Nita Sawatsky died Apr. 26, 2009. She was born Sept. 28, 1920 in Fuerstenwerder, Ukraine to Cornelius and Helena Enns. Her mother and sister died in a tuberculosis outbreak in 1923, and her father remarried. The Enns family immigrated to Canada in 1925, settling first in Coaldale, Alta., then Abbotsford, B.C. From a young age, Nita was known for her leadership skills, competitiveness, and diligence. She had a fine sense of humour and hearty laugh. She made a commitment to Jesus in her teens and was baptized. Nita married Ike Sawatsky at South Abbotsford MB Church July 11, 1942. After the war, they moved to Aldergrove where they established a dairy farm which Nita ran while Ike worked away from home. Nita kept a large vegetable garden, was known for her baking, and sewed for her family. In her late 30s, she was told her sight would deteriorate until she was blind. This loss did not keep her from entertaining her friends and her children’s friends. Nita and Ike sold the farm in 1981 and began travelling the West Coast in a camperized van. They also volunteered at CNIB. In 2005, Nita moved to a care facility due to Parkinson’s disease. Ike died a few months later. Nita was the family prayer warrior. She was a member of Clearbrook MB Church. Nita is mourned by children Ron (Edna), Ed (Elaine), Ruth (Brian) Dyck, Bob (Colleen); 14 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters.
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