Lillian Irene Sawatzky

On Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 in the early evening, Lillian Irene Sawatzky (nee Funk), passed away peacefully and entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior. She was 88.

Lillian was born on September 24th, 1933, in Gouldtown, Saskatchewan, to Bernard B. Funk and Susanna Neufeld. In 1939 the family moved to Grunthal, Manitoba.  Their first home was made by hand from logs and Lillian’s job was to collect cow patties to use as chinking between the logs. They lived there for 6 years and then moved to a farm just south west of MacGregor.  She attended the Emmeline School until Grade 8.

She met David Sawatzky at the MacGregor Bergthaler church and they started dating in 1949, got engaged on her 19th birthday and married 12 days later, October 5th, 1952. They had their honeymoon in Niagara Falls and began their married life in St. Catharines, Ontario.  In 1954 they moved back to the Austin area and later to Westbourne and then to Portage la Prairie. In Portage they operated a poultry farm until 1965 and then moved to Beaver and farmed until 1994. They then sold the farm and built a home in MacGregor on Russell Road. In June 2016 they made the move to Victoria Place in MacGregor. 

Mom was the ideal help-meet and companion for Dad and a most loving mother to all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She made sure her children were taught to be creative and hardworking and raised in a God fearing home.  The Lord blessed their marriage with six children, twelve grandchildren, two step grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.

On December 29th, 2017, after 65 years of marriage, her beloved husband, David passed away.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, her husband David, their infant son Barry David (1957), grandson Justin (1990), son Richard (2006), as well as brothers-in-law, Elmer Wiebe, Jake Wieler, Ed Wiebe and Edmund Sawatzky, and sister-in-law, Trudi, and her husband Walter Tait.

She will always be remembered with love by daughters Lynn (Mike Daddiego), Ruth (Larry Windle), Deborah Woloshyn and Gloria Sawatzky and daughter-in-law Karen Sawatzky. Grandchildren, Tamara (Peter), Brittany, Jessica (Travis) and Dylan Sawatzky; step-grandchildren, Alex and Stefano Daddiego; grandchildren, Elijah (Jessica), Anna (TJ Parker), Micah (Lanna) and Nathan (Emily) Windle; grandchildren Alexander, Catherine and Olivia Woloshyn and eighteen great grandchildren.

She is survived by three sisters and their families as well as four sisters-in-law and three brothers-in law and their families.

For those wishing to send floral arrangements please visit this floral shop www.beyondflowers.ca

Donations may be made to:

The Gideon’s International in Canada

Box 3619, Guelph, ON, N1H 7A2

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

100 - 1465 Buffalo Place, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 1L8

Rio Grande Bible Ministries

103 - 2005 St. Mary’s Rd., Winnipeg, MB, R2N 4P1

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