HILDA FRIESEN

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HILDA FRIESEN May 18, 1910 - November 4, 2000 Peacefully, following a four-month illness, Hilda Friesen of Winkler passed away at the Morden Hospital on November 4. She was 90 years old. She leaves to mourn her sons, Gary of Winkler, Ronald and his wife Gail of Winnipeg, and Sheldon of Winnipeg; also two brothers, Dr. Leonard Penner and his wife Joan of Calgary, and Dr. Harold Penner and his wife Joan of Victoria. She was predeceased by her husband Abe in November, 1997; her parents, Gustav and Helena Penner; two sisters, (Ella and Edna) and three brothers, (John, Walter and Hugo). Mom was born in the Edenberg district of Gretna. Following her graduation from Winkler High School, she worked as a domestic housekeeper for several years before earning a public school teaching certificate. She taught school in Horndean for three years before marrying Abram Jacob Friesen on June 17, 1939 in Plum Coulee. They had three sons. A high point of their marriage was the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1989. Mom was a warm, outgoing person with many friends. She was a skilled seamstress and could sew anything from clothing to drapes. Mom loved to teach and shared her skills with hundreds of girls and women, both in private lessons and later at the Garden Valley Collegiate Institute in Winkler as a Home Economics teacher. She was an accomplished homemaker and took pride in winning many prizes at local fairs for her sewing, canning and baking exhibits. Mom was deeply devoted to her church congregation, Grace Mennonite in Winkler, where she taught Sunday School for many years. She held strong, idealistic values and had a firm sense of what she believed in and what the right thing to do was. Mom lived a rich internal and external life for all her 90 years. She is fondly remembered and deeply missed. The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the many home care workers, care givers and volunteers who served Mom, as well as to the doctors and staff at the Winkler and Morden hospitals where she spent her last months. Also, very special thanks go to the people of Grace Mennonite Church for supporting Mom lovingly and devotedly, especially during her final decline. A funeral service will be held at the Grace Mennonite Church in Winkler at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 8. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Mennonite Church, 1350 Pembina Ave., Box 1616, Winkler, MB R6W 4B5. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy, 4:7) Wiebe Funeral Home Winkler in care of arrangements; 204-325-4201.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 07, 2000