Obituary of Henry Friesen

Friesen: Heinrich “Henry” Passed away peacefully, and in the Faith, after two days of wonderful visits with his only childat Leacock Care Center in Orillia, Ontarioat the age of 95. He was declared departed this life on Thursday 8 October 2020. Widowed twice, he was the beloved husband of the late Elsie Ann Friesen (nee Knight), then a widowed father who lavished ‘tenacious care’ on his son, and then husband of Edith Birdella “Birdie”Friesen (nee Hill) who helped him raise his child as their own. Henry was the loving and generous father of Paul Henry Friesen, his daughter-in-law Janet Friesen, and the much loved and generous“Grandpa” to Hilary “Anya” and Isabelle “Talia”, all of Halifax, N.S. His granddaughters will miss his visits, and his stories, and miss telling him their stories, but share in his conviction in the ongoing ‘communion of saints’ and in the great mercy and grace of God in this life and in life everlasting. Son of Peter Friesen and Susana Friesen (nee Loeppky), Henry was brother to three older siblings (Susan, Peter, and Eerdman) and eight younger siblings (Jacob, Martha, David, Bernard, Maria, Helen, Anna, and John) and raised during the Great Depression in a rural Mennonite area in Manitoba, just north of the American border. Aware of his fragile life and short life expectancy when he was a child, he marvelled at his long and vigorous life in God’s care. Henry will be dearly missed by his many friends and family, both in his earlier years, and in his later years in Orillia, as one who could turn his hands to many skills, as one who loved church services, long walks, and coffee shops, and who deeply cared for and assisted many in distress, no matter how he met them. Cremation has taken place. Due to the new provincial lockdown, the service to celebrate Henry's life will postponed and held at a later date. The family would like to offer a sincere thank you to all the staff at Leacock Care Center, and to the front-line care givers in Home Area 4 for their compassion and excellent care of Henry over the last two and a half years. And the family would like to thank the congregation of Hillside Bible Chapel for their ongoing appreciation of, and support for, Henry over many years. The family suggests that any expressions of sympathy, in the form of memorial donations, be made to the ministries of Hillside Bible Chapel, Orillia through the Simcoe Funeral Home, 38 James St. E Orillia (705) 327-0221. Messages of condolence are welcomed at www.simcoefuneralhome.ca