Marie Klassen

Other Events:

• Church Membership: W-K United Mennonite Church, Waterloo, Ontario
• Possesions: tea cup and saucer
• Name: Maria Klassen
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-145795
• Immigration: 1924, , Canada
• Residence: 1993, 11 Margaret Avenue, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Marie Klassen, Russian Mennonite immigrant, came to Canada with her sister Helena, brother George and father Bernhard in 1924. Her mother Marie (Woelk) was killed in Russia when the family was attacked. Helena was injured. Marie hid in the garden and wasn't hurt. When they came to Canada - likely to the Waterloo train station - they were with a group who went to the Mornington Amish Mennonite Church in Perth County where Jacob L. Wagler was deacon (or bishop) and were dispersed to live with families in that area. (There has been much written about the German/Russian Mennonite immigration to Waterloo and to Manitoba in the late 1800s and in 1924.)

Marie was a teenager and stayed with Jacob L. and Mary (Schwartzentruber) Wagler and helped Mary. They lived in Millbank. Florence Roes thinks that Marie didn't speak English when she came but she "learned it well." Marie helped with caring for Mary's grandchildren, children of Barbara (Wagler) and John Roes: Mary Roes (Zehr) born in 1924 and Florence Roes born in 1927.

Marie eventually left Waglers as an adult and worked in the K-W area with her sister Helena. Marie was a dressmaker and Helena a nurse. Together they went to live in New York City and periodically returned to visit the Wagler/Roes family: Mary, Barb and Florence.

The tea cup and saucer were given to Marie by Mary Wagler in memory of Mary and Jacob's daughter Mary/Maimie Wagler who died in 1932 just a few days before her 29^th birthday. Marie never married and returned to K-W from New York in her later years. Sometime before she died, she returned the cup and saucer to Florence. The cup and saucer have been passed to a niece of Florence's. Marie's funeral was at the Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite Church, George Street, Waterloo.

A church history about W-K was published in 2008 and "Marie Klassen, New York City" is listed as a member in the index. The secretary at W-K kindly looked in their records and found the obituary. Marie died January 22, 1993 in Kitchener.

The obituary is from The K-W Record .

Klassen, Marie - On Friday, Jan. 22, 1993, at St. Mary's General Hospital, Marie Klassen, of 1507-11 Margaret Ave., Kitchener. Survived by John Thiessen of Rosthern, Sask, Isaak Thiessen of Saskatoon, Sask., Mary Nickel of Langham, Sask., nephew, Bernhard Nickel and his wife Alice Wiser of Guelph. She will be sadly missed by her many family members scattered throughout Canada and the United States. Predeceased by her sister, Helena Klassen and her brother, George Klassen, parents, Bernhard B. Klassen and Marie Woelk. Marie was a member of the W-K United Mennonite Church. Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St., W., Kitchener, today (Monday) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service in the funeral home chapel, Tuesday 1 p.m. with Rev. Waldemar Regier officiating. Interment Waterloo Mount Hope Cemetery. Reception to follow in the Ratz-Bechtel Family Centre. Donations to the W-K United Mennonite Church Memorial Fund, may be made as expressions of sympathy.

Sources: Florence Roes, New Hamburg; W-K United Mennonite Church; Marie Klassen's obituary; Worship at 'George Street' - a history of our transitions, 1924 - 2008 by Karl Dick.
Compiled by Marion Roes, March 2012

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1941 Aug 20 Wed. "Sister Katie and I at Jake Schmidt's for supper. Klassen girls from New York city here for a call Noah's took them to Kitchener in evening".


1937-1941 Diary of Mrs. Jacob L. Wagler / Mary Schwartzentruber, transcribed by Marion Roes



Possesions:
The tea cup and saucer were given to Marie by Mary Wagler in memory of Mary and Jacob's daughter Mary/Maimie Wagler who died in 1932 just a few days before her 29^th birthday. Marie never married and returned to K-W from New York in her later years. Sometime before she died, she returned the cup and saucer to Florence. The cup and saucer have been passed to a niece of Florence's.1a

1aMarion Roes 2012

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-145798
• Immigration: 1924, , Canada

Bernhard — Marie Woelk. Marie was born , , South Russia; died Bef 1924, , South Russia. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Marie Klassen
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-145803