Anna (Annie) Driedger (nee Friesen)
1921 – 2015
Our wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Annie Driedger passed away peacefully, in the early evening of Saturday August 23, 2015 at the Salem Personal Care Home with her family at her side.
She leaves to mourn her passing her beloved husband, David Driedger, one son, Brian (Lori) of Winkler, their children, Mikaela, Kiera and Chloe, one daughter, Carol of Medicine Hat, Alberta, her children, Amy, Lance and Raven as well as five great grandchildren. Annie is also survived by one brother, Abe (Dorothy), three sisters, Mary Braun, Helen Wieler and Margaret Elias. She was predeceased by her sister, Elizabeth Friesen and brother-in-law, Abe Friesen, brother, Jake Friesen and sister-in-law, Anne, sister, Tina Peters and brother-in-law, Abram Peters, brothers-in-law, Ben Braun, Jake Wieler and Ed Elias.
Anna Friesen was born to Katharina (nee Hiebert) and Abram N. Friesen on May 19, 1921 on the family farm in the Glen Cross District. In November of 1924, her family relocated to the village of Reinland. This was where mom attended school which was cut short due to the many duties required at home. She was baptized on the confession of her faith on June 4, 1941 in the Reinland Sommerfelder church. She married the love of her life, David Driedger on July 18, 1943. They celebrated 72 years of marriage together this past summer. The first years of their married life was spent living with mom’s parents in Reinland. During the war years, dad enlisted as a CO and then mom and dad located to different towns working for different people. In 1948, mom and dad joined a large group of Mennonites that relocated to Paraguay. After eight years they returned to Winkler where they raised their family and she spent the rest of her life there. Mom spent her early married years working at the local creamery grading eggs. She also spent some time working at Bethel Hospital. In 1963 and 1966, they were granted the adoption of their two children. A very joyous time in mom and dad’s lives. Mom spent these crucial years as a homemaker always there for her children making sure they were well taken care of and made sure that a strong Christian foundation was built in their lives. In the early 1970’s, mom underwent a major surgery on her neck to correct a pinched nerve. The surgery was unsuccessful and she dealt with a burning sensation in her arm for most of her life. Mother spent time volunteering at the local MCC store as well as helping out the Harvest Maids. She decided to get her driver’s license late in life and then spent many years doing homecare. It would be ironic that she would need that home care to take care of her in her last years. Mom loved her gardening especially her flowers. She could never have enough. There was always room for one more plant or one more pot. She loved her family and was more than willing to help them whenever she could. Growing up in an era where times were tough reflected her need to spend countless hours canning and freezing everything from chokecherries, blueberries, carrots, beans, watermelon, etc. There was always an abundant amount of food in mom’s pantry. She also spent many hours sewing quilts and other blankets. Many were given to charity.
Mom and dad moved from their home on 13th Street to Crocus Estates in May 2012 due to mother’s failing health. Since mom had begun to show definite signs of dementia and poor mobility, we did not feel safe leaving her at the house on her own. Mom lived with dad at Crocus for two years until it became too difficult for dad to care for her. She was admitted to Boundary Trails Health Center on October 25, 2014. In January 2015, she was transferred to the hospital in Crystal City waiting for her placement at the Salem Personal Care Home in Winkler. She entered Salem Home on April 15, 2015. Dad faithfully visited her every day and helped her with her meals. On July 18, mom fell and broke her left hip. She was admitted to hospital for surgery. She seemed to make it through surgery and was on her way to recovery. Then on Friday August 14, she suffered a stroke which paralyzed her left side, affected her ability to swallow and communicate. On Sunday August 23, her breathing became more difficult for her. The family gathered in her room, enjoyed a meal together in her room and no sooner had we completed the meal she peacefully took her last breath. Mom’s wish had been granted. She wished to be able to pass away in her sleep. We love you mom. We know you are walking on streets of gold free of dementia and no aches, pains and sorrow. The family.
Funeral service at 2:00 p.m. on Friday August 28, 2015 at the Winkler Reinland Mennonite Church with interment at the Church Cemetery in Schanzenfeld. A big thank-you goes out to the staff at Evergreen Unit in Salem Home, Nurses and doctors at Boundary Trails Health Centre and Crystal City Hospital, all Homecare staff who took care of mom in Crocus Estates. The family would also like to extend a big thank you to Bishop David Penner and people at the Reinlander Church and Wiebe Funeral Home who helped with all aspects of the service, as well as family friends and relatives for condolences, prayers, and meals.
Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler
In care of arrangements
wiebefuneralhomes.com