Hilda Anna was born to Peter and Anna Enns in Mission BC on March 3 1945. Hilda was the second of four daughters born into this family following the older sister, Hedi. Erika and Martha soon followed completing this family. Sadly Martha only lived to the age of one year. Hilda grew up on a small farm north of Mission, attended school in Mission, playing piano for the church choir and graduating from high school in 1963.
During Hilda’s teen years the family had a huge setback when Hilda’s father suddenly died of a severe stroke when she was only16 years old. Life was suddenly very challenging for the Enns family. That same year Hilda decided to be baptized upon the confession of her faith in God and decided to join the Cedar Valley Mennonite Church in Mission.
After Graduating from high school Hilda took three years of nurses training at Vancouver General Hospital and graduated as a Registered Nurse. This was a career well suited to the personality and gifts of the kind caring Hilda that all of us came to know in later years as our paths crossed with her.
She then worked at the Vancouver General Hospital for a short time. On October 5th 1968 Hilda was married to John Rempel who was working for the Ministry of Forests in Terrace BC. For the next three and a half years the Rempels lived in Terrace and Hilda served as nurse at Mills Memorial Hospital.
In spring of 1972 John was transferred to Atlin in northern BC, a summer posting only in those days. This would be the test of truly rural living. They both passed the test and were rewarded with a transfer to Burns Lake in the fall of 1972.
Hilda soon began working part time at the Burns Lake and District Hospital. Then an opportunity to work with Dr. Magee at the Medical Clinic opened up and many of us have been blessed if we could be led to the little room by Hilda. She always had a smile and a word of encouragement or maybe a question about one of your loved ones.
The First Mennonite Church was also blessed to have both John and Hilda in its congregation. Their gifts have been used on many fronts. Hilda sat through many a service sitting at the piano.
The home on Tchesinkut Lake and trips to many places including Europe brought much joy to John and Hilda. In spring of 1977 David John, their chosen son came to make this family complete. The family began traveling differently as they set out to explore the camping world beginning with a camper and moving up to the 5th wheel experience. After a few years Hilda went back to work at the Medical Clinic where she worked until her retirement in 2004.
By the time Hilda retired her mother and John’s parents had passed on and the they had moved into town. Trips to the Fraser Valley were replaced by trips to Kamloops where David lived and developed his career as a chef.
Hilda’s retirement plans were to garden, sew, play piano and travel. Then in 2006 these goals were substituted for many trips to the cancer clinics for tests and treatments. It started with back pain then multiple compression fractures showed us all that something was very seriously wrong. Hilda shrunk at least 4 inches that year and left her with what looked like a severe case of osteoporosis. It took about a year to get the diagnosis when it was determined that Hilda was suffering from a rare type of bone cancer along with the effects of the osteoporosis. Many trips to the Cancer Centre in Smithers and Prince George resulted – as many as 2 per week one winter – for treatment.
Hilda was a wonderful care giver as we know from our experiences with her but in the end she became the one who needed the care. Hilda was a top notch patient as well and always expressed her gratitude for the great care she received at the many clinics and offices over the past seven years.
Then Hilda was hospitalized and for her final days. Then about 7:30 AM on May 21, 2013 after having lived 68 years, 2 months and 18 days, Hilda was healed as she passed on to be with her Lord and Saviour.
Hilda was predeceased by her: Parents Peter and Anna Enns, Sister Martha, and Brother in Law Alan Greenwood.
Hilda leaves to mourn her: Husband John, Son David, Sister Hedi Greenwood of Toronto, Sister Erika Enns and her husband Alan Bruce of Campbell River, Nephew James Greenwood of Toronto, and Many Many Friends.