Susie Bergen

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SUSIE BERGEN
February 6, 1938-April 15, 2014

It is with saddened hearts and an eternal hope of a heavenly reunion that the children of Susie Bergen (nee Funk) announce the passing of their Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. She leaves to cherish forever memory, her children: Judy (Dan) Friesen, Gord (Helena) Bergen and Val (Lloyd) Neufeld.; her grandchildren: Cherisse (James) Epp, Chad (Jill) Friesen, Matt (Kat) Bergen, Greg (Krystal) Bergen, Ryan (Jennifer) Bergen, Chantel Neufeld and Kyle (Jaime) Neufeld, and her great-grandchildren: Darson, Austin, Noah, Zachary, Isla and Hannah. As well as her siblings: Helen Maguire (John), John Funk, Sarah Friesen, Anne (Pete) Wiens, and sister-in-law Eva Funk, and their families.

Susie was predeceased by her husband of 40 years, Pete, her parents, three brothers: Abram in 1927, Jacob in 1933 and Peter in 2013, one brother-in-law Isaac Friesen (Sarah) and one sister-in-law Eva Funk (John).

Susie Bergen was born on February 6, 1938, at Bethesda Hospital and passed away on April 15, 2014. She was born the youngest of eight children to Jacob and Anna Funk of Barkfield. Susie married Pete Bergen on July 14, 1956. Mom surrendered her life to Christ Jesus in 1959 at a Jack Wartson crusade and never looked back. Her faith was the strength that saw her through many hardships in her 76 years of life. Mom’s testimony was, knowing God’s redemptive plan and purpose, seeing and valuing things the way God does, loving and hating what he loves and hates. She understood God’s holiness and sin’s awfulness, causing her values and worldview to become radically different from the ways and wisdom of this age. (1 Cor. 2:16). She had a deep and unconditional love for her “family”, her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But her “family” didn’t stop there. She would accept anyone who needed family, to become part of our family. Her deepest desire was that all should become part of the family of God, walking in relationship with her Lord and Savior.
Mom loved to sew. She sewed many of our clothes when we were children, she could alter clothing, recreate fashion or hem pants for her family, she also sewed many quilts and baby blankets. Mom loved to feed anyone who came through her door. Many times she would prepare a meal not knowing if anyone would stop by, but sure enough, just the right person came to share her meal, or she would take a portion down the hall at Fernwood, asking the Lord to show her who needed this meal and there was always a grateful recipient.

In 2003, mom was in a bad car wreck from which her body never fully recovered. These last few weeks of her life were very difficult as she struggled with her breathing and suffered several angina attacks. We respected her choice to stay home and not go to the hospital because she felt she would have to stay too long again and the reality of having to leave her apartment for good and being placed in a personal care home was something she was having great difficulty facing. On April 15th, Judy called her in the morning, mom was gasping for air, and Judy asked her if she should come over but Mom said “No, I’m just going to stay in bed and rest today”. Val decided she would go and see Mom and they had a great visit, but as Val was preparing to go home, Mom asked her not to leave. Soon after, she asked Val to call the ambulance; they came immediately and were familiar with Mom’s case. They quickly loaded her and, in the ambulance, she took two gasps and went unconscious. She was pronounced at 6:20 p.m. We know she is free and celebrating with the King. She has unwrapped her gift of Eternal Life (Romans 6:23)
The family would like to thank Dr. Minnaar , Dr. Porath, the home care staff at Fernwood and the medical staff at Bethesda Hospital for the wonderful care they gave our mother.

The funeral service was held Monday, April 21, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Springs Church, Steinbach, MB with burial at Grunthal Cemetery.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Susie may be made to “Bird River Camping."; c/o Southland Church, Box 219, Steinbach, MB R5G 1M2;
(In memo line: Bird River Camp).

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

As published in The Carillon on Apr 23, 2014