Our Mom, Maria Hubert, was born in the village of Rosenhof in Siberia on February 25, 1926.  Her family escaped persecution in Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution and arrived in Hamburg, Germany in 1929.  From there, the family immigrated to Brazil, arriving at their new home when Mom was 4 years old.  With very little, the immigrants began their new life, often struggling to provide for their growing family.  In 1940, when Mom was about 14, they moved to Curitiba and bought a dairy farm.  Her teenage years consisted of getting up at 2:30 to milk the cows and then delivering the milk to their customers in the city, all done by horse and buggy.  Once she was done delivering milk, she left for school.  After school there were more chores to be done.

She was allowed to text her friends only after all the chores were done.

In 1947 Mom married Peter Hubert and together they settled down near Curitiba, buying land and developing a dairy farm.  Then in 1952, Mom and Dad joined MB Missions and Services.  The first years were spent looking after the boys in an orphanage as house parents.  The next 3 years were spent in Sao Mateos do Sul, a small town where they planted a church.

The whole family, which now numbered 7, moved to Ecuador in 1964.  The next 25 years were spent broadcasting German Gospel programs over radio HCJB.  Mom worked full time at the office but walked home every day at 11 am to prepare a full dinner for the family.  Mom was a fabulous cook.

Perhaps the toughest part for Mom was when all 5 of us kids left home after we graduated High School, going to North America to attend College, Bible College or to work.  These were painful and lonely years for Mom.

In 1989 our parents retired and moved to Abbotsford and bought their first home in 37 years. These were wonderful years for Mom now that she could be close to her kids and grandkids. All of us were spoiled by her gift of hospitality and we enjoyed many fabulous meals, much of the food grown in their garden.

Dad passed away on April 18, 2008.  They were happily married for 61 years.  There were many hard times and struggles, but also much happiness and joy.  It was obvious that they liked their grandchildren more than their children.

Mom lived on her own for the next 13 years, first in her condo on Church St. and the last few years at Tabor Court.  She resisted moving to Tabor Court for some time because it was for old people… not her.

Mom passed away peacefully on March 13, 2021 with Heidi and Henry and Ellen and I in her room, holding her hand, playing her favourite hymns and reading her favourite Psalms.

The last year was perhaps the loneliest time of her life as she was locked down much of the time because of the COVID rules.  No one was allowed in, but Heidi managed on occasion to smuggle her out and then we would drive down from Kelowna and meet at Heidi and Henry’s.  We broke all the rules and always hugged.

Mom always had a loving, forgiving spirit about her.  She was patient and kind and most of all, she unconditionally loved all of us.  She never complained about her circumstances in the last year.  There were many phone calls from all of us and that always made her day.  If you asked her, “How are you doing, Mom?”, her standard answer was:  “The LORD’s mercy is new every morning.”

Maria Hubert was predeceased by:  Her parents, all of her 8 siblings, her son Harry, her daughter Edith, her grandson Jason and by her husband, Peter.

We will miss you, Mom… on behalf of your children, Godfrey, Heidi, Henry and Helmut.