Maria Unruh died Feb. 24, 2010 at 96. She was born Jan. 11, 1914 in Shumanovka, Siberia to David and Agatha Stahl. In 1929, the Stahls immigrated to Paraguay. Maria accepted Jesus as Lord in her teens and was baptized in the Mennonite church. In 1937, she married Abram Unruh. In 1959, the family immigrated to Canada, settling in Clearbrook, B.C. They attended Clearbrook MB Church, and then became charter members at King Road MB Church, Abbotsford, B.C. In 1974, Abram and Maria fulfilled a long-held dream of serving seniors by opening the Sherwood Senior Citizens Home, where they served for 4 years until retirement. They travelled to visit their children from coast to coast, and in Paraguay and the Philippines. Maria had a special concern for relatives from the former Soviet Union who landed in Germany. She corresponded with them regularly and visited them in Germany. The loss of her eyesight created loneliness and trials for Maria, and forced her to move from her condo to an assisted living home. Predeceased by Abram in 1981, 1 grandson, 1 son-in-law; Maria is mourned by children Edith (John) Warkentin, Gertrude Penner, Hilda (Hartmut) Rahn, Elfrieda (Ernie) Reimer, Erna (Wolfgang) Binder, Ewald (Linda), Harry (Sheila); 26 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; 3 sisters, 2 sisters-in-law, 1 brother-in-law.
854
