Obituary of Anne Hildebrandt

HILDEBRANDT (Driedger), Anne - On Tuesday, October 27, 2020, Mom/Oma in her 99th year, went home to heaven to join her husband Abe. She was the dear mother of Bob (Lorraine), Alice (Ed), Don (Carolyn), Larry (Joyce) and loving Oma to 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Sister to Agatha and Peter, and predeceased by 3 brothers and 3 sisters.

She was the eldest member of the Vineland United Mennonite Church. Mom was born in Fischau, Russia on November 20, 1921 and emigrated to Canada in 1924.The ocean liner, the Minnedosa, first took them to England, then to Quebec. From Quebec they took the train to Waterloo, Ontario where they remained until February 1925. The family then moved to Manitoba where they were able to purchase a farm in Grunthal in 1926. Mom loved the great outdoors and feeding and caring for her sheep. She was baptized in the Elim Church in Grunthal and was married on July 7, 1945 to Abram Hildebrandt. They moved to Ontario for 2 years in 1946 and then back to Manitoba and finally decided to move back to Ontario where it was easier to find work. They settled in Campden where they raised their family. In 1989 they moved to St. Catharines to be closer to their children.

Dad passed away in 1997 after 52 years of marriage. Mom picked fruit when the children were young and took all of them with her, teaching them a good work ethic. She and Dad cleaned the Church for 17 years.  She also worked at Dirksen's greenhouse for 10 years.  Mom loved many types of crafts. From the sewing circle at Church to drawing, to painting beautiful ceramics which all of her children were recipients of. At the age of 70 she took up hiking and bike riding and enjoyed every minute of it. She was active in the church for many years. She loved teaching the children in Sunday School that Jesus loved them. Anyone that was ever in her class never doubted that she loved them too.

As a Mother, Grandmother (Oma) and Great Grandmother (Oma), she was always there for all of us. When you were at her house you could eat anything you wanted and do anything you wanted to do and she would be right there playing alongside you. When she was 88, she was down on the floor playing mini sticks with her great grandson. She enjoyed watching us all in sports, plays, singing etc. Whatever we did was the best. Over the years dominoes was the game on Saturday nights with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren while the hockey game was on in the background.

She had a sarcastic sense of humour and that was seen right up until the last days of her life. Everyone in her neighbourhood knew her because she walked every day right up until March when she fell and broke her hip. Walking on the beach was something she always looked forward to. Mom loved working in the soil planting her flowers, and then enjoyed watching them grow. She fed the birds faithfully and watched as they scattered her seeds everywhere. To her, sitting outside with the sun beating down on her was heavenly. We will all miss her greatly.

Visitation will take place at the Vineland Chapel of Tallman Funeral Homes, 3277 King Street, Vineland, from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, November 1st. A private burial and funeral will be held. Memorial donations may be sent to the Mennonite Central Committee.