Vernon Peter Friesen

Vernon Peter Friesen was born in Steinbach, Manitoba on February 6, 1931 to Anna (Toews) and John G. Friesen. He had an older brother, Lawrence, and younger siblings John Norman and Elizabeth. They grew up on a farm where they all learned to milk cows amidst a variety of daily chores.

One of his favourite memories of his childhood was on a Saturday morning, packing a lunch and putting on snowshoes to go exploring in the woods. He also spent many hours playing hockey out on a frozen pond. He had an adventurous element to his nature even then.

He enjoyed hiking, canoeing and outdoor pursuits for many of his younger year; including tacking Mt Baker with his good friend Jack Evans.

The family moved to BC in 1949 and settled on Ross Rd in Abbotsford. Vern and brother LJ started their own electrical business called Friesen Electric in 1950. Vern joined LJ doing the wiring after completing his certification at BCIT in 1952. Friesen Electric has been mainstay there on South Fraser Way (Abbotsford) ever since. His career as an electrical contractor was a big part of his life. Days were spent managing his crew, interacting with customers and estimating pricing for upcoming jobs. He found a lot of satisfaction in a job well done and in helping people along the way.

In 1969, a lady named Elfrieda Sawatzky came to work at the office of Friesen Electric. After working there for a few months she learned that Vern was single. The following Valentine’s Day she left a Valentine note on his desk. She signed it very cryptically and it was supposed to be a secret who the admirer was. However, it didn’t take much detective work for him to figure it out; and this helped to give shy Vern the courage to ask her out on a date. The rest as they say is history. Vern and Frieda

were married at South Abbotsford church Sept 25, 1970.

Their daughter, Cynthia Adele was born January 6, 1973.

Just prior to getting married, Vern requested believer’s baptism at South Otter MB church in Aldergrove. The family attended South Otter for many years to come and had many close friends among the families of this church. Vern was a youth Sunday school teacher for several years as well as serving on the church board, and acting as church secretary for a part of that time. Frieda was, of course, active in children’s ministry teaching Pioneer Girls and Awana Clubs.,

Frieda was diagnosed with lung cancer in the fall of 2004 and she passed away as a result of this cancer in June of 2005. Vern was diagnosed with glaucoma shortly after this time. Glaucoma is a degenerative eye disease and it was responsible for the gradual and progressive loss of his eyesight. For a long time was able to see shapes and outlines; he mostly saw a white snowy foggy and once commented that he was thankful it wasn’t dark. Although, clearly, he experienced days of being discouraged with the loss of sight and ability but he rarely complained. He accepted his reality and instead focused on finding a way with God’s help to do the things he could do. He sold the business and ‘retired’ in approx. 2008 but continued with various business ventures. He continued to read email and market charts at a super- sized font until about a year ago.

Cynthia married Keith Hebert in March 2008 and Vern was there to walk her down the aisle. They had several trips together even after her marriage. It had always been Vern’s retirement plan to travel and see the world. Thus there was a trip to Australia in 2006, Cuba in 2010, Mexico in ….. and Costa Rica in 2013. He also had two trips to Palm Springs, California with friends and the help of a caregiver which he

thoroughly enjoyed. He liked to have the sunshine, new experiences and meeting new friends along the way.

Vern had two main hobbies; gardening and the stock market. Anyone who visited his home on Sugarpine St would be invited to come tour the garden. There were always several fruit trees, several varieties of grapes, in addition to the spacious vegetable garden. He was famous for the size of the beefsteak tomatoes from the tiny home-made greenhouse. As the years went by, the garden got smaller but never completely disappeared. It was a mainstay way to relax and take a break from business of office demands to a completely different kind of growth and productivity. He also did a lot of stock trading was involved in an investment club at times and always kept an eye on Big Charts for the days ups and downs.

Vern lived (with the assistance) in his home at Sugarpine St until it was sold in Feb. of 2021. This marked 50 years since it was built and he and Frieda first moved in the spring of 1971. Now age 90 and without his eyesight, he realized that a full house was becoming too much for him to manage. The next two years saw a series of moves and adjustments due to changing and increasing health care needs. He was first went to Menno Place (Terrace West), then to Chilliwack with Keith and Cynthia for the winter, then to Tabor Court and finally to The Oxford Home for Seniors.

Vern passed away on Feb. 26, 2023 of a brain hemorrhage. He passed peacefully into the presence of His Lord Jesus and was at rest. He is now walking the streets of glory with his wife, Frieda, and enjoying seeing the sights with his restored vision. He will be missed here by the family and friends he leaves behind.