Ann Friesen (nee Reimer)

Obituary

Our Mother, Anna R. Friesen, was born July 24 1922 to Klass P. L and Anna Reimer in Garden City, Kansas. The family moved to Manitoba in 1935, when Mom was in her early teens, settling in the Blumenhof/Blumenort area.

As a young teenager, one of Mom’s friends lost her brother to drowning. That night Mom cried in sorrow and fear, feeling that if that had been her, she would not have gone to heaven. She knew she had sinned, but not understanding the German that was preached in the church she attended, she didn’t have an understanding of God’s plan of salvation. After she and Dad became friends, Dad’s mother suggested that they go to the EMB church in Steinbach, where revival meetings were being conducted in English. Here she finally understood that Jesus had taken the punishment for her sins on the cross, and because of that, she could receive forgiveness, and be assured of a home in heaven. So she accepted Jesus as her Saviour and was baptized upon the confession of her faith in Him.

Mom married our Dad, Edward P. Friesen November 24, 1940. Five children were born to them, Danny, Judy, James, Ruth, and Becky. They lived in a little 4 room house, grain farming, and milking cows. In winter Dad would leave the milking to Mom and Danny while he headed to the forest to cut wood. In 1956, with Mom’s initiative, the family moved to a farm in Ridgewood. Here they had a big, modern deluxe farmhouse, and perfect soil for Mom’s garden. She enjoyed gardening, growing plenty of fruits and vegetables for her family. She loved flowers and they bloomed profusely whether indoors or out.

To Mom the most important thing was that her children should have a relationship with their Lord and Saviour. And so, from the time they were starting school, it was a given that after graduating high school, they would continue on to Bible College. This hope of hers was fulfilled in that all of the children attended one to three years of Bible College in Saskatoon. Mom was actively serving the Lord in church as well, serving as a Sunday School teacher, women’s group leader, and church secretary for as long as she was able. She made sure family devotions happened daily as much as possible, teaching the importance of Bible reading and prayer. Summer Bible Camps at Ninette were another highlight we remember fondly.

Mom and Dad instilled a strong work ethic in their children. Early in Danny’s life she and Danny would go to work in the neighbour’s fields, hoeing beets. Each of the children had to learn to work hard, both in the house and outside on the farm.

In 1964, Mom went through a traumatic period when one month after Danny got married, her father passed away, and Brian, a foster child she had raised from infancy to just over one year, was adopted into another family. This was too much to bear, but being the strong person she was, instead of succumbing to her grief, she chose to go to work at Granny’s. In the approximately 25 years she was employed there, she made a lot of friends, some of whom she met again in later years and their friendships were renewed.

Sunday lunches were fantastic meals, with deep fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and often coleslaw. Mom told how she could catch a chicken and have it butchered and cut and in the pan, all in just under 10 minutes! That must have been one result of all those years at Granny’s! She even breaded and deep fried the feet and ate that for dessert! Kelly remembers that with glee!

Travelling was something Mom enjoyed. Mom and Dad took a trip to Mexico in 1955, taking the older children with them in a half ton truck. Years later she took her teens to the Grand Canyon, a trip of interesting adventures. Twice the family went to Florida, hauling a travel trailer Mom had purchased. Later Mom and Dad went to Germany and Israel, twice to Hawaii, to Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and twice to Alaska, once with a bus tour, and once with Ruth’s family. Each vacation included tons of pictures, carefully sorted into photo albums.

Mom was always a good sport, willing to try anything, often challenging Danny to foot races. She also enjoyed mini golfing, fishing and swimming. She rose to any challenge, and was willing to laugh at herself when she failed. Mom had an excellent sense of humour. One day she was doing puzzles with a group of women at Fernwood. The others were lamenting the fact that after they turned 75 they couldn’t walk like they had when they were younger. “l didn’t walk either when I was 75” said Mom. The women looked at her in startled silence and Mom went on, “I didn’t walk! I ran!”

In 1981 they sold the farm and moved to Mitchell where they enjoyed many years of retirement. They lived in Mom’s camp in Marchand one summer until a condominium in Steinbach was ready for them to move into. After Dad took a serious fall, it was time to move to Fernwood. When Dad moved to Resthaven, Mom moved to Woodhaven to be near him. She lived here independently until a few weeks ago.

Although Mom was by nature a little shy, she loved a party, Christmas family gatherings, wedding anniversaries, and birthday parties were celebrated in style. Even though Dad was in the Vita Hospital, a big party was arranged there for their 75th Wedding Anniversary!

After Dad passed away in 2017, Mom missed him greatly. She often mentioned that she still talked to him, adding, “but he never answers me!” Still, she bravely carried on, even taking a flight all by herself to Edmonton, just this past May at the age of 95! This was her last trip to see Ruth and her family in Whitecourt. Ruth brought her back to Becky’s in Weyburn, by car, and then Becky brought her back to Manitoba in time to tend her last garden. Even at age 96, Mom still dug up her own potatoes and lugged them up to her apartment!

But in September her health suddenly gave out. September 25 she suffered a heart attack, soon followed by another. October 10th after supper, Mom was dancing a little jig in the hospital, and at 9:00 in the evening she was dancing in heaven! Dad passed away just a few weeks before their 77th wedding anniversary. And now, just approximately a month before their 78th Anniversary she has gone to meet him and rejoice with him forevermore.

Mom will be cherished in our memories by Danny and his wife Della, their children Kelly (Karen) Chryston, and Jaymian, Judy, James’s wife Marlene, Ruth and her husband Larry, and their children, Earl, Shieshe (Stuart), Raphael, and Lorelei (Scott), Becky and her husband Larry, and 13 great–grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Mom was predeceased by her son James, in 2010 and her husband Ed, in 2017.

Mom, we know you loved us, and we will always love you. Thank you for leaving us such a beautiful and precious legacy of love and faith. You set a wonderful example, which we will treasure all our lives.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with a viewing prior to the service. The burial will follow at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Ann may be made to the Gideons, Box 3619, Guelph, ON N1H 7A2.

• mySteinbach Jobs
• Steinbach Homes
• Steinbach Real Estate
• Steinbach Jobs
• RSS Feeds
• Get in Touch