My Mennonite Oma's People
A Story of Love and Loss
by Ernie G Dyck

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If we had the ability to speak with our ancestors, what kinds of stories would they share? Would we get a glimpse into the lives and people the history books miss? A better understanding of the events that shaped our families and, ultimately, our identities? In My Mennonite Oma’s People: A Story of Love and Loss author Ernie G. Dyck reimagines the life of Maria Epp (née Neufeld)—his maternal grandmother—and the lives of her ancestors. Part historical fiction, part narrative non-fiction, these stories are rooted in research, family lore, documents, and memory. Maria, born in Berdiansk, South Russia, grows up in Halbstadt (Molochansk), then with her large family emigrates to Manitoba. With emigration comes the loss of relationships, culture, and so much more—all for the hope of preserving that which is most dear. The more Ernie learns about his grandmother’s story, the more he realizes how unique it is compared to the usual Russian Mennonite narrative. Along with Maria’s story, Ernie untangles the narrative threads of her descendants, namely his mother, his mother’s brother, Ernie himself, and his late daughter, Barbara. Now in Canada after emigrating from the USSR, Maria’s family tries to settle into their new life. But after so much loss, how much more can they endure? What is left to lose? Spanning almost two centuries and two continents, My Mennonite Oma’s People is an unforgettable story about what people will do for love and family.

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Ernie G. Dyck is the grandson of Maria Epp (née Neufeld) from Berdiansk, Ukraine (formerly South Russia). He received his Master of Education from the University of Saskatchewan and is a graduate of the United Theological College in Montreal. His research and writing have appeared in the New York City The Catholic Worker, in Canadian Mennonite periodicals, in The House of Heinrich (1980), and in Beckoning Hills Revisited (1981), among others. My Mennonite Oma’s People: A Story of Love and Loss is his first book. When he’s not exploring his genealogy, Ernie enjoys walking, gardening, and bicycling . He lives in Peterborough, Ontario, with his wife, Tina.

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Ernie G Dyck

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