Maria Fehr

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Maria (Mary) Fehr (nee Janzen) on October 15, 2021, at Central Haven Care Home in Saskatoon, SK at the age of 76 years.

Maria was born April 1, 1945, on a farm near Hague, SK and was the 6th of 12 children (12 children!) born to parents Abraham and Helena.  She attended nearby Roseleaf rural school, arriving by foot or horse and carriage in the summer and by horse-drawn sleigh in the winter.  Less formal, but probably more important and relevant, learning was undertaking at home with lessons in baking, cooking, sewing, mending, gardening, canning … and everything else that Maria took to heart and excelled at in later life.  It’s truly a pity if you never experienced a meal at Maria and Allan’s house.  She had all the great Mennonite dishes and baking down pat and did up the best bread, buns, rum-coated fruit cake, “pluma moos” and “vareniki” you could ever hope to have.

Maria met Allan Fehr in the early 1960’s and married him on August 24, 1963 – a lifelong partnership of 58 years that blessed them four children.  Maria kept house, cooked, cleaned, gardened and occasionally worked outside the house while Allan contributed his pay from work outside, fixed cars, build houses and did all other “man” work, and fully provided for their family at all times.  Together they successfully launched their children in lives of their own then settle down to enjoy their (quieter) house, their garden and eventually their grandchildren on sleepovers and most Sundays.  Maria, Maria and Allan, mom and dad, grandma and grandpa – however you knew them, they were a big part of the lives of everyone they touched.

Pets, cars, houses and children came and went but Maria and Allan remained steady even as Maria began to lose ground to the relentless disease that ultimate took her.  Maria may not have known or appreciated it, but after the painful decision to move Maria into a care home, Allan would stay in her room until after she fell asleep then arrive again the next afternoon to do it all over again.  He became a fixture at Central Haven contributing to her care in many ways including helping to wash her hair and bathe her, keeping her fingernails trimmed, coordinating her wardrobe, eating with her and bringing her all manner of items to delight and amuse her.  In the end, Maria came to be almost as big a part of Central Haven as she had been in the lives of her family.  We were all comforted on that day in October as we all stood in the vestibule of the care home (COVID-19 restrictions) and listened as the home director took time out of her personal life, to tell us touching stories about Maria – stories we wouldn’t otherwise know.  By the time she arrived at Central Haven, she had been robbed of almost everything except that mischievous spark that we all recognized in the stories we heard that day.  She was our partner, our mother, our friend … our Maria.

Maria is survived by Allan Fehr, her husband of 48 years, son Stuart Fehr (Wendy), daughters Jacqueline Wirth (Darwyn), Angelina Costain (Rod), and Melissa Fehr (Chris); grandchildren Mason Fehr, Sarina Fehr, Clarissa Fehr, Callan Fehr, Lierin Baerg (Chris), Celia and Teagan Costain, Braiden Hucul; and one great grand-child, Ellis Baerg (Lierin).  Sisters Tina Funk, Irene Martens (Ed), brother Henry Janzen, sister-in-law Rose Janzen, brother-in-law Bill Wiebe, Henry Janzen (Iris).

Maria was predeceased by her parents, Abraham and Helena Janzen, sisters Helen Neufeld (Dick), Ann Wiebe (Bill), Linda Anderson (Ken); brothers George Janzen, Bill Janzen (Adeline), Abe Janzen (Rose), Cornie Janzen, infant brother Aaron.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Central Haven Special Care Home (https://sherbrookefoundation.ca/central-haven-donations/) or a care home of your choice.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at Martens Warman Funeral Home Chapel, 402 Central Street West, Warman, SK. Interment to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

If you would like to view the service online, please join the family via https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2q-gZkQsdyY&feature=youtu.be