Helen Friesen was born Helena Martens on April 28, 1915 near Warman, Saskatchewan (as a young adult, she dropped the ‘a’ from her name because it sounded old fashioned). She was the 8th of 11 children. Her family was very poor. She lived through the Depression and remembers tasting an orange only once in her childhood . . . it was delicious! From age 8 through 12, she attended German school. Her parents paid a fine for not enrolling her in the newly created English public school. Every March from the age of 8, Helen had to quit school to do housework, babysitting and cooking for other families. When she was 13, she entered public school and finished grades 1 to 4 in one year. Then she began doing housework full time and completed grades 5 to 8 through correspondence.
When she was 18, and working on a dairy farm, she attended a camp revival meeting and accepted Jesus into her heart. Her love for Jesus was reflected in her actions for the rest of her life!
One of the loves of Helen’s life was medicine. She read everything she could find about it and took a correspondence course. In 1943, she enrolled in a practical nursing course offered at Concordia Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After graduating, she worked in Concordia, then was requested to accept a position as nurse in charge in a Warman hospital run by Dr. Wilkins, a former employer. She enjoyed only 3 1/2 years in her nursing career but remembered it vividly and was eternally grateful for the opportunity.
Helen met her handsome prince, Abe, through her friend Kay, Abe’s brother’s wife. They were married on Oct. 5, 1946 and took a one-way trip to BC on their honeymoon. Both of them were thrilled with the fresh fruit that grew in abundance and the mild climate. In their married life, they lived in Haney, Richmond, New Westminster and Clearbrook. Many of the houses they lived in were built by Abe. They had 4 children: Darlene Donna was born in 1947, Vivian Grace in 1949, William Frederick James (Jim) in 1953 and Henry Richard Paul (Paul) in 1956. Abe and Helen also raised their granddaughter, Sharon Noelle, who was born in 1965, from the time she was 3 months old. Abe and Helen attended Central Heights Church for much of their married life.
Abe worked as a professional meat cutter for many years but he loved farming. Together he and Helen grew tomatoes and cucumbers and canned pickles. They marketed and sold the pickles as “Helen’s Homemade Brand” through Woodward’s for several years, but decided to give it up when Woodward’s wanted them to sign a supply contract. In 1958 they purchased a ten-acre farm in Clearbrook. There they grew strawberries and raspberries, and had 1,000 egg layers and a family cow. Helen did many of the farm chores, as well as canning the valued produce from her large vegetable garden. Abe continued to work as a meat cutter for a few years, then trained for janitorial work and served the Abbotsford School District.
Helen was a wonderful homemaker, cooking, canning, cleaning and sewing all her children’s clothing right down to the coats when they were young! She joyfully babysat grandchildren and great grandchildren, even cancelling engagements to ensure that she was available. Dinner was offered to the parents when they returned to pick up their children because she felt they wouldn’t possibly have time to cook. At age 97, she still canned peaches, tomatoes and beans, and baked cookies for her family as Christmas gifts!
Abe and Helen took many trips in vans camperized by Abe once he retired, mostly to Saskatchewan, but also to California and Mexico. Together they worked for the Cancer Society; Abe drove patients and Helen arranged transportation for them. They worked with Helping Hands ministry, too. While Abe baled clothing to go overseas, Helen sewed blankets tirelessly. They also worked with food services at Central Heights Church. Helen credits their friends in the food service ministry with giving her life purpose after Abe passed away on Oct. 6, 1984, one day after their 38th anniversary. Although she had attempted to learn to drive when her family was young, Helen never held a driver’s license. These friends were always willing to pick her up to work with them.
For years Helen had dreamed of visiting the Holy Land and was thrilled when she finally got to take a trip there in 1985. Some highlights for her were visiting Lazarus’ grave, riding a donkey, collecting pinecones and wading in the Dead Sea.
Music was another strong love for Helen. She declared that she was introduced to it at an early age when she went for a walk and heard electrical wires humming overhead. She loved to sing in the Jubilee Choir at Central Heights Church and did so for many years, as long as her voice lasted. Helen also loved handwork and created beautiful patchwork blankets and afghans for all of her family and many friends. One of her passions was politics and she helped out in many campaigns and elections. She was a great supporter of Ed Fast, and was proud to meet Prime Minister Harper at local barbeques. (She had plans to tell him personally what she thought of the recent pension cuts the government had made.) Helen’s yard was a testament to her gardening skills. She encouraged birds to visit and fiercely protected them from marauding neighborhood cats with her BB gun. For years she supported orphans in third world countries through Mission to Children, sometimes as many as 8 at a time! In 2007, she decided to move from her house into an apartment at Evergreen Village. Shortly after that she joined Clearbrook MB Church and thoroughly enjoyed the warm fellowship here. She continued to offer hospitality to others and hosted some pastoral couples for dinner just 2 years ago when she was 96.
Two and a half years ago, Helen’s oldest daughter, Darlene, passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. Helen visited her in Dallas, Texas while she was in hospice care. She bought a double boiler and the ingredients to prepare her daughter’s favourite dish, Floating Island, which was thoroughly enjoyed. She returned a few weeks later and spoke at Darlene’s funeral about the joy of knowing that Darlene had recently accepted Jesus as her Lord! She exhorted others to do the same because it was never too late!
Helen had a mild heart attack when she was 55 but enjoyed overall good health until recently. In March, she suffered a major heart attack and spent over 2 months in the hospital. She often expressed how much she loved the multitude of visits from family and friends while she was there. She was finally able to leave the hospital and move into Menno Home on Friday, May 17th. The staff were loving and friendly and she was so happy to be there. Early in the morning on Monday, May 20th, Jesus called her home and she slipped peacefully into heaven in her sleep.
Helen was predeceased by her husband Abe, her daughter Darlene and son-in-law Tom, and 9 brothers and sisters. She is survived by her 104 year old sister Jesse Neudorf, her daughter Vivian (Gerald) Froese, son Jim (Chris) Friesen, son Paul (Anna-Marie) Friesen and granddaughter Sharon (Colin) Reimer. She also leaves behind 11 additional grandchildren and 14 1/2 great-grandchildren. Now she is rejoicing and singing praises to her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
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