November 22nd

DOROTHY SCHWARTZENTRUBER

Cherished mother and grandmother of Eugene and wife Connie Schwartzentruber and their children Sarah (Nathan), Becky (Dan) and Emily (Nate); Donna and husband Bill Dettweiler and their son Cory; Murray Schwartzentruber and wife Mary Wright and their son Benjamin; and Lorna Schwartzentruber and husband Bob Theisz. Dorothy will be remembered by her 7 great-grandchildren. Survived by her sister, brothers, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; Irene Bender, Ervin (Erma) Steinmann, David (Ruth) Steinmann, Laverne (Marjorie) Schwartzentruber, and by many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy is predeceased and now reunited with her beloved husband Willard Schwartzentruber who predeceased her on February 22, 2021 and whom she spent 66 years of marriage with, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Mabel (Reuben) Kennel, Reuben Steinmann, Walter (Leona) Steinmann, Ervin Bender, Ruth (Ross) Bender and Arthur (Florence) Steinmann, Elmer (Margaret) Schwartzentruber, Gerald (Martha) Schwartzentruber, Violet (Wilbert) Faulhafer, Marie (Wallace) Gingerich, Norman (Vera) Helmuth, Walter (Hilda Mae) Helmuth.

Dorothy was a quiet “go getter” committed to whatever she chose to do. After leaving the Steinmann farm in her early 20’s she trained as a RNA at Ryerson College in Toronto, graduating in 1950. It was remarkable in those years that Dorothy left the Amish Mennonite family farm to go on to higher education, especially in the big city. Dorothy and her husband Willard were the first people to operate the Milverton Nursing Home in the late 1950’s. For a number of years Willard and Dorothy’s accommodation was a room in the Nursing Home. After Milverton she worked at the Listowel Memorial Hospital as a RNA, always nights so she could be available for the family, until her retirement in 1992. Dorothy would come home from the hospital shortly after 7 am, get the children off the school, sleep for a few hours, be ready when the children came for lunch and then sleep for a few hours in the evening before going back to work for 11 pm. After retirement she continued to provide private nursing care for family friends for a few years. While living in Listowel she was an active member of Listowel Mennonite Church, involved in all aspects of Women’s Mission and Service Commission (WMSC), Refugee Sponsorships and numerous other church activities. Organizing Camping road trips with her own children across North America, and later with grandchildren closer to home, was a highlight of her life. After living in the same house in Listowel for nearly 50 years, Dorothy and her husband moved to Nithview Community in New Hamburg in 2011. Dorothy was the ideal example of and encapsulated faithful servant hood loving all who came into her space. She had the instinctive gift of making everyone feel valued, special, loved and appreciated. She was very present and focused with whoever she was listening to. Special thanks to the nurses and PSW’s at Nithview for their compassionate and loving care, especially during the challenges of Covid.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Mark Jutzi Funeral Home, 291 Huron Street, New Hamburg, on Sunday, November 27, 2022, from 1 – 4 p.m. A funeral service will take place at Steinmann Mennonite Church, 1316 Snyder’s Road West Baden, on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Susan Allison-Jones officiating. Interment in the adjoining Steinmann Mennonite Church Cemetery will follow. For those who are unable to attend or uncomfortable the funeral will be available via livestream by going to the Steinmann Mennonite Church website.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Mennonite Central Committee, House of Friendship or Nithview Community would be appreciated by the family and can be done through the funeral home. Personal condolences can be posted at www.markjutzifuneralhomes.ca