Katherine Funk (nee Peters)

Obituary

It is with sorrow and celebration that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Katherine Funk (nee Peters). She passed away peacefully on Monday, September 25, 2017, into the loving arms of her Saviour.

Kay is survived by her loving husband Abe Funk, of 61 years. Also left to cherish her memory are her children: Curtis, Marvin, Twyla (Ken) Driedger, Eugene (Sheila), Kim (Leonard) Klassen; her grandchildren: Candace (Frayne), Brent (Meagan), Ryan (Ashley), Samantha (Heiko), Dylan (Cynthia), Brittney, Jaedon, Tynisha (Kyle), Breagen, Sage, Gavin and six great-grandchildren. Also mourning her loss are her sisters and brothers and their families.

She was predeceased by her daughter Sandra in 1992, as well as three brothers and a number of brother and sisters-in-law.

Katherine was born May 1st, 1938 in the Randolph area to Cornelius and Agatha Peters. Her formative years were spent on a small country farm. In her late teens, she left home to work in Winnipeg as a Health Care Aid at the St. Boniface Sanitorium, where she lived in a women’s dormitory and made many life-long friends. She also worked at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. From there she went to work in Steinbach for Dr. Choate. This early experience of caring for others would be a reflection of her entire life’s journey.

On July 18, 1959, Mom and Dad were married. They lived for a time in Winnipeg, then moved to Steinbach where they stayed until they purchased the Funk Family Farm in the Barkfield area. It was here that they raised their family of six children. Mom lived the life of a farmer’s wife, which was ever-busy with endless hours of work, both on the farm as well as in the home. She loved to cook and bake and would become known in her later years as the “food” grandma. She always made sure that anyone who visited them never left hungry.

In their retirement, they moved to a house in Steinbach, where in 2004, she had to undergo a quadruple by-pass surgery. This lead to a number of health issues in the following years. Even throughout all her health struggles she continued to show love and support to her family, always smiling and ready to serve a cup of coffee and give a hug.

In February 2017, she was admitted to Bethesda Hospital with double pneumonia. Mom’s health declined dramatically and at this time it was decided that she needed full care. During the time of her passing, she was living in St. Pierre Hospital awaiting placement in Bethesda Place, so she could be with Abe.

The funeral service for Katherine will be held on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with a viewing prior to the service. The burial will follow at the Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB.

If friends desire, donations in memory of Katherine may be made to Operation Smile Canada, 375 University Ave, Suite 204, Toronto ON M5G 2J5.