Contact Us / Location
330-18th Street North
Brandon, MB R7A 7P3
Phone: 204-727-0330
Fax: 204-725-0971
Anita Friesen
In Memory of
Anita Rose
Friesen
1952 - 2019
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Memories Chapel
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
View full message >>>

Obituary for Anita Rose Friesen

Anita Rose  Friesen
Anita Friesen of Wawanesa, Manitoba, passed away on September 1, 2019 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre at the age of 66 years. She is survived by her beloved husband of 48 years, Neil, four children, nine grandchildren, and two foster children: Dan (Julie) Friesen and their children Aliyah, Barrett, and Tiana; Janet (Chris) Hamilton and their children Donovan and Cassandra; Jeff Friesen; Daryl (Jolene) Friesen and their children Lael, Titus, Lewis, and Dannah; Jason (Yvonne) Rozanski; and Clayton Laviolette. She is also survived by six siblings: Kathy Driedger, Shirley (Frank) Driedger, Margi (Dennis) Friesen, Dave Driedger, Rick (Emily) Driedger, Ken (Sheryl) Driedger, as well as her many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her parents Ed and Mary Driedger and an infant sibling.

Anita Rose was born on September 7, 1952 in Morden, Manitoba and was the oldest of seven children. She started school in Morden and then moved with her family to Dominion City in 1960. She graduated from the high school in Emerson. She grew up on the family farm and was well versed in the art of farm life, including raising chickens and ducks, driving the tractor, and picking bales with her sisters. She gave her life to the Lord at an early age and was baptized in her late teens. After graduation she worked as a camp counselor at a Canadian Sunday School Mission camp for the summer and did a few weeks of helping with Vacation Bible School. She also worked at A& W for a time and was a nanny for a boy with cerebral palsy. She met Cornelius P. Friesen at a youth retreat at Steinbach Bible College in 1969 and they were married on August 14, 1971. They lived in Winnipeg until the summer of 1972 when they moved to a trailer on Neil's parents' dairy farm by Wawanesa. Here they joined Neil's brother Peter, and his wife Helene, in taking over the dairy operation. This arrangement continued for two years until Peter and Helene moved on to other ventures. Anita and Neil's son Dan was born in 1972, Janet followed in 1975, Jeff in 1978 (after a 12 month pregnancy!), and Daryl in 1981. Foster sons Jason and Clayton entered the family in 1985 and 1990 respectively. Neil suffered a heart attack in 1994 and the dairy quota was sold in September of 1995 after which they turned their efforts to raising beef cows. In 2012 they sold the farm to Janet and Chris and built a beautiful home across the highway up on the hill where they could enjoy the sunrises and sunsets. Anita served faithfully in the Treesbank Community Church through children and youth programs, Vacation Bible School, singing on a worship team, and innumerable prayers and notes of encouragement. She also enjoyed volunteering at Bible camp in the summers as her children were growing up as well as traveling to disaster areas to help provide relief through Mennonite Disaster Service in both Canada and the US. In fact, most of the traveling Anita and Neil did was for MDS work, which they were both passionate about, but they also made time for a few pleasure trips - one to B.C. with their children, one to Alaska as a couple in celebration of their 40th anniversary, and one to Belize with Jeff. Anita spent a lot of her time over the years volunteering at the Brandon MCC Thrift Shop and made many dear friends there. She was dedicated to providing abundant food for her family and any visitors that may have arrived, announced or otherwise, and she usually had a large vegetable garden. She also kept laying hens for many years and enjoyed building relationships with her egg customers. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She had a variety of hobbies, including her love of horses, fishing, camping, and playing games. She was an unbelievably generous person and was always looking for ways to help others. She was spontaneous and hardworking. She battled both anxiety and depression and chose every day to lean on her heavenly Father; her determination to do so is a priceless legacy.

The Funeral Service will be held at Treesbank Community Church, Treesbank, Manitoba on Friday, September 6, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Kenton Penner officiating. Interment will be at Millford Cemetery with a reception to follow at Treesbank Community Church. Donations in memory of Anita may be made to One Hope Canada, #6 - 875 Gateway Rd, Winnipeg, MB R2K 3L1.

"Until we meet again . . ."