HELEN FRIESEN

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HELEN FRIESEN Helen Friesen slipped away peacefully at the age of 88 on Sunday, September 5, 2010 after a major stroke and heart attack. Our beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother was born on January 16, 1922 in Strassberg, Manitoba. She grew up with ten brothers and six sisters on a farm during the depression. Helen attended Elim Bible School for two years and in October, 1945 married Ben Friesen and they farmed near Winkler, Manitoba. After Ben's death in July, 1953, Helen and her son Lloyd and daughter Elvera moved to Altona where they lived up to September, 1967 at which time they moved to Winnipeg. She held various positions and ended her working career at Pioneer Grain where she worked for 15 years prior to taking early retirement in 1985. She has resided at Bethel Place for the past 25 years and enjoyed many friendships with long-time as well as new friends, numerous trips, was an avid reader and involved in volunteer work. Helen will be lovingly remembered for her quiet gentle spirit, her strength of character and her wonderful sense of humour which often showed up unexpectedly. Her faith in God was the driving force of her life, sustaining her in challenging circumstances and shaping her into an extraordinary woman of courage, strength and love. Helen was predeceased by her husband Ben in July, 1953; sisters Sara, Trudy and Agatha; brothers John, Jacob, Died, Henry, Bill and Ben. She is survived by sisters Hilda (Art) Toews, Eva O'Hara, and Johanna Loeppky; brothers Dave, Ed, Bernie (Helen) and Tony (Hilda); sisters-in-law Helen Loeppky, Norah Loeppky, Mary Loeppky, Dora Friesen and Betty Friesen; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Helen's family was a source of great joy and she is dearly loved and survived by her son Lloyd (Diane); daughter Elvera (Jack); grandchildren Rod, Tammy, Chris (Lauren), Todd and Craig (Karen); great-grandchildren Ella and Warner. The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Brian Rumbolt for his many years of excellent care and to the staff at the St. Boniface Hospital Ward 5E, with special thanks to Judy, Andrea, Margo and Geraldine. A celebration of Helen's life will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Street with interment to follow in the Winkler Cemetery at 4:00 p.m. Viewing at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 200-6 Donald Street, Winnipeg, R3L 0K6.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 08, 2010