Obituary of Martha Sawatzky

To view the recording of the service, please click HERE. 

Our cherished Martha Sawatzky passed peacefully into Glory on August 17, 2026, after a long and full life of 97 years.

She was the beloved wife of the late Nick (2022) for 73 years. Devoted Mama of Kenn, Margaret (Glen Woolner), Walli (the late Sylvia Menig, 2023), and Gary (Karin).

Loving Oma to Lora Woolner (Mark Schmidt), Aaron Woolner (Geraldine Ysselstein), Joschka (Leslie Kay), Katrin (AJ Johnson), Anneli, Evan, Alexandra (James), Nick (Kaylie), and Annie (Colin). Cherished “Oma Martha” to Morgen, Suri, and Nia Schmidt; Reuben and Lucas Woolner; and Rudy Johnson.

Martha was a long-standing, faithful, and active member of Waterloo Kitchener (WK) Mennonite Church. She was an excellent cook and baker, a quilter and seamstress, a wonderful hostess, and an all-around superb homemaker.

She and Nick deeply enjoyed travelling together, visiting friends and relatives in Europe, across Canada, the USA, and vacationing in Hawaii, including cruises to the Hawaiian Islands and the Caribbean. They also spent 20 relaxing winters together in sunny Florida. Above all, Martha loved the “Shepherd of Life” and her precious family.

A private family interment at Parkview Cemetery in Waterloo has taken place.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Parkwood Mennonite Home, where Martha resided for 4 years and to the compassionate palliative care team at WRHN Queen's Blvd., who cared for her these last weeks.

A funeral service in Celebration of Martha's Life and Faith will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Erb and Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo. Visitation from 10:00 - 10:45 will precede the service in the Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. A light lunch and time of fellowship will follow the service.

In memory of Martha, donations to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) – Ukraine effort would be gratefully received and can be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home at 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com.

Martha’s LIFESTORY – OUR TRIBUTE

Martha (Esau) Sawatzky was born on March 29, 1929, in Schoensee, a Mennonite village in southern Ukraine. Martha was the younger daughter of Dietrich and Katharina (Born) Esau and beloved sister to Eliezabeth/Liese Eitzen. Her childhood was abruptly changed and shaped by the untold horrors of Stalin’s communism and World War 11. Her dear father was taken from them by the Soviet Secret Police in 1938, never to be heard of again. Her loving mother died of accidental electrocution the day after their desperate flight from their idyllic home in September 1943. Now orphaned, she, along with her sister and their maternal grandfather, Isaak Born, continued their life's difficult journey westward. They crossed Poland and into Germany, finding settlement at the MCC Refugee Camp in Gronau, Germany. Sponsored by relatives, they came to Canada in 1948.

On October 1, 1949, she married Nick Sawatzky at WK Mennonite Church, Waterloo. Nick was born and grew up in the same village.

A blessed journey began anew as they welcomed 4 children:

Kenn and twin Margaret (Glen Woolner), Walter (late Sylvia, 2023), and Gary (Karin).

The family circle grew to include nine grandchildren:

Lora Woolner (Mark Schmidt), Aaron Woolner (Geraldine Ysselstein), Joschka (Leslie Kay), Katrin (AJ Johnson), Anneli, Evan, Alexandra (James), Nick (Kayla) and Annie (Colin). Further blessed by 6 great-grandchildren: Morgen. Suri and Nia Schmidt, Reuben and Lucas Woolner, and Rudy Johnson.

Martha had a deep inner faith in God and a quiet, resilient strength that guided her life. Her personal faith and spiritual life were nurtured in her early years, and she was baptized in Germany.  When she married Nick, they became longstanding, active members of WK Mennonite Church in Waterloo. 

Martha expressed her creativity in all aspects of homemaking, whether sewing, quilting, needlework, food, or flower arranging and welcoming preparation. She extended gracious hospitality wherever she resided, and many have been recipients of her warmth.

Family and friends will remember the many happy times spent around the dining room table enjoying the most delicious meals. There was always more than enough.

Her family brought her much joy and fulfillment. Her large, growing family created a busy household for her, but she took great pride in organizing the home and keeping up with all the family activities and interests.

Although she would have liked to have had more academic training, Martha was an excellent role model from whom we learned life skills and values of love, patience, kindness, respect, and a strong work ethic.

As a family, we enjoyed picnics, outings, camping, and travelling trips always efficiently planned, packed, and provided for by our loving mother.

In their retirement years, Nick and Martha travelled quite extensively to Europe, across Canada, the USA, including Hawaii, plus cruises to the Hawaiian and Caribbean islands, often with family. They also spent 20 winters relaxing in the condo at Vista Del Lago in Stuart, Florida.

In 2009, they moved from the family home to Eastwood Community in Kitchener. They lived at Eastwood until Martha's fall in 2022. This fall resulted in a stroke, causing her to be wheelchair bound and unable to care for herself or Nick.

Fortunately, following her hospital stay, they were able to move into Assisted Living at Parkwood Mennonite Home in Waterloo, where many of their faith community also resided.

Only 3 months later, Nick passed away on August 5, 2022, at the age of 95. They were blessed with a marriage lasting 73 years!

Martha continued at Parkwood, where she was well cared for.

Her Saviour and Good Shepherd called Martha, quietly and peacefully, to her eternal rest on August 17, 2026, after a long and full life of 97 years. She was ready.

We love you and will miss you and will hold you in our hearts always and forever.

Till we meet again - Aufwiedersehen.

You left us beautiful memories

Your love is still our guide,

And though we cannot see you

You are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken

And nothing seems the same,

But as God calls us one by one,

The chain will link again.