Helena Janzen

Helena Janzen of Saskatoon peacefully went to sleep March 11, 2011 while at Luther Special Care Home, Saskatoon. Helena was born at Aberdeen, Saskatchewan on July 20, 1922 the daughter of Susane (nee Unrau) and Peter Friesen. She is survived by her brother Frank (wife Mary) Friesen and is predeceased by her brothers and sisters, Peter, Susane, Jacob, Peter, Anna, Katrina, Abram, Johnny, William. Helena was the mother of six children, Clifford her eldest predeceased her. She will be greatly missed by her surviving children, Terry (wife Kathy) Janzen, Pearl (husband Maxwell) Williams, Doris (husband Terry) McCann, Darrell (wife Rosetta) Janzen and Jackie (husband Jason) Campbell and many grand/great-grandchildren. A Service of Remembrance will be held at Acadia-McKague's Funeral Centre, 915 Acadia Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Thursday, March 17th, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. An interment will follow when the lily's are in bloom. In lieu of flowers donations to ADRA (Adventist Disaster Relief Agency) Canada, 1148 King Street E, Oshawa, ON, L1H 1H8, would be appreciated. Condolences may be registered online at www.acadiamckaguesfuneralcentre.com .

Mom's Life Story

This life story walks beside the the pictorial memorial done for Mom

Helena Friesen, my mother was born to Susane Unrau and Peter P Friesen on July 20, 1922. Mom’s mother came from Manitoba, places unknown and her father was an immigrant directly from Russia.

Mom started out in the days of horse and buggy and actually rode in “a cutter” to school. They would pack up all the children with hot stones under the blankets to keep them warm for the trip. She often spoke of the time that the horses were taking them on a trip and as they crossed the railway tracks and train came along, hitting and killing one of the horses. A harrowing experience, but something that the older generation just handled in it’s stride.

Her brothers Peter and Johnny walked from where they lived nearby Osler, Saskatchewan all the way up North to Peace River, Alberta to become trappers and scratch out a living. It appears all the children were of short stature as you can tell by Peter’s measure against the wolf he had trapped.

Mom went on to marry Jacob “Jack” Janzen and the early part of their marriage included working as “farm hands” which meant that Dad worked all day doing whatever the farmer needed and Mom cooked and cleaned until bed time. She often spoke of how cold it was in the bedroom and that everything was frozen when they got up. She had to get up first and start the fire to warm up the house every morning.

By the time Clifford, her first son was born the world had moved into a world of vehicles and “Cliff” quite obviously thought the running board was really a sitting board. Those early years provided few photographs and you can tell that children were much more actively entertained by getting out in the fresh air and playing with each other. Terry was Mom’s second son and the children looked after each other. Mom and Dad and the boys moved to Ontario as it was thought there would be better opportunities out there. Doris, Darrell and I were born down east.

Circumstances beyond anyone’s control brought us back to Saskatchewan. For several years we moved from town to town wherever Dad could get work as a carpenter.

We finally landed in Kerrobert which became one of the few places our family ended up staying for more than a couple of years and Jackie the youngest was born there. Mom had many talents as every mother does, but my Mom had a real talent for painting which shone through as she helped in the family business. We admired our mother’s talent all our lives and we all have our mother’s beautiful paintings in our homes.

More important than her talent was her love for the Lord. My mother discovered the truth about Sabbath and became a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Mom was baptized in the North Battleford River after which Mom’s journey in life really took on a new purpose and meaning. Mom was very active in the church and was the most kind and considerate person, always helping “those less fortunate”. My mother worked hard and provided us children with a healthy spiritual upbringing. She cleaned houses and sewed late into the night altering clothes and even sewing from scratch wedding gowns that us girls thought were fantastic.

One of the notable memories was when the family made a trip to Peace River, you will have seen on the screen one of the few pictures that were taken of Mom and Dad together. Dad was a gigantic 5’9” and Mom was a tiny 4’8” and she looked ever so small beside him.

Mom and Dad parted ways around 1968. Mom through much hard work pulled together her savings so she could buy a home on Brock Crescent and she was ever so happy and content in her first ever “Own Home” where she could fix and do what she “pleased”. She felt on top of the world and very happy as she raised Darrell and Jackie in that house. She put both of them through “church school” and nurtured their spiritual health as she had brought us all up in the faith and giving us a strong understanding of God’s presence in our lives.

Mom was friends to many and participated in many church programs. She was always there for others, welcoming them into “her home, her heart and her church”.

She along with friends had travelled several times to the US and she often spoke of a “places in California and Nevada”.

Sometime later, Mom felt an ever growing and urgent need to look for “Clifford” who had left home many years earlier. In an epic journey to “Chicago” Doris, Mom and Jackie drove alone and on a faith and a strong belief that Clifford was there. Mom and the girls took a wrong turn as they entered Chicago and they found themselves in one of the roughest parts of town. My brave little Mom pulled into a garage in this tough neighborhood and with a prayer on her lips and a great deal of apprehension she got out of the car to ask directions. Several very unfriendly people cursed at them telling them to “get out”. But my dear little Mom needed help and started walking what seemed like a mile to the garage door when this tall dark man walked up to her and steered her back to the car while giving her simple and perfect directions to find “the race track” exactly where Cliff worked as a horse trainer. Well, Mom was so relieved that someone had helped her. Jackie saw her talking to the man who looked so kind and told them that they needed to get back into the car. They both turned to thank him and he was GONE, he had vanished into thin air in the twinkling of an eye, there was no place he could of gone. They both knew that day they had met Mom’s guardian angel and God had sent him.

Mom and the girls returned home to Saskatoon. Mom having now seen Cliff felt at peace about her son’s well being.

It wasn’t too many years later that Cliff returned to Saskatoon. Not long after they decided that they wanted to build a new home, in a new place.

They migrated to Hazelton, BC and as you can see by the pictures they started from scratch.

Their new home was located on a beautifully sloped and forested acreage looking across the valley at the mountains. Mom and Cliff were content and continued on their Christian walk. Cliff accepted Jesus into his life and was baptized.

Mom met Cody a special and dear friend of Cliff’s from the U.S. and they became fast friends. Cody loved to joke around with Mom and became like an adopted son.

Her passion for painting was demonstrated in her many paintings. Mom was ever so generous sharing her art with others.

Mom and Cliff went to many camp meetings and retreats where they could study God’s word and be with other Christians.

Around 1994 was one of Mom’s most dear memories, when all the children, every last one, gathered together for Thanksgiving at Terry’s house. This reuniting only happened once and we all remember it fondly. All the children and all their children were there. And the “Smile on Mom’s face says it all”.

It was not too many years later that disaster struck and Cliff was killed in a horrible accident.

Some time later, Mom and Terry made a trip to the Middle East. Terry had gone on ahead and later my tiny little mother had hopped on a plane to meet up with him, and she navigated several transfers until she met Terry in Israel. Mom had no fear; she even rode a camel in Egypt, climbed around the pyramids, walked the streets of Jerusalem and walked in places where Jesus had been. She felt ever so blessed when she returned home.

It was not too long after that we convinced Mom that living alone in Hazelton was risky and living down here with us would be better and safer. Mom lived for a short while with Terry but found Calgary too big and she moved to Saskatoon to live with me.

She loved working and keeping busy.

Circumstances lead one to another and Mom moved in June of 2010 to Prairie Spring Care home. I remember clearly Mom telling me she was ready to “go to sleep” and she was tired of this earth.

In late February Mom had to leave Prairie Spring as she tended to wander, and my place was her destination of choice. It became apparent that she could wander outside into the freezing cold.

Thus she came to be a resident of Luther Care Home. Mom really liked it there in her new surroundings, helping the nurses to dispense the “meds” and being her active friendly self.

Early last week, Monday morning in fact, Mom was not herself. Later that day they called me and told me they thought she had experienced a “stroke” and she seemed to be resting ok. I went to the care home and yes, she was sleeping. My dear Mom had closed her eyes and slept until she passed away early Friday morning.

My Mother was a blessing to this earth and my brothers and sisters and I are grateful to have had such a wonderful Mom. And the Lord promises us that those in Christ shall be together again.

John 14 carries the promise of a place for his children and my mother is a “Child of God.”

Jesus promises us in his own words.

“Let not you heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in me.

In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And If I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye maybe also.

And whither I go ye know and the way ye know”

My mother knew Lord and I know that I will see her in the earth made new.

Pearl Dawn “Janzen” McNevin Williams

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Helena Janzen

Helena Janzen of Saskatoon peacefully went to sleep March 11, 2011 while at Luther Special Care Home, Saskatoon. Helena was born at Aberdeen, Saskatchewan on July 20, 1922 the daughter of Susane (nee Unrau) and Peter Friesen. She is survived by her brother Frank (wife Mary) Friesen and is predeceased by her brothers and sisters, Peter, Susane, Jacob, Peter, Anna, Katrina, Abram, Johnny, William. Helena was the mother of six children, Clifford her eldest predeceased her. She will be greatly missed by her surviving children, Terry (wife Kathy) Janzen, Pearl (husband Maxwell) Williams, Doris (husband Terry) McCann, Darrell (wife Rosetta) Janzen and Jackie (husband Jason) Campbell and many grand/great-grandchildren. A Service of Remembrance will be held at Acadia-McKague's Funeral Centre, 915 Acadia Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Thursday, March 17th, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. An interment will follow when the lily's are in bloom. In lieu of flowers donations to ADRA (Adventist Disaster Relief Agency) Canada, 1148 King Street E, Oshawa, ON, L1H 1H8, would be appreciated. Condolences may be registered online at www.acadiamckaguesfuneralcentre.com .