Susie was a storyteller. Her family immigrated to Canada in 1925, settling in Manitoba, a place of uncertainty and few amenities. In this soil, Susie’s faith was nurtured. She committed herself to following Christ in 1931. She completed 4 years of Bible school and returned to high school for Grade 11, so she could enter nurse’s training and prepare for missions. Her vision of a mission field changed when she married Peter, a widower with 1-year-old twins. Over 15 years, Susie and Peter farmed in Elm Creek, Man., adding 6 children to their family. In 1966, when the farm could no longer provide, they moved to St. Catharines, Ont., where Susie worked at Linhaven seniors’ home for 18 years. She earned her RNA certification and her driver’s licence, showing her children one is never too old to learn. Though her work often prevented her from attending worship services, Susie served her church, hosting visiting missionaries and students, attending ladies’ groups. After she retired, she taught Sunday school and became a deacon. The death of her son Wilfred in 1972 and of Peter in 1990 did not shake Susie’s faith. Her marriage to Abe Wiens on her 80th birthday gave her joy. Losing Abe, her health, her independence and her memory didn’t diminish her gratitude.
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