Susanna Hecht died Apr. 4, 2010. She was born Oct. 24, 1914 in Nowy-Witebsk, Ukraine to Abram and Susanna Krause. At 17, she married Johann Franz Friesen. They had two children before he was taken by the Communists. Later, she married Leonidas Hecht, and they had four children. Leonidas had two children from his previous marriage to Susanna’s sister Lena, who died earlier. The family left Russia with other Mennonites in the great trek westward, landing in the displaced persons camp in Gronau, Germany. There, Susanna was baptized and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church. The family immigrated to Paraguay in 1948 and settled in Colony Neuland. In 1955, they moved to Winnipeg, where they joined Elmwood MB Church. Predeceased by Johann, infant son Alfred, 5 siblings; Susanna is mourned by children Susa (John) Dueck, Franz (Anna), Alfred (Linda), Helen (Edward Wayne) Toews, Johanna (John Allen) Toews; stepchildren Rudolf, Elsa (Henry) Dueck; 22 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 9 great-great-grandchildren; 1 brother.
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