Frances Klippenstein

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FRANCES KLIPPENSTEIN
March 10, 1932 – January 6, 2017

This remarkable woman, my Mom, Frances Verrick Klippenstein (nee Como), passed away unexpectedly from heart failure, Friday, January 6, 2017. She rejoins her “King of Hearts” (her husband Hartley) who passed away 10 months ago.

Frances began her life March 10, 1932 born of Veronique Gladu dit Batteau (Gladu) and Victor Vieu dit Come (Como). Her early childhood was spent in the Cranberry Portage area and later, Winnipeg. As an adult, she enjoyed many trips to the North to visit with and care for her family. She loved her homeland and had a special fondness for Kississing.

My folks enjoyed a fun life together. In my mom’s early work career with CIL, she met her lifelong friends Adeline and Elmer—a strong friendship still. My folks married in Winnipeg on October 29th, 1960 and moved to York, ON, where I was born in ‘65. We also lived in Winnipeg, MB - Okotoks, AB, when they also had a cottage on Dog Tooth Lake, ON - Lorette, MB, and upon retirement – Landmark, MB and made friends everywhere. Recently, Mom resided at Rest Haven in Steinbach, MB where she met wonderful caring people, and often came home for sleepovers with her granddaughters, the most recent Christmas season being especially cherished.

Mom's hands were always busy with knitting, cooking, and baking. Pies and cinnamon twists were a staple. Christmas always began with the making of the adored gingerbread houses for the many children in her life. She was a natural at entertaining and had a wonderful sense of humor. Mom was forever young at heart and frequently the life of the party. In her workspace, she could be found, glue gun or paint brush in hand, crafting with my Dad (Toys from the Heart, and Sawdust Trail). As “Supervisor”, it was her role to put on the lovely finishing touches. She frequently enjoyed attending the St. Norbert Farmers' Market along with my Dad.

Although I was an only child, I was seldom alone. I often had cousins and friends to spend time with. My parents' door was always open, their hearts generous and loving for whoever wanted to visit or needed a place to be. Mom was an amazing hostess and we celebrated often with family and friends. If younger children were around, she did all this with cuddles, tickles, and loads of giggles.

My mom always had my children by her side. For 21 years she was Nana and my wonderful daycare-giver in the early years of both my girls. She wouldn't have it any other way. My Mom put family first, immediate and extended. She'd drop everything if her family or friends needed her or she’d bring them into her home to care for them if need be. She taught us all the importance of family, generosity, hospitality and faith. We will miss her busy, soft hands, her funny "beauty” walk, her humorous stories and her many silly faces…just as the camera clicked. This remarkable woman touched all the lives of those who knew her and left us all the better for it.

She leaves a big hole in the hearts of her grandchildren, Micayla and Katie, and her daughter, Cherie, and son-in-law, Leonard Brisebois, her two younger siblings (from a family of 16), Loretta Letkeman of Milton, ON, (widow of Jack) and John Como and wife Tanis of Cranberry Portage, MB, and many nieces and nephews and their families, and friends whom she loved dearly.

Frances' memorial service will take place Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel in Steinbach, MB. Cremation has taken place. The ashes of Hartley and Frances will be buried together in my Mom's home-town, Cranberry Portage, MB, at a future date.

Arrangements by
BIRCHWOOD FUNERAL CHAPEL
1-204-346-1030 OR 1-888-454-1030

As published in The Carillon on Jan 10, 2017