Maria Warkentin Hildebrand died July 13, 2011 at 98. She was born Apr. 25, 1913 in Lindau, Ukraine to Cornelius and Justina Warkentin. After 6 years of schooling, Maria worked as a nanny. Although Stalin prohibited free worship, Maria came to know her Saviour, and in 1944, was baptized. When Maria was 16, her family relocated to Tschongrau, Ukraine, where she met and married Jacob P. Warkentin in 1935. The first 13 years were filled with the terror of war. Maria’s faith remained firm in God’s promise of Isaiah 41:10. In 1948, the family immigrated to Canada. They bought their first farm in St. Catharines, Ont., in 1952. Maria loved gardening, cooking, and baking “pie by the mile.” Hospitality was her hallmark. After Jacob’s death in 1974, she visited her children in Europe and the U.S. She moved to Tabor Manor in 1986, and in 1993, married John Hildebrand. They enjoyed entertaining, travelling, and playing games. After John died in 1998, Maria’s spirit remained strong, but her health began to fail. Maria was a member of Scott Street MB Church, St. Catharines. Predeceased by Jake, John, son Johnny in 1945; Maria is mourned by children Jacob (Helen), Mary (Ronnie) Chevallard, Lora, Hilda (Rudy) Braun, George (Donna), Peter (Mary), Margaret (Bryan) Sweet, Eleanor (Albert) Enns; stepchildren Erv (Bunny), John (Denise), Irma (John) Krause, George (Tammy); 24 grandchildren; 13 step-grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild.
