family by regularly inviting herself for dinner and calling or facetiming.

In 2016, she decided it was time to move to assisted living at Tabor Court, as it became more difficult to keep up many of the tasks of a home. Here, with her cheery disposition, she made many friends and enjoyed socializing over puzzles with her friends and whomever came to visit.

Throughout her life, her mission was to witness and share the gospel with whomever she could. Even at 92, to her great joy, she was instrumental in leading a soul to Christ. That was our mother….. forever talking about the assurance of eternal life! Her one desire was that all her children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren, would surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and meet one glorious day in heaven.

Mom became ill very suddenly and ended up in emergency in early February. Our dear mother passed into the presence of Jesus on February 19, 2022, with family by her side.

She is predeceased by her husband, Peter : two brothers, Ernest and John; son-in-law Ben Loewen; and great granddaughter Leah Stobbe.

She is survived by her children: Sharon Loewen; Luella (Dave) Thiessen; Doug (Glenda); Peter (Marianne); Shirley (Konrad) Golbeck – 22 grandchildren; 77 great grandchildren; and 10 great, great grandchildren.

To our mom, whom we loved dearly and will forever miss!