Justina Neufeld (nee Neustaeter)
1933 – 2015
Justina Neufeld, aged 81 years passed away peacefully and went to be with her Lord and Saviour on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at Salem Home in Winkler.
Justina was born on October 13, 1933 to Johan and Maria Neustaeter in Mexico. She was the second youngest of 15 children: two sisters, one brother, four stepbrothers, six stepsisters and one adopted brother. She was baptized on confession of her faith on June 6, 1954. On August 8, 1954 Justina married Isaak Neufeld. They were blessed with 12 children: seven boys and five girls. They moved from Mexico to Belize in 1962, back to Mexico in 1964, back again to Belize in 1977 and returned to Mexico in 1983. In 1989, they moved again this time to Canada. Justina never complained about all the moving they did. She simply did whatever needed to be done and looked forward, not backward and always with a smile. Although she had her share of heartache, loss and hard times, she lived her life joyfully and never lost her smile.
Isaak and Justina were inseparable throughout their married life until Justina’s dementia progressed to the point where Isaak could no longer care for her on his own. She was admitted to Boundary Trails Health Centre in November of 2011. From there, she was transferred to Carman Hospital in February, 2012 while waiting to be placed in a care home. On September 19, 2012 she became a resident of Salem Home, where she stayed until the time of her passing. Dementia robbed her of the ability to speak, but it could not take away her testimony. Justina was a woman of prayer and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and looked forward with joy to being in heaven one day. She was a true example of a faithful and supportive wife, and a loving mother. She was a hard worker who kept busy, whether working in the home, going with Isaak on his business trips, or showing her creativity through craftwork. She loved any kind of needlework, and spent much of her spare time doing embroidery and quilting.
Justina is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Isaak Neufeld, and nine children, Maria (Jacob) Peters, Katharina Fehr, Juan (Susan) Neufeld, Margaret (Peter) Hiebert, Isaak (Susan) Neufeld, Peter (Anna) Neufeld, Jake (Lisa) Neufeld, Justina (Abe) Neufeld, Frank (Tina) Neufeld, daughter-in-law, Anna Neufeld, 83 grandchildren, 68 great grandchildren, 14 step grandchildren and 18 step great grandchildren, as well as one brother, one sister and their families. She was predeceased by two sons, Henry (1970) and Bill (2013), one daughter, Justina in infancy (1960), two sons-in-law, five grandchildren, one great grandson and one step granddaughter, as well as her parents, Johan and Maria Neustaeter and all but two of her siblings.
Funeral service at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, May 25, 2015 at Zion Mennonite Church with interment at Zion Mennonite Church Cemetery. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Justina’s memory to the Salem Foundation Inc.
Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler
In care of arrangements
wiebefuneralhomes.com