On Monday, August 6, 2024, God granted our mother’s desire to be “absent from the body and present with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:8. Katherine Friesen (nee Banman) passed away in the morning hours at The Foyer in Notre Dame after a brave battle with cancer.
Born on July 27, 1943 in Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, Mom was the sixth of nine children born to Heinrich & Helena Banman. She was raised in the village of Blumheim, which was a short buggy ride (or long walk) from the village of Burwalde, where a young man by the name of George Friesen was living. They met at a gathering of young people, and he immediately caught her eye. It didn’t take long for him to come calling on her, and they soon married and started a family of their own.
Mom and Dad had six children before Dad fulfilled his vision of moving his family to Canada to provide a different life for his wife and children. Their first home on their arrival in Canada was a very humble house in Greenfarm, Manitoba. They moved a few times before settling into a home of their own on 3rd Street in Winkler. Eventually Dad built a new house on Parkmeadow Drive, and Mom was able to put her dream house together to her liking. But it didn’t matter where they lived. From their first humble home to her final home on earth, she always put her heart into making every home as clean and beautiful and welcoming as she could.
Mom and Dad worked hard to integrate into their new surroundings, taking English classes in the evening and then working on their homework together at the kitchen table. Mom eventually took a nurse’s aide course in order to begin her career at Salem Home in Winkler. This is where Mom’s caring and compassionate nature really shone. Of all the jobs she held, the one she spoke of consistently was her time at Salem Home. She loved not only her job, but also her co-workers and especially the residents. Her heart was big enough to make room for anyone and everyone who crossed her path, and hugs were in plentiful supply for whomever was willing to receive one.
There was no such thing as idle time for Mom. She was blessed with an abundance of creativity and curiosity. Besides working and making sure her home was always clean and tidy and her family well fed and clothed, in her “spare” time Mom kept busy learning new creative skills. She was an excellent seamstress, making many of her girls’ dresses in their younger years, as well as a few wedding dresses. She also learned knitting, crocheting, pottery, hat making, cake decorating, and anything else that caught her fancy.
Throughout her life, Mom had many challenges to overcome. But she was a fighter. She did not allow her health issues or life’s trials to define her, nor did she let them rob her of her faith in and dependence on God. Life was lonely for Mom after Dad passed away and he was no longer by her side to talk to and share life with. But she found refuge and strength in reading the Scriptures and in prayer. This is also how Mom dealt with her cancer diagnosis. She faced it with the assurance that God does all things well, and she always started her day with her Bible in hand.
Mom is survived by her children: Helen Neufeld, Cornel Friesen (Joy), Nettie Klassen (John), Tina Neufeld (Frank), Mary Thiessen (Randy), Margaret Fehr (Art) as well as 26 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She is also survived by 3 sisters and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband George in 2021 after almost 58 years of marriage, three brothers (two in early childhood) and two sisters.
The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at Boundary Trails Health Centre and The Foyer in Notre Dame for the exceptional care they provided for Mom. A special thank you as well to all those who came to visit Mom while she was in the hospital and then in the care home. She treasured those visits. Thanks also to Wiebe Funeral Homes, Pastor Art Wiebe, and everyone at Winkler Sommerfeld Church that was involved with the funeral. We would like to express our appreciation as well to our friends and family for the love and care we’ve been shown through your prayers, visits, phone calls, messages of support, flowers and cards.
Born on July 27, 1943 in Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, Mom was the sixth of nine children born to Heinrich & Helena Banman. She was raised in the village of Blumheim, which was a short buggy ride (or long walk) from the village of Burwalde, where a young man by the name of George Friesen was living. They met at a gathering of young people, and he immediately caught her eye. It didn’t take long for him to come calling on her, and they soon married and started a family of their own.
Mom and Dad had six children before Dad fulfilled his vision of moving his family to Canada to provide a different life for his wife and children. Their first home on their arrival in Canada was a very humble house in Greenfarm, Manitoba. They moved a few times before settling into a home of their own on 3rd Street in Winkler. Eventually Dad built a new house on Parkmeadow Drive, and Mom was able to put her dream house together to her liking. But it didn’t matter where they lived. From their first humble home to her final home on earth, she always put her heart into making every home as clean and beautiful and welcoming as she could.
Mom and Dad worked hard to integrate into their new surroundings, taking English classes in the evening and then working on their homework together at the kitchen table. Mom eventually took a nurse’s aide course in order to begin her career at Salem Home in Winkler. This is where Mom’s caring and compassionate nature really shone. Of all the jobs she held, the one she spoke of consistently was her time at Salem Home. She loved not only her job, but also her co-workers and especially the residents. Her heart was big enough to make room for anyone and everyone who crossed her path, and hugs were in plentiful supply for whomever was willing to receive one.
There was no such thing as idle time for Mom. She was blessed with an abundance of creativity and curiosity. Besides working and making sure her home was always clean and tidy and her family well fed and clothed, in her “spare” time Mom kept busy learning new creative skills. She was an excellent seamstress, making many of her girls’ dresses in their younger years, as well as a few wedding dresses. She also learned knitting, crocheting, pottery, hat making, cake decorating, and anything else that caught her fancy.
Throughout her life, Mom had many challenges to overcome. But she was a fighter. She did not allow her health issues or life’s trials to define her, nor did she let them rob her of her faith in and dependence on God. Life was lonely for Mom after Dad passed away and he was no longer by her side to talk to and share life with. But she found refuge and strength in reading the Scriptures and in prayer. This is also how Mom dealt with her cancer diagnosis. She faced it with the assurance that God does all things well, and she always started her day with her Bible in hand.
Mom is survived by her children: Helen Neufeld, Cornel Friesen (Joy), Nettie Klassen (John), Tina Neufeld (Frank), Mary Thiessen (Randy), Margaret Fehr (Art) as well as 26 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. She is also survived by 3 sisters and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband George in 2021 after almost 58 years of marriage, three brothers (two in early childhood) and two sisters.
The family would like to thank the nurses and doctors at Boundary Trails Health Centre and The Foyer in Notre Dame for the exceptional care they provided for Mom. A special thank you as well to all those who came to visit Mom while she was in the hospital and then in the care home. She treasured those visits. Thanks also to Wiebe Funeral Homes, Pastor Art Wiebe, and everyone at Winkler Sommerfeld Church that was involved with the funeral. We would like to express our appreciation as well to our friends and family for the love and care we’ve been shown through your prayers, visits, phone calls, messages of support, flowers and cards.