Shirley Anne Friesen (nee Morgan)
May 25, 1937 - January 11, 2025
Shirley Anne Friesen, beloved wife and mother, passed away suddenly January 11, 2025 at Boundary Trails Health Centre. She was born May 25, 1937 in Carman, Manitoba to George and Helen Morgan (nee McMaster).
Shirley and Menno were married on May 19, 1962 and for 59 years enjoyed farm life and travel together. Shirley lived her early life in Carman. After her two older sisters, Vivian and Georgina had married, Shirley lived with her Mother in Winnipeg. She worked at many jobs in her younger years, and was working at Canada Packers when she met Menno. She worked until she had her daughter Lori Anne in 1965. They lived and worked in Winnipeg and farmed on the weekends for 3 years until they moved to the farm at Dallas, Manitoba in 1968.
Shirley struggled with extreme hearing loss much of her adult life, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying travel, family, nature, and special pets - her house cats Pinky and Snow, and Fergus, the Golden Retriever. As a young adult she began her travels by taking the Queen Mary to Scotland with her Mom and Aunt Bella to visit family. Menno and Shirley travelled on the truck all over Canada and the States, with many stops - one notable one at Graceland. They went on many vacations, such as Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal, Iceland and the United Kingdom. Menno and Shirley thought nothing of jumping in the car to visit family and friends far and wide.
One of the biggest adventures was moving to the farm at Dallas. Looking back, she said it was one of the best times of her life. She had wonderful memories and great stories of when we lived “in the bush” from 1968-1975. We moved to the farm at Elm Creek in 1975, and Shirley was able to age in place there, watering her flowers by the house and enjoying the deck that Menno built for them.
Shirley was predeceased by her husband Menno (2021), her parents, George and Helen, her sister Vivian and brother in law Victor, parents in law, Nick & Helena Friesen, sisters/brothers in law: Susan Melvin, Frances Friesen, Abe Friesen, David & Doris Friesen, Alvin Janzen, and Frank Swark. Shirley is survived by her daughter Lori, son-in-law Chris, Skylar and Andre, Brady, sister Georgina Swark, sisters and brothers in law: Marie Friesen Pauls (John), John and Mari Friesen, Margaret Janzen, Don Melvin, Leonard Friesen, and many nieces and nephews.
Thanks to Joyce, Hailey, Georgina, Donald and Bruce for visiting at the hospital and to all friends and family whose support was truly felt. A huge thank you to all the health care staff from Southern Health paramedics, and the Emergency, Surgery and SCU staff at the Boundary Trails Hospital. Your care and compassion for my Mom was exceptional and is profoundly appreciated. Thank you to Dr. Braun for her care over the years. Much love and appreciation to Chris, without whom she would not have been able to remain on the farm and whose suppers she loved the best.
Donations may be made to:
● Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation (Winkler), https://www.bthcfoundation.com/
● Central Speech and Hearing or the Central Speech and Hearing Centre (Winnipeg): https://www.centralspeech.ca/contact-us
May 25, 1937 - January 11, 2025
Shirley Anne Friesen, beloved wife and mother, passed away suddenly January 11, 2025 at Boundary Trails Health Centre. She was born May 25, 1937 in Carman, Manitoba to George and Helen Morgan (nee McMaster).
Shirley and Menno were married on May 19, 1962 and for 59 years enjoyed farm life and travel together. Shirley lived her early life in Carman. After her two older sisters, Vivian and Georgina had married, Shirley lived with her Mother in Winnipeg. She worked at many jobs in her younger years, and was working at Canada Packers when she met Menno. She worked until she had her daughter Lori Anne in 1965. They lived and worked in Winnipeg and farmed on the weekends for 3 years until they moved to the farm at Dallas, Manitoba in 1968.
Shirley struggled with extreme hearing loss much of her adult life, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying travel, family, nature, and special pets - her house cats Pinky and Snow, and Fergus, the Golden Retriever. As a young adult she began her travels by taking the Queen Mary to Scotland with her Mom and Aunt Bella to visit family. Menno and Shirley travelled on the truck all over Canada and the States, with many stops - one notable one at Graceland. They went on many vacations, such as Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal, Iceland and the United Kingdom. Menno and Shirley thought nothing of jumping in the car to visit family and friends far and wide.
One of the biggest adventures was moving to the farm at Dallas. Looking back, she said it was one of the best times of her life. She had wonderful memories and great stories of when we lived “in the bush” from 1968-1975. We moved to the farm at Elm Creek in 1975, and Shirley was able to age in place there, watering her flowers by the house and enjoying the deck that Menno built for them.
Shirley was predeceased by her husband Menno (2021), her parents, George and Helen, her sister Vivian and brother in law Victor, parents in law, Nick & Helena Friesen, sisters/brothers in law: Susan Melvin, Frances Friesen, Abe Friesen, David & Doris Friesen, Alvin Janzen, and Frank Swark. Shirley is survived by her daughter Lori, son-in-law Chris, Skylar and Andre, Brady, sister Georgina Swark, sisters and brothers in law: Marie Friesen Pauls (John), John and Mari Friesen, Margaret Janzen, Don Melvin, Leonard Friesen, and many nieces and nephews.
Thanks to Joyce, Hailey, Georgina, Donald and Bruce for visiting at the hospital and to all friends and family whose support was truly felt. A huge thank you to all the health care staff from Southern Health paramedics, and the Emergency, Surgery and SCU staff at the Boundary Trails Hospital. Your care and compassion for my Mom was exceptional and is profoundly appreciated. Thank you to Dr. Braun for her care over the years. Much love and appreciation to Chris, without whom she would not have been able to remain on the farm and whose suppers she loved the best.
Donations may be made to:
● Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation (Winkler), https://www.bthcfoundation.com/
● Central Speech and Hearing or the Central Speech and Hearing Centre (Winnipeg): https://www.centralspeech.ca/contact-us