Anna Mae Friesen

Anna Mae was born in Bakersfield, California to Henry and Bertha Heier. She attended school in Bakersfield until 1942 when her parents decided that they wanted their children to attend a Christian high school. They moved their family to Dinuba, California so Anna Mae could attend the newly created Immanuel High School in Reedley, California. She graduated in 1948 and then went on to attend Fresno Pacific College. It was there that she met her future husband John Friesen and married on May 5, 1950. Her husband started working for United Airlines while Anna Mae stayed home with their growing family. Their dream was to have four children and their hopes became reality with the births of their children Eileen, Becky, Kenny, and Danny. Anna Mae became a busy mother with four children under the age of six. She canned the local produce, sewed the family's clothes, and kept up a busy household- usually while holding a baby or toddler on her hip.

In 1961, John and Anna Mae moved their family of six to Visalia, California so John would be closer to his job with United Airlines. They purchased a new home in the Royal Oaks School District. Anna Mae continued to live there after John passed away, making it her home for 44 years. In 1962, Anna Mae started working for Visalia Unified School District. She continued her employment with the College of Sequoias bookstore where she became the bookstore manager. In 1993, she retired from College of Sequoias looking forward to traveling and spending more time with her family and serving in the church. John and Anna Mae did get to enjoy traveling! In 1978, they traveled through the United States and Europe so John could participate in the Senior Masters Olympics as a race walker. They were able to take many trips to the Mediterranean countries, the Holy Land, Panama Canal, Canada, Europe, and many trips with groups throughout the United States.

Anna Mae was always actively involved in her church. She served as deaconess, Sunday School teacher, a visitor to people in hospitals and nursing homes, and coordinated and made many meals for funerals and people in need. Anna Mae Friesen will be remembered for her love of her family, her Christian faith, her strong work ethic, her willingness to help and serve others, her effective planning and management skills, and her special love for putting together family gatherings and traditions. Her favorite traditions were celebrating "Christmas in July" with her grandchildren, a three-day January family reunion weekend at the coast and many backyard barbeques and special times with her family. Anna Mae will also be remembered for taking whatever life gave her and not complaining. Even with her limiting physical conditions Anna Mae continued to be willing to serve and think of others.

Anna Mae was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years John Friesen, her son Ken Friesen in 2005, and son-in-law Danny Pritchett in 2007. She leaves behind her children Eileen Pritchett, Becky Richert (Ed), Danny Friesen (Audrey), daughter-in-law Teressa Friesen, and her grandchildren Nick Pritchett (Amy), Sheri Myers (Jarret), Christion Richert (Megan), Brittany McNelly (John), Melissa Johnson (Matt), Valarie Seita (Shawn), and Katie Newman (Scott). She also leaves behind 12 great grandchildren- Maddison and Nicklaus Myers, Hailey, Nolan, and Cole Pritchett, Ethan and Grace Johnson, Elijah, Levi, (plus a baby due in September) Newman, Camden McNelly, and Morgan Seita. Anna Mae also leaves behind her sister Jeanette Nickel (Hank) and brother Dwight Heier (Carol). Anna Mae lived the last years of her life at Prestige Assisted Living. The family would like to thank Prestige and the Expressions unit for their loving care and support of their mother. We are so grateful for the compassion, dignity, and sincere caring shown to our mother in her final days by their staff.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 18th at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel at Gateway Church of Visalia location-1100 S. Sowell St. Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Visalia Cemetery location-1300 W. Goshen Ave. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 17th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Miller Memorial Chapel. Donations in her memory may be made to the Visalia Rescue Mission 500 E. Race Ave. Visalia, Ca 93291