Justina (Jessie) Funk

We say good-bye with sadness and joy to our dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Justina (Jessie) Funk. Our mom passed on May 13, 2022 with her family by her side.

Mom will be missed by her five children, Betty Lynn (Menno), Ernie (Melanie), Garry (Pauline), Sheryl (Hermann) and Reg (Sarah). Grieving her death are also her eight grandchildren Darcy, Kristen (Jordan), Ryan (Billie), Karla (Josh), Alex, Samuel, Elizabeth, and Joseph, as well as six great grandchildren, Urijah, Brettly, Bellamy, Marek, Owen, and Oliver.

She was predeceased by her husband Jacob, on January 17, 1993. She was also predeceased by two sisters, Helen, and Betty, and her three brothers, Nick, Pete, and Jake.

Mom was born in Mitchell, MB, on March 30, 1927. She was raised and attended school in the Mitchell district, and was baptised on the confession of her faith at the Randolph Chortizer Mennonite Church May 13, 1951.

Mom married her loving husband, our dad, Jacob Funk, on September 15, 1956. They made their first home in Ste. Anne, MB., where their first two children were born. In 1959, they moved to Mitchell, and were blessed with three more children to complete their family. In Mitchell, they resided right between her sister Helen and her family on one side and two of her brothers, Nick and Jake, and their families on the other side. The family created their own ‘village’ to raise their children. All of them share many happy memories of this time. 

Outgrowing the space that their Mitchell house provided, Mom and Dad moved to a country acreage in Randolph, where t­­hey enjoyed raising their children. The Randolph farm included farm animals and an enormous vegetable garden, which not only provided for the family, but were pleasures for our Mom.

Shortly after Jacob’s passing in 1993, Mom moved to an apartment in Steinbach. This was her home for the next twelve years. This time was filled with sleepovers with her grandkids, puzzling using her very meticulous strategies, and becoming the driver around Steinbach for many of her friends.

In 2006, Mom made the move to Fernwood where she met old and new friends. This home suited her well. She connected with her new community immediately, and happily participated in many of the social opportunities offered there. Sleepovers with her grandchildren continued to be staples during this time, and evenings with her were often spent puzzling, playing card games or shuffle board, and always eating Faspa. She also enjoyed taking on some volunteer roles at Fernwood; delivering meals and checking on the health of others on her floor.

Spending her time serving was important to Mom throughout her life. In her earlier years, she taught Sunday School in the Randolph Chortitzer church, and served as part of their kitchen team, which she continued in Steinbach. During her time living in Steinbach, she enjoyed volunteering with the MCC thrift shop, and hanging out, playing games and reading with the “old people” at Resthaven. This was Mom’s way of living out her faith, which was incredibly important to her throughout her life, and she shared this with her family and community.

Bethesda Place became her home in 2017, and was a supportive community for the last years Mom’s life. Words cannot express our gratitude to the staff at Bethesda Place who looked after mom with compassion, respect, and care. We will always appreciate their prayers, and kindness to our mom during her hardest days.

Throughout Mom’s time with us, she was a hard-working, funny, and generous presence in her family’s lives. Please join us in celebrating her life at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Crossings Funeral Care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made the the Mennonite Central Committee.