EVELYN MARTENS: It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt and a friend - Evelyn Martens - on May 26, 2014 with her family at her side. She is lovingly remembered by her husband of 53 years, John Martens; her son, Sylvan (Karen) Martens and children: Aleta and Tanner; her daughters, Darlene (Dean) Snider and children: Madison, Kennedy and Bailey; Sharon (Dorian) Trautmann and children: Tatianna and Max; the Rempel family, the Martens family and countless friends and neighbors. The Funeral Service was led by Reverend Don Unger at the Battleford United Church on May 30 with her final resting place at Hoffnungsfelder Mennonite Church cemetery in Glenbush, Saskatchewan. Thank you to WPD Ambulance, Battleford's Union Hospital's Emergency Department, Dr. Engelbrecht and Dr. Campbell and to Royal University Hospital's ER Department and Dr. Edwards, Esther Patkau and Battlefords Funeral Service and for the care and support of many friends, relatives and neighbors at this difficult time. Donations in memory of Evelyn may be made to Mennonite Central Committee (Sask.) or Mennonite Disaster Service. So much of me is made from what I learned from you, you'll be with me always. Excerpts of the Tribute: given by her children - Sylvan, Darlene and Sharon. Our beautiful Mom was born on September 15, 1940 on the farm near Glenbush to George and Helena Rempel. She had two sisters and six brothers. She and her twin brother Jake were the babies of the family. Mom grew up on the farm and attended school in Glenbush and worked alongside her family. Mom left the farm to work in Battleford and Saskatoon. She worked in the hospital and at the creamery. She attended Swift Current Bible School for two years and enjoyed singing and touring with the choir group. After completing Bible school, she worked in the hospital in Rabbit Lake and North Battleford. Mom and Dad were married on July 1, 1961. They settled into life on the farm where they enjoyed their work, friends and neighbors, church and of course, music. Mom took great care of us, grew huge gardens, cooked and baked, helped with farming, played piano, sang in the choir, taught piano lessons and was an active member of the church ladies aid group. Mom was a church pianist for 60 years. She also volunteered her talents at weddings, funerals and church services. Mom and Dad lived on the farm for 30 years. In 1991 they moved to Battleford. Dad continued to farm and Mom started a cleaning business which she operated for 10 years. Mom contributed to the Mennonite Community Closet for many years. Prior to moving to Battleford she began as a volunteer and lent her gifts of sewing and organizational skills to the Closet. She eventually took a full-time job there as co-manager. Mom and Dad enjoyed their life in Battleford watching curling by their fireplace, gardening, relaxing on the deck, reading and doing puzzles, walking by the river and entertaining many friends and relatives. Mom joined the local gym where she was an inspiration to those who observed her work ethic. The past years have been filled with travelling to be with her grandchildren and watch their many activities. No matter what, we always knew she was on our team. Mom was an amazing, beautiful and classy lady. To me there are some key phrases that exemplify mom - absolute selflessness and incredible work ethic. Mom always wanted to do for us and others. She would drop everything and be there for any of us and the unconditional love always shone through. Mom taught by example in her quiet, caring way: what matters most is giving of yourself, the incredible power of the intergenerational family and you are never too old to need your mother. Mom also gave us the greatest gift of all: The gift of a light spirit. I learned from my Mom that the days are never so dark that there isn't something that provides joy and hope. A favorite poet- Maya Angelo says - "When it looked like the sun wasn't gonna shine anymore, God put a rainbow in the clouds." My Mom could go from crying to laughing with maybe one breath in between. I like to think that this is what she would want us to do now. I think about my Dad and his delightful humor and how Mom's laughter would fill the room. It wrapped me up. It's easy to be heavy, but it's hard to be light. The music, the laughter, the pleasures of observing God's beauty that surrounded us on the farm. These are happy memories of my growing up years. These were the things my Mom did to put a rainbow in the cloud, and this sustains me even now. I will miss my Mom terribly. I won't ever forget her and the way she has blessed me, and so many others. I go through this time of grief knowing that grieving loss is a part of loving fully and deeply. There really is no other way, is there? She loved us unconditionally, beyond measure and everything she did was for us, her family. She accepted and loved our spouses, loved and adored our children. She was everything a Mom should be and so much more. "It was all about us." What an amazing legacy to leave your family. I will miss her wisdom, her guidance, her insight, her courage, her strength, her laughter, her friendship, and most of all that special kind of love that you only receive from your Mother. There was so much more we wanted to tell her, and so many more experiences we wanted to share with her, so many questions left unasked. I believe that some losses in life we never recover from, but we learn to endure them, accept them and carry on as best we can. We take great comfort in the knowledge that Mom is now in heaven where, as Max Lucado says in one of my children's books, "There are no more tears and no more good-byes." Time is a gift and our time with our Mom was the greatest gift of all. Our loss is heaven's gain. "That was a beautiful life." ____________________________________________________
