Martha Friesen (Nee Schmidt)

1941 ~ 2013

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our wife, mom, grandma and great grandma, Martha Friesen on Sunday, October 6, 2013 at Health Science Centre.  With her family at her side, she went to meet her Lord and Saviour.

She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Norman, children Pam (Walter), Sandra (Dennis) and Rhonda (fiancé Doug), grandchildren Stacie, Adam, Amanda (Colin), Alexandra, Cody, Zachary, Sydney, Drew, Kennedy and Noah, and great granddaughter Aria.  She is also survived by her mother Susanna Heinrichs, two brothers, two sisters, brothers and sisters in-law, and their families as well as numerous friends.  She was predeceased by her son Gary (1997), her father Peter W. Schmidt (1978), her in-laws Martin Friesen (2001) and Mary Friesen (2012), and several in-laws.

Martha was born in Altona and raised in the Somerfeld area.   She attended school up to grade 8 in Somerfeld.  She spent her summers hoeing sugar beets and helping out on the farm.  At the age of 17 she moved into Altona and began working at the town hospital in the kitchen. She met Norman and they were married in 1961.  Pam was born in 1962, and was soon followed by Sandra in 1963.  Gary was born in 1966 and Rhonda came along in 1971.  They moved to Winnipeg from Altona in 1966.  They lived in Winnipeg until 1976 when they moved the whole family to the town of Manitou to start their own business.  During that time she was a very busy homemaker and actively involved in the church, singing in the choir, attending Bible studies and the church ladies group.  They moved back to Winnipeg in 1987 where for the first time she sought outside employment.  She worked at Woolco which eventually became Walmart.  She was looking forward to her 20th anniversary at Walmart when she became ill and was forced to retire in 2007.  Mom and dad enjoyed camping and travelling and were able to take a trip to the east coast with their 5th wheel and later on an Alaskan cruise.  Over the last several years mom has battled extensively with a disease involving her liver and has been in and out of the hospital.  She will be missed dearly.  Gone but never forgotten.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m on Friday, October 11 in the Winnipeg Evangelical Free Church, 500 Lagimodiere Blvd., Winnipeg. She will be laid to rest beside her son prior to the service at 11:30 a.m. in Mennonite Memorial Gardens on Symington Road off the South Perimeter.  A viewing will be held at 7:00 p.m. followed by a devotional at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 10 also at the church.

The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff of St. Boniface Hospital and Health Science Centre, to Drs. Minuk and Schellenberg, for all the care they provided and the compassion shown over the last several years.  Thank you also to the homecare attendants who made Martha’s life a little easier.  The support and prayers from family, friends and the church have meant so much to us and are so appreciated.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Martha’s memory may be made to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com

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