Mrs. Helen Frieda Schroeder

Helen Frieda Schroeder (maiden name Uhrich) was born on February 28, 1919. As the only child of Frieda Emma Uhrich (maiden name Schmidt) and Jacob Peter Uhrich, Helen lived with her family on Avenue H in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She was a post WWI baby, carried during the Flu epidemic in 1918. As she grew, the family endured the Great Depression era. Helen talked about eating so much peanut butter she was sick of it.

When she was 5 years old her father bought her a piano and she learned how to play. She used her musical gift throughout her life, playing the piano for evangelical tent meetings as a girl in the dusty dry prairie wheat fields. She played for many church services and continued to play until the 8th of April 2015. She loved the hymns of the church and would play and sing, enjoying every minute. We enjoyed listening to her and will miss her music in our home.

Helen became a beautiful young lady and fell in love with her “Davey”. The Schroeder family lived in Aberdeen, Saskatchewan. It was quite a commute, travelling from the farm to the city to court. David would bring chocolates to her door with flowers and the relationship led to their marriage on November 24, 1939. It was a simple house wedding. He wore a dark suit and she wore a deep blue taffeta gown with long white gloves.

Many events happened from 1939 up to the birth of their only child in 1955. David and Helen went on a road trip and travelled throughout Canada and the U.S. extensively. They spent a year enjoying each Province and State. Helen talked about the roads that they travelled together: narrow, dusty, slippery gravel that became mud in the rain. The curvy roads were so dangerous that they had to honk the horn at every turn because there was no room for two cars to pass safely. They enjoyed living in Toronto for one year. Finally they settled in Vancouver, building a house in Burnaby on Boundary Road. Helen lived in that house until she broke her hip and then joined us in our home in 2004.

Helen was very independent and kept busy working while raising her daughter. She was interested in crochet, creating a beautiful bedspread and numerous table clothes. While her husband was away in WWII she braided a huge carpet for their living room and another smaller one to lay under her piano. She asked everyone she knew to provide wool suits and skirts to rip and make strips to include in her rugs.

A counselor and teacher, she got her wisdom and knowledge from prayer and reading the Bible. The Lord gave her the largest Sunday School Class in church. She loved teaching the elementary school age children, many of whom found Christ from her story telling. She taught piano to some of them as well.

In 1955 her prayers were answered. She conceived and delivered a healthy baby girl. This was a miracle, an answer to prayer, because it was impossible for her. Both David and Helen waited many years and were the happiest with their new baby. Their only child, Lyn Dee Joy was born on September 30, 1955.

Time quickly passed as they raised their child, and both worked hard to support themselves.

Her daughter Lyn grew up and married Jerry Chan in 1985. Helen, Lyn and Jerry enjoyed walking around Expo 1986 and in 1987 they made another road trip across Canada and the U.S. Helen enjoyed this trip. We stopped in every Province and visited relatives in Saskatoon. We drove through the States, spending time in New York and across to Yellowstone National Park.

On January 14, 1989 Helen’s first grandchild was born. Jerlyn Joy Chan is a joy and the center of mom’s heart. Then on March 4, 1994 her second grandchild Lynden Jacob Chan was born. She was so happy to enjoy her sunny, energetic grandbaby boy. Her third grandson was born on November 26, 1995. Colyn Josiah Chan was her happy boy. All three grandchildren spent many hours with her. She taught them about her love for God and how much God loved them. She showed them how to pray and read the Bible. The fruits of the spirit and communicating with others were strengths she shared. She felt very blessed to have three beautiful grandchildren and enjoyed every minute with them. Exclaiming to her friends, “these are my three sugar lumps in the bottom of my cup”. Laughter would then follow a sincere smile and then she would say how thankful she was for them.

As the years went by she grew older. We enjoyed her spiritual and life contribution to our family. She graced us with her love and unending support. We all love you so much and we will truly miss you, your wisdom, love, prayers and warmth surrounding us daily. Our home is a little cooler and there is an empty feeling knowing she is gone from us now. In a while we will join you. You have done well on this earth. You are an example of a strong, faithful, loving heart, focused on loving others and finding good in the people you know. You always encouraged us to pray and think about what we said and did because there is always a consequence, good or bad.

I must mention the importance of Helen’s prayer list. She prayed for whoever was on that list continually. Helen was a prayer warrior, one who prays to move the heavens for an answer to a prayer or serious need; your devoted faithfulness to keep praying until the answer came either in healing or wisdom for someone. God answers prayer, we saw it over and over again. And oh, you were so excited and happy when the miracles happened and prayers were answered.

Mom you are now in God’s presence. I can’t express the feelings of that. Heaven is real, and you are there enjoying it all. You are experiencing pure love, worship, music, and fellowship. You don’t have your prayer list anymore because you can talk to Him face to face and tell Him how much you love and worship Him. He will tell you how much He loves you and that all your needs are now met in Him.

So the exciting part is when Christ returns to earth you will be with Him. You have a new body and you will meet us in the second coming of Christ. We will all meet in the air and then descend on the Mount of Olives to create a new heaven and a new earth.

Our hearts are broken now because WE WILL MISS YOU. BUT we will come and meet you at heaven’s gates when God calls us home to heaven. We know you are waiting for us there.

Helen’s service will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park on May 16th at 12:30 pm. Meet at the front gate and we will follow the hearse to the gravesite. There will be a reception at Forest Lawn Funeral Home after the service from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm.