Hugo Friesen

Life was not easy in their small village and his parents did not see a very promising future, especially for their children, in Brazil. They made the decision to move to Canada. Hugo was 14 years old when they arrived in Vancouver, BC on April 30, 1969.

Hugo found it difficult going to school here because he did not speak English. He overcame that hurdle and graduated from John Oliver Secondary School in Vancouver. During his school days, to help the family with their finances, he worked at a service station, pumping gas.

After graduation he began work with an aluminum siding company. It was while working here, that he had a work accident, a ladder gave way. His fall left him with a broken back and leg as well as other injuries. He had a lengthy hospital stay and rehab. He struggled for many years but recovered enough to become self employed as a finish carpenter. He also took a real estate course and became a realtor. Hugo’s personality was not one that fit well with that industry and was not that successful for him. He decided to return to his finish carpentry work instead.

Hugo loved his motorcycle. He would take long rides, either on the bike or in his truck, stopping often to take photographs of what he saw along the way.

It was his friends who decided that Hugo must meet Aggie. These friends spent a year telling Hugo about Aggie and telling Aggie about Hugo until she was finally ready to meet him. More months passed until they were both at the same event at the same time. When Hugo met Aggie, it was love at first sight. But this shy man ended the evening by saying “See you around sometime, maybe.” She replied with “yeah, Maybe!” Hugo was a kind, gentle, caring, hard working, motorcycle riding, Christian man. How could she not love him. And soon after they started dating.

Their mutual friends welcomed both to go camping and Quadding. For 14 years, they enjoyed live concerts, live theatre, kayaking, going for long rides on the motorcycle and staying in for movie nights, but yet still had time to include their family and friends in their plans.

In November of 2024 he developed a persistent cough. He was treated for lung infections but the coughing just wouldn’t go away. In early February, Hugo was hospitalized, tests were run and then more tests until in April he received the diagnosis of cancer in several places in his chest. He made the decision that he would fight this cancer with everything that they would offer him.

But he knew he needed help! With the support of his family, he approached Aggie’s daughters for their blessing to marry their mom. They gave a resounding “YES!”

Hugo and Aggie were engaged on May 3 and a small intimate garden wedding was planned for Thursday, May 8 with their families and their closest friends. Hugo was hospitalized on Wednesday evening due to having more difficulty with his breathing. Location plans were changed and the wedding took place in the Chilliwack Hospital Spiritual Room on May 8, 2025.

Everyone was very hopeful that treatment would give him a little more time. He even spoke of having a wedding redo party when he felt better again. The Lord had other plans for him. Hugo’s health quickly deteriorated and on May 11 he was moved into ICU. We all came to realize that his redo party would be with His Heavenly Father and not with his family here on earth. With family surrounding him, Hugo peacefully went home to be with His Lord in the afternoon of May 12, 2025.

He was predeceased by his parents, Heinrich & Liese, twin brothers Horst & Hugo, a brother Kurt and two sisters, Lotte & Inge.

He leaves to mourn his wife Aggie. His stepchildren, Tonille & J.R. Peters, Nicole & Chris Klix, Jen & Dustin Chadsey, and Kristi Klassen. He also had 6 step grandchildren, Gabi, Ginna & Olivia Peters and Nadiya, Kivryn & Paxton Klix. His brothers Horst & Elli, Ervin & Johanna, his sister Irene & Ed Boschmann and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Hugo will be missed dearly, but we know there will be another Hello after this Goodbye.