Alena Bremmer Friesen

Born in Salem, Oregon, January 10, 1915 to Roy and Evelyn Bremmer, she grew up in the historic Adolph House located at 2493 State Street. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Salem, where she took music lessons. Having a natural talent for the organ and piano, Mrs. Friesen began playing for local dances in her teens. By age 18, she was playing organ for funeral services at the Salem Mortuary, where she met her future husband, A.C. Friesen. They became good friends and married years later, on December 30, 1939. After 53 years of marriage, Mr. Friesen passed away in 1993. Mrs. Friesen resided at the home they built in 1962 on Fir Cone in Keizer until 2001.

She was a church organist from 1932 until her death, having played for countless weddings, funerals, and celebrations at St. Edward Catholic Church in Keizer, the Mt. Angel Towers and Providence Benedictine Nursing Center in Mt. Angel, Howell Edwards Doerksen in Salem, and many other organizations.

Mrs. Friesen was employed by Montgomery Ward for 32 years, retiring April 1, 1978, as a group manager. She was past president of the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Oregon. She was the first secretary for the Oregon State Eagles and organized the Eagles’ Oregon Auxiliary. In addition, she was the past regent for the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.

She enjoyed playing organ, reading, doing volunteer work, and traveling. During her lifetime, her travels took her throughout the U.S., and to Canada, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. She continued traveling regularly until late-2009. She had a contagious zest for life and a generous, loving spirit—and will be missed by all who knew her.

Mrs. Friesen was preceded in death by her sister, Emily Saunders, and her brother, Jim Bremmer. She is survived by her sister, Mary Gergen, of Salem, a large family of nieces and nephews, and many friends in the Salem area.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Howell Edwards Doerksen, 1350 Commercial Street SE, Salem, OR 97302. Burial will be at 9:30 a.m., Friday, November 12 at Rest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 201 Oak Grove Road NW, Salem, OR 97304, (503) 585-1373. A memorial mass will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, November 12 at the Mt. Angel Towers, One Towers Lane, Mt. Angel, OR 97362, (503) 845-7211. Following will be a celebration of life reception at Mt. Angel Towers. All services are open to the public. Depending on individual preference, flowers may be sent or brought to the celebration or donations can be made to The American Heart Association at http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/.