Loreena Dyck

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Tim 4:7

On June 12th, 2024, the Lord called Loreena (Plett) Dyck, beloved wife of Henry, to her eternal Home. Loreena passed away peacefully at the age of 85 at the Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach.

Loreena was a New Year's baby born on January 1, 1939, to Frank P. and Katherine (Reimer) Plett near Landmark, MB. She was the third in a family of nine children. She began school in Landmark, and when the family moved to Willow Ridge, she continued her education there.

She was baptized upon confession of her faith in the Blumenort Evangelical Mennonite Church at age 14. She had a deep concern for the lost and a hope that she would be faithful to her Saviour for her entire lifetime. In her youth, Loreena enjoyed singing in the Blumenort choir, even taking voice lessons later in life, teaching Sunday School in church, and participating in VBS in various outreach communities, including Anola and Uplanding schools.

Loreena began working as a housekeeper for a young family, then later as a seamstress at the Steinbach Sewing Factory. Her next job was at Penner Foods. After Loreena finished her high school certificate in Landmark, she began working at JR Friesen's in the parts department. For a short time in 1975, Loreena lived with her sister Minna and Leroy in Saskatchewan before feeling called to ministry and moving to the Saskatoon area to work at Western Tract Mission, which she enjoyed.

Henry and Loreena met on Thanksgiving weekend in 1977 in Warman, SK. Henry visited the church that Loreena attended, and with the help of matchmakers, including the pastor, their relationship started. It was a match made in heaven, as Henry and Loreena were married on April 1, 1978. Since that time, Henry and Loreena were inseparable and faithfully committed to one another in marriage. They enjoyed traveling to visit extended family.

Henry and Loreena's life took them from Morden, to Steinbach, to Landmark, to Winnipeg, then to Portage la Prairie in 1991, and finally to MacGregor in 2019. Loreena supported Henry as he worked many different jobs, and they served as custodians at MCC in Winnipeg, sold Watkins products on the side, and for some time, Loreena also sold homeschool books in Portage.

In their retirement, Henry and Loreena made many quilts together for Faith Mission. They were members of Portage Evangelical Church and, in 1998, they called Bagot Community Chapel their home church. Their life together was characterized by walking in faith and serving the Lord wherever they went. Henry's easy-going nature was a great balance to Loreena's somewhat anxious heart.

Over the years, Loreena thoroughly enjoyed handwork, vegetable and flower gardening, reading, cooking, puzzling, and playing games.

Henry's move to the MacGregor Care Home in 2019 was a very difficult time for Loreena, followed by the isolation that came with COVID lockdowns. However, things changed and Loreena was again able to faithfully visit Henry until he passed away in 2021 after 43 years of marriage.

With family encouragement, Loreena bravely chose to move back to the Steinbach area into senior housing. She was reacquainted with many cousins and friendships from her youth. Loreena had begun to sew quilt blocks once again with a quilting group from the Steinbach EMC. She was very thankful for visitors and expressed her appreciation for the different groups that ministered in her senior home. Her move to Steinbach and the selling of her car led to limited mobility, so she really appreciated the radio ministry of David Jeremiah. Her Bible shows signs of being well-loved.

She is survived by two sisters, Minna Scharfenberg, and Lydia and Ed Reimer; two brothers, David Plett and Norman and Lorna Plett; brothers-in-law Pete Klassen and John Pries; as well as sisters-in-law Grace Dyck and Alfrieda Dyck, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Henry; three sisters, Lottie Klassen, Edna Pries, and Betty Funk; and one brother, Albert Plett.

We are thankful for the kindness and grace of her friends, neighbors, and staff at Fernwood Place and the care of the attending paramedics and medical staff of Bethesda Hospital.

The funeral service to celebrate Loreena's life is to be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, June 18th at 1 pm, with Rev. Gerald Dyck officiating. Viewing will be prior to the service. A light lunch will be served, followed by burial at the Oakville Cemetery. To register and view live stream of the service, click below.

If friends so desire, donations may be made in Loreena’s memory to Siloam Mission, 300 Princess St, Winnipeg, MB R3B 1M3 or Faith Mission, 520 Circle K Drive, Winkler, MB R6W OK4. 

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com