AGATHA REMPEL (FRIESEN)

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AGATHA REMPEL (nee FRIESEN) After a courageous battle with cancer and the effects of a crippling stroke, Agatha Friesen Rempels spirit took flight to the Realms of Glory. This occurred on June 23, 2003, a month after her 81st birthday. She was born to Isaac Peter Friesen and Maria Mierau Friesen on May 28, 1922 in Naunowka, Berdgjansk, Ukraine. In 1925, at the age of three, she accompanied her parents to Arnaud, MB. The following year, she, with her parents, her brother John and sister Mary, relocated to a 160 acre farm southwest of the Hamlet of Ste. Elizabeth. There she grew up with her four brothers and sister Mary. There were summer and winter sports that she enjoyed with her friends and neighbours. Even with the milking, garden work, sugar beet weeding, large corn field to keep clean, life was fun. When her Mom became seriously ill because of her high blood pressure and her having left her parents and siblings in the Ukraine, the whole family did its best to help her. At 14, Agatha was forced to quit school to run the household and help with milking, laundry and cooking. With Marys help, two years later thing eased up a bit. She, the mother hen together with Mary, cared for her Mom until 1946 when her Mom went to meet her maker and Saviour. Meanwhile, she had attended Bible School at the Elder Peter Enns dwelling. She was baptized by him at the Lichtenauer Church in 1941. She was also able to take sewing classes under the supervision of Helen Krueger in Steinbach. Thus after accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, she was ready for the real world of work and the service in the life that followed. Her mother taught her and the family to sing the lovely German songs, Weil Ich Jesu Schaeflein Bin, Dort Ueber Jenen Sternen Meer Dorst ist Ein Schoenes Land and others that nudged them to depend on God for guidance. No wonder that Agathas favourite Psalms were Psalm 23 and Psalm 121. Both refer to the source and help she too experienced while life flowed on. Right now, she is finally released from the grip of the cancer that truly devoured her strength, energy and capacity to live actively and joyfully here on planet earth. Agatha will be greatly missed by Helmut, her husband of 42 years; Albert her son, and Joanne his girlfriend. Her siblings, John and Betty, Mary and Corny Esau, Peter and Tina, Jack and Anne, and George and Helen; plus sister-in-law Anna and Heinz Cornies will also miss her. Also, she leaves behind their families plus nieces and nephews and their families. Funeral service will be held on Friday, June 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church, 926 Garfield St., Winnipeg. Viewing will take place Thursday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. at Klassen Funeral Chapel, as well as prior to the service on Friday. Fare you well Agatha, wife, mother, sister and friend, until we meet again in the land where tears, grief and evil have no place. KLASSEN Funeral Chapel 1897 Henderson - N. of McIvor - 338-0331

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 26, 2003