A tribute to Elsie Goerzen

Elsie. How does one describe this precious woman? Sister, friend, confidante, maternal presence, coach, advocate, encourager. Elsie Georzen was all those things to me. It has been a shock to my heart to know her time has come and that she has slipped into the place where her soul is truly free. Elsie passed away at the age of 80 in the early morning of Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

I heard Elsie speak around fifteen years ago. She was preaching at a church I was attending at the time. This woman I heard speak held herself with a kind of respect and dignity that was captivating and inspiring. Hearing her share with boldness and wisdom evoked a desire to know her and after the service I invited her to have a coffee with me. She did and that moment changed both of our lives forever.

Elsie welcomed me into her life, and we began to know one another on a deeper level. Over the following years, she and her husband Walt would often take me out for a dinner. We would enjoy a glass of wine and talk and talk. As I was entering the years of being a single person, their company and shared companionship on a regular basis meant the world to me. Together, they became like family. Walt built the front deck on my property, the side gate – made of iron and celtic symbolism, and the iron arbour gracing the entrance to the back garden. Elsie read every word I wrote and championed every song recorded. Elsie came to many of the soul care retreats I facilitated, allowing her own heart to receive care – but also telling everyone on retreat to buy a CD or two.

As our friendship grew, Elsie invited me into her work with the Mennonite Central Committee End Abuse program. She felt that the retreat work I offered would be so valued by many of the women coming out of traumatic events. For five years I held a summer retreat for these women. With the vision, generosity, and support of Esther Northey and Kathy Moodie, Elsie created a space for women each summer to receive care of the soul. It was my honour and gift to facilitate these retreats.

As these retreats were so meaningful, the team from End Abuse then asked if I would create another program to accompany the End Abuse material. I did and we called it Phase 4, which I facilitated for the next five years. Elsie was the centre and inspiration for this profound work at End Abuse. Her passion was for accompanying those who had suffered and calling them into the fullness of life. Elsie had vision for what I could contribute, and it was her passion to do all she could for this program. It was a great privilege to work with Elsie in her vision for supporting others.

Elsie was a deeply caring person. She often told me with a level of perplexity, “Cathy, I have had such a good life and I haven’t suffered as others have.” And I responded – “and you have given to others out of the blessing you have known. You have come alongside many who have suffered and brought the blessing of your life.”

In 2009, she was voted “Woman of the Year” in Chilliwack, BC, for all her incredible work in establishing Doorway, a non-profit organization (read more about that here) which supports women in need. This was one of many awards that Elsie received. Two others of note were the Soroptimist Ruby Award for Western Canada (2010) and the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship Award (2012).

Elsie began her work at MCC in her mid-sixties following her work with Doorway. She proceeded to flourish in her profound strengths of leadership through running the End Abuse program until her health took a turn when she was 78.

Elsie and I talked on the phone frequently until her health made talking on the phone difficult. She would chat with so much joy about her family, and her grandchildren were a great source of pride and delight to her. But then she would turn the conversation back to me and want to know everything. She cared deeply about all the facets of my life and was an advocate for justice when I faced challenges or difficulties. Over the years, I witnessed Elsie offer this kind of presence for others, making many feel that they were significant and important to her. And they were. Elsie lived a reality of deep love and care that was authentic and genuine.

Elsie didn’t walk; she marched with tenacity and fortitude. She was relentless with positivity, strength, and vision. She advocated for those who had no voice. She spoke with courage to those in power. She listened for hours to those who needed an ear. She loved deeply, so deeply.

As I grieve Elsie’s passing, which occurred nine days after my father’s passing, I am also in profound gratitude for the wonder of knowing her for all these years and the many gifts I have had the privilege of receiving in this relationship. I am forever changed because of Elsie’s love. May her legacy of generosity, kindness, advocacy, tenacity, and deep love live in me and in all those she touched.

Thank you, Elsie. May you soar with joy and beauty until we meet again.