Tribute

Late in the evening of Thursday, September 26, 2024, Marlene Wiebe of Osoyoos, B.C. very quietly and peacefully passed away surrounded by members of her family after several final years suffering from various health issues.

She is survived by her husband Walter, as well as their three sons, including Gary (Erica), Brian and Gordon. She also leaves behind six grandchildren and their respective spouses, including; Curtis/Shannon, Kimberly/Omar, Katherine/Alec, Christina/Cesar, Robert and James, as well as four great-grandchildren; Clara, Meera, Nora and Theo.  She is also survived by her two remaining sisters: Mary (Waldemar) Janzen of Winnipeg and Vicky Hoock of Abbotsford.  Marlene was predeceased by her parents, Isaac and Helen Warkentin, and her older sister (Doris Warkentin).

Marlene was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan on February 5, 1935.  During her elementary school years, she attended a small school of 9 students, of which she and 2 of her sisters comprised one-third of the student population! During her teenage years after WW2, the family moved from the Prairies to the Fraser Valley of B.C. It was here she attended and graduated from Langley High School.  But, it was at Bethel Mennonite Church where she first met and then married her husband of more than 68 years.

After a brief and early teaching career, Marlene soon became a mother and homemaker, where she and our father settled in Surrey, B.C. Here they joined the Cedar Hills Mennonite Church and raised their family of three sons. After retirement, our parents relocated to Osoyoos, B.C. where they had previously built a family summer cottage at the lake. It was here our building contractor father renovated the cottage into a year-round residence until health issues forced them to move; with their final move most recently into the long-term care facility at Mariposa Gardens in Osoyoos.

Marlene was well-known in both Surrey and Osoyoos as an accomplished pianist and organist in the numerous churches they both faithfully served throughout their lifetime, as well as an accompanist in several community choirs including the Rainbow Choir in Langley, and the Community Choir in Osoyoos.  There was not much more that brought her great joy than playing the piano of her favourite sacred and classical music for her family and friends.

The family wishes to extend our most sincere gratitude and appreciation to all those relatives and friends who have reached out with their condolences of abundant love and sympathies. The family especially acknowledges the wonderful support of the staff at Mariposa Gardens for their most gracious and caring assistance. We will all sadly miss our Mom, “Oma” and “Omama”, while still cherishing our many special and fond memories of her.

For our Dad, Mom left many small treasures of love. But none quite as poignant as the lyrics from an old song, “Smilin’ through” that included these several lines:

“ …But in all the long years, when the clouds brought their tears,…For if Heaven be kind I shall wake there to find, Those two eyes of blue still smilin’ through. At me!”

A private family gathering and worship service was held to honour her life and gift of music. In support of our mother’s lifetime appreciation of sacred/classical music, the family encourages those to find a charity that assists in educating children with the same purpose.