The true meaning of legacy lives in the values that guide our lives and the quiet ways we look out for one another, both today and for generations to come. For Phyllis Wiebe, that legacy has been quietly growing for decades, rooted in gratitude, generosity, and a deep care for others.
At 89, Phyllis has been part of the Siloam family for 17 years as a donor and, since 2013, as a volunteer. She continues to find joy in simple, meaningful things – walking, reading, and baking. Phyllis volunteers in the kitchen at one of Siloam’s supportive housing facilities for seniors. She bakes and spends time with residents, always bringing warmth wherever she goes.
Her story begins in rural Manitoba, where she and her late husband Len were raised.
“Both Len and I grew up on farms in southern Manitoba,” she recalls. “We both had loving and caring parents who lived and taught us the value of tithing and volunteering from early childhood. These lessons have stayed with us throughout our lifetime.”
Their Mennonite church community also played an important role in shaping those values.
When they moved to Winnipeg to become teachers, Phyllis and Len carried that same spirit into their new community. They found meaningful ways to serve. For nearly two decades, they spent their Saturdays picking up groceries for Winnipeg Harvest, and they helped a relief organization establish a thrift shop on Selkirk Avenue.
“While working at the thrift shop and driving for Winnipeg Harvest, we saw the presence of Siloam’s outreach in the areas where we worked,” Phyllis says. “After some research, we decided to offer our services to volunteer there.”
Drawn by what they saw, they chose to get involved. Phyllis began volunteering in the kitchen, while Len served in the Drop In. What they experienced left a lasting impression – not just in what Siloam offered, but in how care was given.
“Siloam’s work of addressing all aspects of homelessness impressed us,” she shares.
Over time, that impression became something deeper and more personal. Through her experience – especially at supportive housing – Phyllis has seen how stability, community, and dignity can change daily life in quiet but real ways.
“By providing accommodations, meals, and a loving and caring community, residents are happy and are learning new skills of independent living,” she says.
That sense of purpose led Phyllis and Len to think about the future. “Years ago, when we wrote our first wills, we decided that our assets should be shared not only with our children, but also with the many charities we have supported throughout our lifetime,” she explains. “Siloam is one of these charities.”
Their decision reflects a lifetime of generosity – a way to ensure that the values they lived by will continue to make a difference for years to come.
As we mark Leave a Legacy Month this May, Phyllis’s story is a gentle reminder that legacy is not only what we leave behind, but how we choose to live each day. It is shaped in quiet acts of service, in relationships built over time, and in a willingness to give back out of gratitude.
“I’ve been given so much during my lifetime,” Phyllis says. “So I love the idea of giving back as a thank you for my good fortune.”
Through her generosity – both today and for the future – Phyllis is helping ensure that Siloam Mission remains a place of welcome, nourishment, and hope for years to come.
If you’re inspired by Phyllis’s story, consider how a gift in your will can create a lasting impact. Like Phyllis, your legacy can ensure that meals, shelter, care, and community remain available for those who need them most. For more information, please visit: www.siloam.ca/leave-a-legacy or call: 204-956-4344
