Helen Friesen (nee Neufeld)

Obituary

Our mother, Helen (Neufeld) Friesen, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 25, 2018, at the age of 84.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by three sisters and her husband Corny Friesen in 2014.

She leaves behind to celebrate her life; her four children: Paul, Linda Fast with husband Tom, Menno with wife Liz Plett, and Hanna; her grandchildren: Anton and Connan Friesen, Brendan Fast with wife Jeni, Zakk Fast with wife Kim, and Brooklyn with husband Jason Ulrich; and four great-grandchildren: Julie and Emily Fast, and Ila and Ozlo Fast. She is also survived by her sister, Margaret Dyck, and many other relatives.

Mom was born on August 14, 1933, in Schoenhorst, Ukraine. In 1943 Mom’s family was able to flee from the Russians on a freight train, into Germany, where they spent time in different refugee camps. It was in 1947 that they finally embarked on the ship “Aquitania” and came to Canada because of the loving sponsorship of the Frank Letkemann family who took them in.

Mom worked for a time as a nanny and hoeing beets. When she was 17, she started work at a sewing factory in St. Pierre with her 15-year old sister, Tina. Later they worked at a sewing factory in Winnipeg, making mostly army clothing. All their earnings went home to their parents.

Mom met Dad through the Sargent Church, at Young Adult events and through a music group they both attended. She married her beloved Corny on November 16, 1958 and then became a stay-at-home mom to us kids.

In approximately 1966, Mom developed M.S. symptoms and her life dramatically changed. Her M.S. got worse over the years, but thanks to Dad’s keen interest in health and nutrition, he had her on vitamin supplements which seemed to keep her disease from progressing too quickly.

Thankfully our Dad was also a loving, caring helper to Mom through all those years when she could not do the things she wanted to do on her own.

Mom was still able to crochet, which she loved, and she made many afghans which she gave away to friends, family, and to charity. Mom loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much and while she was not able to physically participate in their care, she held them up in prayer.

Mom did not have an easy life, but her moto was to live it with God’s help, “one day at a time”. She taught her children about perseverance, the power of prayer and that it was God who saw her through the hard times.

In the later years, Mom and Dad both lived at Bethania Haus where Adina and the staff took very good care of them, always going above and beyond what was expected. Later at the Bethania Personal Care home, the staff took loving care of Mom, which we are so grateful for. We also want to thank Dr. Loepp for her many years of kind care and nurturing.

We know Mom is in heaven – she is FINALLY able to walk again, with her beloved husband and God her Saviour at her side. We love you, Mom, and will miss you.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Springfield Heights Mennonite Church, 570 Sharron Bay, Winnipeg MB, with a viewing prior to the service. The burial will follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens, Winnipeg, MB.

If friends desire, donations in memory of Helen may be made to Mennonite Central Committee, 134 Plaza Drive; Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9.