Marie (Mary) Neufeld
Obituary
Mary (Friesen) Neufeld, age 93 of Steinbach, Manitoba, passed away on Wednesday, September 30,, 2026 at her home. Although we did not get to say goodbye, our mom received the incredible gift of a quick flight to heaven. She is free and celebrating with Jesus!
Mary is survived by her daughter-in-law Kathy, son Len (wife Tilly) daughter Marlene (husband Ray) Loeppky and daughter Carolyn (husband Rick) Peters and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Bill, her sons Ron, Dave and Dan as well as two grandsons, Ryan and Brendan.
She is also survived by five sisters and two brothers.
Mary was the eldest daughter of Henry & Marie Friesen born in Haskett, Manitoba in the middle of the Great Depression. She loved to learn, to sing and to sell things. As the eldest of 12, after completing grade 8 she had to stay home to manage the small general store on their property in Wingham. She moved to Winnipeg when she was 18 years old to work as a store clerk and was baptized at the age of 19 at the Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church.
Mom struggled with depression and mental health challenges throughout her lifetime, yet she had the Friesen gift of wit and loved to laugh. Laughter always proved to be good medicine, yet her struggles remained.
Our parents loved each other despite the hard things they experienced. It all began as young children chasing each other after a wedding, when mom caught dad and bit him! They met again at a family wedding and were married on September 20th, 1953, in Wingham. By their 2nd anniversary, mom had a first-born son and newborn twin boys while Dad was working construction in Goose Bay Labrador. Dad shared how incredibly beautiful mom was and how she captured his heart again wearing a yellow dress at the train station upon his return. They welcomed another boy and two girls to complete their family of six children. They moved around a lot and eventually settled in Kleefeld and Grunthal.
While raising her family, our mom’s mental health challenges required admission to receive ongoing treatment. In mom’s handwritten testimony she states “I was in and out of hospital for about four years or so but then one night while in hospital, I awoke from a dream that God was going to heal me… I started to improve rapidly and was discharged in Sept of 1967.” This was a great period of time where mom enjoyed being a homemaker going to get her GED, getting her driver’s license and beginning to sell various things including Vitamins, Cleaning Products and her favorite, was selling Tupperware.
A highlight for mom and dad was a trip with a group of friends to Paraguay, volunteer service in Texas, and trips to BC. Mom loved to sing in the church choir and attend many gospel fests together with Dad in their camper van. They also took dancing lessons and enjoyed the dances held at the 55 plus Centre in Steinbach.
Their retirement years were spent in Steinbach, serving as deacons at the Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church for a short time. The Caring Connections team served my mom well. Mom’s last home was at The Cottages on Beaver Crescent where she was able to live her final years, watching the sunset, going for walks and being lovingly cared for.
Our mom was strong willed and true to her word. If there was a confidence to be kept, you could count on her keeping it. If there was a prayer request shared, you could count on her lifting that up to God in prayer. If there was an opportunity for a witty retort, that’s exactly what one would hear. We want to thank the many friends and family who did the same for her.
The family also wants to thank the caregivers at the Cottages North. Their tender care for our mother meant the world to us. They prayed for her when she was down, read scripture with her and encouraged her to see the good things in life. And she did! Our mother didn’t die alone, in fact shortly before she passed, the caregiver prayed with her, brought her tea and tucked her in bed for her final rest. You all know who you are… THANK YOU!
The celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel in Steinbach, Manitoba with refreshments to follow.
