Mrs. Ida Fried

Ida was born to Edward and Mathilda (nee Abel) Sailer on August 15, 1936 in the village of Wiesental (today: Novokalcheve), Ukraine. Wiesental was a close knit farming community, like many others in the Odessa region that were settled by people of German heritage. Wiesental was a relatively new community at the time, started by colonists from Johannestal.

During harvest time in 1937, the Russian communists came to the Sailer farm and abducted Ida’s father while working in the fields; he was never seen again. These abductions happened over and over again in the countryside, with many, many thousands of innocent fathers and grandfathers abducted and sent to gulags and/or faced the firing squad. The impact was devastating, leaving almost all families fatherless. Ida was a one year old; she grew up without a father. A short time after the loss of Ida’s father, Mathilda took her children Albert and Ida, and moved to Gnadenfeld (Neikowe), Ukraine, where Mathilda had the support of her family (those in the Abel family).

For a short period of time during the war, the German Army occupied much of the Ukraine. During this time the villages in the area had some relative stability and safety, and the children could go to school. Eventually, as the war progressed, the Russians advanced to push the German Army out, leaving an impending danger to the German speaking people in the villages. By orders from the commanders of the German Army, all were told to pack up and leave. On the morning of March 29th, 1944, the people of Gnadenfeld packed what they could on horse-drawn wagons. Mathilda Sailer, with her children, Albert and Ida, packed up their essential belongings onto a horse drawn wagon and began a long 3,000 km journey through several countries along the Danube River. Caravanning with other families from the Abel clan they eventually reached Hungary, then by train to Poland, then to Germany.

Ida spent her childhood and early teenage years growing up in post-war Germany in the Cologne region. For some years, her family lived in Liblar, residing in a small suite above the stables in Castle Gracht, and later on in Gymnich where she attended school. She also worked at a nearby chocolate factory.

In March 1953, Ida’s mother, Mathilda, married Johann Wunder. Then in April, Ida and her family immigrated to Canada, sailing to Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the Arosa Kulm. With help from the Baptist Church organization and sponsored by sugar beet farmers in Coaldale, Alberta, they made their way West to fulfil a two year contract to hoe and harvest the sugar beet fields. The sugar beet work contract ended in the fall on 1954. During the offseason, they lived in Calgary where Ida worked as a waitress at the Wave Café in the city’s downtown. They attended “Bridgeland Baptist Church” where Ida was baptized.

Through various circumstances, Ida’s brother Albert saw his friend from Gnadenfeld, John Fried in downtown Calgary. He said “Vanya (John) is that you?” They were reunited, and it didn’t take long for John to get reacquainted with Ida, who was a child when he last saw her. He courted Ida, and on April 16th, 1955, with permission from her mother, they were married at Bridgeland Baptist Church.

During their early years of marriage, life was hard with low paying jobs and poor living conditions, but both Ida and John prevailed as they moved from one community to the next as required by his employer, CP Rail. In early 1956, they purchased an acreage in Dalroy, Alberta, and together they built their home from scraps of lumber. They survived on the bounty of a large garden, running a post office, and raising chickens to sell eggs and poultry in Calgary. In July 1956, their daughter Debbie was born and two years later, in November 1958, their son Albert was born. Their family was now complete with a son and daughter. They became very good friends with all the neighbors and had many fond memories and stories of life in Dalroy. During the early years in Dalroy, and at a young age, Ida was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, a disease that would plague her for the rest of her life.

During 1959, John resigned from CP Rail to work in the construction industry in Calgary. Eventually John started his own construction business (Johns Cribbing) and in 1963 they sold the acreage and moved to Calgary. In 1965, they purchased a lot in the Winston Heights community and built a duplex. Life was good; the family enjoyed vacationing, fishing, and camping, with many trips to Radium, and the Okanagan.

Over the years, as John’s basement cribbing business grew, Ida became instrumental doing the invoicing, payroll, and bookkeeping. She was always very good in math and all matters that had to do with money.

In 1972, John and Ida purchased raw forested land near Sundre, Alberta, very close to Albert and Clara Sailer’s farm. Initially, the intent was to use the land for recreational purposes, however, one thing led to the next, and over time a ½ section of land was cleared. Soon after, John and Ida started to raise a herd of cattle and plant crops on the newly cleared land. Over several years in the 1970s, the Fried farm was developed including the construction of a cabin, a house, workshops, quonsets, and a barn.

In 1973, Ida’s stepfather Johann passed away, and in 1979 her mother Mathilda passed away. These were especially difficult times for Ida.

In May 1981, Ida and John gained another daughter when son Albert married Alice Dartsch. In 1982, the poor economic conditions in Calgary forced John to dissolve his cribbing business. After that they became full-time farmers, spending only weekends in Calgary. They really enjoyed farm life, raising cattle, and planting crops. Both Ida and John enjoyed the relationships developed with their friends and neighbours.

During those years Ida and John were blessed with two grandsons, James, in November 1984 and Justin in April 1987. Their grandchildren became a huge part of their lives. They enjoyed having their grandchildren at home or on the farm, and took every opportunity they could to spoil them.

In March 1987, Ida and John gained another son when daughter Debbie married Jeffrey Ross.

As time went on, work on the farm became too hard to handle as age began to catch up with John. With Ida’s urging, they sold the farm and retired in 1990. It was a very difficult transition since John was very attached to the farm. Both Ida and John enjoyed travelling. Their travels included trips to Europe and many road trips down to Nevada and California. They enjoyed travelling with friends and often reflected and told stories about the places they visited. They travelled to Hawaii annually to get away from the Canadian winter.

Both Ida and John were blessed with another grandchild in August 2008, when grandson James married Victoria Skibinsky.

In 1992, John was diagnosed with cancer and persevered through many other health challenges. Ida was ever present, helping him through his years of physical and emotional suffering, until he passed away on April 1, 2011. The years after his death were very difficult for Ida, having to deal with grief and emptiness. But life moved on, Ida and family (Albert, Alice, Debbie and Jeff), travelled to Europe and embarked on a memorable Mediterranean cruise, and then a few years later an Australian cruise.

In November 2012, Ida gained a great grandson, and Alexander Fried was born. She became affectionately known as “GG”.

In August 2014, Ida was blessed with another grandchild when her other grandson Justin was married to Shelley Cornies.

GG’s family grew again when great granddaughter Isla Fried was born in April 2015.

Also, something that should be mentioned; Ida enjoyed cooking and feeding people. When there was an occasion to celebrate or just visitors, Ida would cook enough to feed an army. People would not leave her house without bursting at the seams. Family and friends meant everything to her.

Over the years, Ida suffered through numerous bouts of pneumonia. In February 2022, Ida contracted COVID, and once again had pneumonia. Ida described a near death experience she had while she was in the hospital. She described that she saw darkened grey surroundings with a door in front of her. The door had a bright light shining through the crack on the bottom. She started to open the door and the light started to become brighter. Then she heard a voice that said to her, “go back, it’s not your time”…so she did. This experience gave her time to reconcile with God. After she recovered, she returned to her home, and enjoyed her garden over the summer.

On August 15, 2022 (her birthday), once again ill, she made her final visit to the hospital. The doctors and nurses worked hard to help her recover, but the medicines did not help. As her end became more and more evident, her final words to her family were always “Till we meet again” and “I love you.”

Ida went home to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on September 28, 2022 (on her late husband John’s birthday).

Ida leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law Debbie and Jeffrey Ross; son and daughter-in-law Albert and Alice Fried; and four grandchildren James and Victoria Fried, Justin and Shelley Fried; and two great-grandchildren, Alexander and Isla Fried. She was a special and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who loved her family and treasured every one of her friends. She will be greatly missed.

Those wishing to pay their respects can do so at a Visitation at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Friday, October 7, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.

Our family would like to give a special thank you to Mrs. Estelita Amay for her dedication and loving care of her “second mom”, and also to the many doctors and health care professionals that took such excellent care of Ida over the years.

We are overwhelmed with your kindness and compassion.