40. Sister Agatha (1921-1928)

Anne remembers their sister Agatha: "Agatha was our Dad's special 'sunshine' girl.  She had golden hair, was a beautiful child, and was very good.  She was a happy child.  In 1928 the girls all had measles together.   Agatha's measles had complications and she got pneumonia. The doctor came every day, but there was no help for her.  One day the girls were allowed to look at pictures in their darkened room.  There was a picture of an angel carrying a child through the sky.

This is a photo of the actual card, which Agatha Enns has in her collection.

Agatha said, "like this, angels will carry me to heaven."  They did not understand it.  Then Agatha said to Anne, "Tell mother to come. I want to tell her something."  Anne went into the kitchen to talk to her mother.  Anna said, "I am so busy now.  I am making the dinner.  Tell her, I'll come right after I have made the dinner."  Mother went a little later, but Agatha had already been carried by the angels into heaven.  Mary was holding her hand when she died.  Mother never knew what Agatha wanted to say."
The funeral was a very sad occasion for all the family. "Agatchen" (little Agatha) was born December 17, 1921 and died May 8, 1928 at the age of 7.  The funeral sermon on May 10 was given by Reverend Petkau and was based on John 10:23-30.
Peter allowed no pictures of Agatha's coffin, because she was very special to him and his grief was so great!  Anne wrote, "For me, I thought of her whenever I saw the stars at night.  When the snow-flakes fell in winter, I imagined she was sewing cloths for her dolls in heaven and scattering down the bits and pieces left over.  She was always in my mind and became the reason for my seeking the Lord. I think it was the same for Dad.  If Agatha was in heaven, I couldn't possibly be good enough to go to heaven, too.  So I was convicted of my sin and began to seek the Lord.  At age 12 I finally decided to ask Jesus to prepare me for heaven.  My fear of death was gone!"