Obituary of Maria Friesen

BIOGRAPHY FRIESEN ~ Maria Friesen passed away peacefully at the Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the age of 89 years. Maria will be sadly missed by: her nine children: Ed and Anne; Ernest and Sue; Violet and Peter Derksen; Richard and Irma; Bob and Bev; June and Nick Dyck; Cal and Marian; Marti and Blaire Rustulka; Judith Friesen; 24 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren. The funeral service was conducted from Southridge Community Church on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Brad Berkan officiating. The eulogy was given by Ed Friesen and Violet Derksen. Special music was provided by Maria's granddaughters singing "Be Thou My Vision" and "Sweet Hour of Prayer". The hymns sung were "Under His Wings" and "Blessed Assurance" accompanied on the piano by Daryl Amundrud. Honorary pallbearers were Edward Friesen, Ernest Friesen, Richard Friesen, Robert Friesen, Calvin Friesen and John Braun. Active pallbearers were Glen Friesen, Curtis Friesen, Kevin Friesen, Brian Dyck, Graeme Friesen and Sheldon Rustulka. Interment took place in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. EULOGY - delivered by Ed Friesen Maria Klassen was born June 24, 1919 near Schoenfeld, Saskatchewan the 11th of 16 children, 5 of which had predeceased her, dying of childhood diseases. Her parents purchased a home in the village when she was young where her father carpentered and tin-smithed for the community. One of her earliest memories was of the door between the house and the barn which was one large complex in the villages of those days. Another of her memories was when her sister Katherine died when Maria was about 6 or 7 years old. This was at the time of the diphtheria epidemic in Saskatchewan. She attended various schools in her younger years, both English and German, but her schooling was sporadic as it was for so many children in those early years. At 10, she went out to work in various households doing the chores that a young woman often did in homes at that time. During her teen years there were many youth activities at her parents' home and it was during this time that she met a young man, Abe Friesen and courting began. Courting then was very different from modern days, especially in that young people might not see each other for days and sometimes weeks or months at a time. Abe and Maria met in 1936 and were married in November of 1938. Their honeymoon consisted of a ride in a farmer's truck that would take them to their home where they would work for the farmer. From the time of their marriage there were many moves. First from Swift Current area to Peesane, Crooked River, then back to Swift Current. From there the Friesen family move to Coaldale in fall of 1947. By this time there were 6 children. Then the move went to Vauxhall on to a farm and now there were 8 children and became 9. By this time several of the older sons and daughters were branching out and finding partners of their own, so the farm was sold and the family moved to Vauxhall itself. Here they lived in town at first and then to an acreage outside of town where they did some mini-farming. When the PFRA closed shop the family that remained at home moved to Jasper and they resided there for several years, and then retired and moved on. Their retirement was spent mostly between the Lloydminster area and Lethbridge. In Lethbridge, they lived in a suite provided by their son Ernest and his wife Sue. They lived there for about 10 years. Their latter years were spent in a lodge in Lloydminster. Abram passed away on March 7, 2005 after suffering a stroke 1 year earlier. Maria continued living in the Lodge till her passing on May 13, 2009 after a short bout with bronchial pneumonia. She is predeceased by her parents, her husband, many brothers and sisters as well as many brothers and sisters-in-law. Leaving to miss her, but celebrating her move to a new and glorious home are 9 children with their spouses, 24 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren for a total of 111 descendants and spouses. MEMORIES - delivered by Violet Derksen (nee Friesen) It seems to me that there are usually more specifics given at Father's funerals than Mother's and I wonder if that is because Mother's are always there and do all the day-to-day things. Those are the things I have gotten the most feed back on when I asked for input on Mom. When she was a teenager and Dad arrived in the village to work she saw him come down the street and thought "That is the man I will marry someday". I remember Mom sitting at the sewing machine and singing hymns as she sewed. She sewed not only for her children but her grandchildren as well. Many of the grandchildren remember the warmth and smells in Mom's kitchen. Smells that still bring back memories. Saturday nights were sunflower seed fests - In those days you were allowed to spit the shells on the floor. Mom and Dad always travelled with hard candies in the van - usually raspberry. Some of the best chicken and chili came out of Mom's pot. One time Cal was supposed to kill a chicken and as I hear it , she had to chase him with the wire (that was used to hook the chicken by the leg to catch it). Then there was sitting around the table playing yahtzee and chicken and Mom mostly winning. There was always stillness and quietude at breakfast as white bread was toasted and the "Daily Bread" read. One grandchild remembers the look of joy on Grandma's face when they arrived in their yard. Most of all, Mom loved her Lord, her family and her Abe. Donations in memory of Maria may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.