Helen Mutschmann

On behalf of my family, it is a privilege to share the life story of our loving Mother and Oma.

It was the will of our heavenly Father to call our earthly Mother and Oma, Helena Mutschmann, to her eternal home at 4:35 pm on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the age of 78 years, 3 months and 27 days.

Helena Enns was born on June 13th, 1937, in Neu Rhineland, Cuahtemoc, Mexico to Cornelius T. Enns and Anna Froese. She was the first born in the family where 9 more children followed – Susanna, Anna, Abraham, Aganetha, Katharina, Eva, Maria, Elizabeth and Martha.

Being the oldest, Mom didn’t have many memories of playing when she was a child. Instead, she learned to work hard early in life, helping with duties and chores associated with a large family. She would tell us stories of standing at a boiling pot of water doing laundry at age 3, baking bread at age 5 and helping work the fields. Her education was limited but she attended the village school in Mexico, where girls would typically attend for 6 years from ages 6-12.

On May 19, 1952, when Helen was 14 years old, her parents decided to leave Mexico and move back to Canada. They entered at the Huntington border crossing, traveling in a big panel van outfitted with wooden benches and no seatbelts, to accommodate the children. Mom would tell the story that the intent was to stop in BC to see the huge strawberries, which they had heard were as large as teacups, and then continue on to Manitoba where her parents had been born. Instead their first stay was in Clearbrook, then a move was made to Yarrow, where they lived for many years, and they never left BC. The strawberries must have been really large! Although the parents felt there would be more opportunities here in Canada, a piece of Mom’s heart was left in Mexico and she always yearned to go back to visit her birth place and the many relatives still living there. She was blessed to take a few trips back which sometimes included us young children. They are wonderful memories that helped us understand Mom’s family Mennonite roots and allowed us to learn the low-German language.Mom had many jobs to help earn money for the family. She picked seasonal berries of all sorts, worked in the Chilliwack cannery, was hired to work in different households cleaning houses and taking care of families, and was also employed at the Empress Hotel kitchen here in Chilliwack. In 1953 she decided to expand her English language skills and attended a Chilliwack night school.

Helen got to know the Church of God in Chilliwack in the mid 1950’s where she accepted Jesus as her personal savior and later on was baptized in Cultus Lake. This is also where she met our Dad, Eduard Mutschmann, at the church, in 1958. At the end of 1959, Mom and Dad were engaged and then married the following year, in this church building, on March 26, 1960. Dad’s work led them to live in Vancouver, BC, where they were blessed with four children: Doreen in January 1961, Evelyn in May 1963, Andy in April 1970 and Monica in May 1973. In 1990 they moved from Vancouver, after having a house built by Mom’s only brother, to Surrey, BC, where they lived until their health declined. Mom had already been diagnosed with dementia in 2007 and in 2009 Dad was diagnosed with cancer. It was prayerfully decided that they move back to Chilliwack, BC in 2009 into an independent living environment where Mom and Dad could stay together but would also give Dad the support he needed as Mom’s health declined. They made many friends at Hampton House, and some of them may be here today. During these 2 ½ treasured years of living in Chilliwack, they enjoyed the fellowship of this church, the seniors group, surrounded by the support of family and friends. They were also blessed to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in this church on March 26, 2010.

Helen had many interests and passions but above all she loved her Jesus. We know Mom as a prayer warrior and all of us children have images in our heads of Mom reading and marking up her bible and praying on her knees. She prayed for her immediate family but also never stopped praying for her siblings and their families, the extended family and friends. Her hope and prayer was that they would all get to know her Jesus.

As children and teens growing up with our Mom, there was never a lack of bible stories which included instruction, explanation and continued conversations plus answers to our every question. We couldn’t have asked for a better Mom. She loved her children and grandchildren alike and she poured everything into them. It didn’t matter if they were in Canada or in Germany. She was a huge support to our family and we will forever be thankful for her love, encouragement and on-going prayers.

Mom had the gift of hospitality and was a great cook and baker. She enjoyed making Torten and many of us still yearn for the cakes Mom used to bake. She had the magic touch. We remember many visitors coming over for meals or just a cup of coffee and fresh baking and a visit. She was willing to help and the door was always open to those who needed a place to stay or a helping hand. Her love and compassion for others shone through her daily living.

Mom may not have had all the opportunities as a child but that didn’t stop her from taking piano lessons for 3 years as an adult. She would from time to time entertain us as well with her harmonica and had a way of raising one eyebrow at a time while she was playing. In her early 40’s she also decided to get her driver’s license.

Around the year 2000, we as a family noticed changes in our mother’s health. Several years later she was diagnosed with dementia. With Dad battling cancer and Mom’s dementia progressing we were still able to make a final trip in 2010 with Mom and Dad to Germany to visit their daughter Evelyn and her family. Although it had its challenges for Mom, the moments of joy and special memories created there will never be forgotten. While in Germany, we were able to surprise our parents with another golden anniversary celebration.

Upon our return from Germany and with Mom’s further decline, we worked with the health care workers to assist Mom in her home. Eventually, when Dad was growing more weary and he was ready to give the OK, it was decided that it was in Mom’s best interest to be moved to a safer environment. Her new home became Eden Care Home in Chilliwack, BC on February 9, 2011.

It was the hardest thing Dad had to do and we could see that he went through a year of mourning of letting Mom go. He ended up back in hospital and everyone could see that his end was near, but the nursing staff told the family that there was something to which Dad was still hanging on. We asked if we should bring Mom from Eden for a visit but he didn’t want us to worry about the logistics of getting her there. As a family we decided to go ahead and do just that. As a surprise, Mom’s visit was arranged and those of us who were in the room will never forget that special moment when Dad saw Mom and Mom responded with teary emotions. Three days later Dad passed away on February 24, 2012. At some point, after we had shared Dad’s funeral service program with Mom, we were told by the nurses at Eden that Mom had picked up her dinner napkin, covered her face with it and started sobbing. It showed us that she grieved for her husband.

Mom’s health continued to decline and the week of October 5, 2015 the family was informed that Mom had stopped eating and drinking. There were no other major health issues but she was slowly slipping away. She peacefully passed away to be with her Lord and Savior.

Although it is hard to say goodbye to a wonderful and loving Mother and Oma, we are thankful that her suffering here on earth is over and we rejoice in the fact that we will someday meet again. Mom’s passing on Thanksgiving weekend was fitting for how she lived her life, always thanking and praising God, even during the difficult valleys of life.

Helen is survived by her daughter Doreen with husband Reinhard Frank and their two children Brandon (24) with wife Janelle, Vanessa (22) with husband Nicholas Toney, her daughter Evelyn with husband Gabriel Klusz and their three sons Benjamin (26) with wife Lisa, Samuel (24) and Christian (20), son Andy Mutschmann with wife Rachel and their four daughters Kyla (11), Ava (7), La’nya (4) and Taya (1) and her daughter Monica. She also leaves behind 7 siblings along with their families and many friends.

OBITUARY

Helen Mutschmann went to be with the Lord on October 10, 2015 at Eden Care Home in Chilliwack at the age of 78 after a lengthy battle with dementia. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Helen was predeceased by her husband Edward Mutschmann. A Funeral Service will be held at 1:30 pm on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Chilliwack Church of God, 45814 Lewis Avenue, Chilliwack. A viewing will be held on Friday, October 16, 2015 from 7 – 8:30 pm at Woodlawn Mt Cheam Funeral Home, 45865 Hocking Avenue, Chilliwack BC. Memorial donations may be made in Helen Mutschmann’s name to the Chilliwack Church of God “Building Fund” 45814 Lewis Avenue, Chilliwack, BC, V2P 3C4.