Mrs Eileen Annie Krieger Hennie

We are all gathered here today to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of a very special lady. She wore many hats; loving daughter,wife, mom, grandmother,great grandmother, sister, sister in law, auntie, and friend. She was someone special to every person in this room today and I am so proud to be able to stand up here today to praise and honour her.

Born Eileen Annie Krieger on September 2nd, 1942 in Regina Saskatchewan. She was the only daughter and middle child of Albert and Neva Krieger. She was raised in Lang, Saskatchewan along with her older brother of one year, Gary and younger brother of six years, Bernie.

My mom met my dad when she was just fourteen years old (although she told him she was sixteen) and they courted for five years. During three of those five years my dad was away serving in the Canadian Armies Princess Patricia's. In the summer of 1959 when Mom was going into grade 12, my dad had the privilege of marching for the queen on her visit to Victoria, BC. He invited Mom and her family to attend. Albert and Neva packed up the car with Gary, Bernie, Mom and her best friend Carole ( who was dating Gary at the time) and they drove out to Victoria for the event. That following Christmas,when Mom was only in grade 12, my dad asked for Mom's hand in marriage. Mom said that her dad told her she could only accept on one condition. He explained that while all her friends are out dating and having fun her boyfriend is away in the army. She said he told her that if he ever saw her with another man the ring would be gone. She accepted Dad's proposal.

Mom shared with me that in her grade twelve year she was left at home in Lang to look after her younger brother Bernie while her parents were getting the crop in on the farm. Mom often talked about how she enjoyed her little brother so much and joked that during this time the only thing she knew how to cook was grilled cheese sandwiches and so that was all the poor kid got to eat for months and he never ever complained. She said he was such a good boy. I often wonder if it's the same guy from all the stories I've heard over the years while the grown ups sat around reminiscing.

She described her older brother Gary as her protector. Mom said that she never had to worry about getting rid of guys that were pestering her because Gary would handle it! They spent lots of time together as Gary went with Mom's best friend Carole. As a kid I can always remember having to follow Uncle Gary home if we were all out somewhere because he always forgot to get gas and wasn't sure he could make it back to his farm. This led to many sleepovers.

Mom graduated from Lang High School in 1960 from a class of only six girls and one boy. Among her classmates were her best friends growing up, Carole Laughtenslauger ( now Krieger), Mom's double cousin Maxine Krieger ( now Leslie) and Valerie Aberhardt ( was Borys and has also since passed). All three of these girls were Mom's bridesmaids on her wedding day.

After high school ,and while Dad was still away in the army, Mom went to Weyburn and completed her first year of the Psychiatric nursing program but then Dad returned from the army and started working for CP in Regina. Mom said she decided that she no longer wanted to be apart from him so she decided to quit nursing, get married, and move to Regina with Dad. Quitting nursing was a decision she always regretted and she has often told me how proud she was when I graduated from psychiatric nursing because she felt I completed her dream.

Mom and Dad were married in the Lang United Church on October 7, 1961. It wasn't long after that my sister Laurie came along. She was born October 6, 1962 when Mom was just 20 years old.

Mom and Dad moved from Regina to Yellow Grass where they stayed for only about a year before moving to Lang. Dad started work with the RM of Scott and they bought their very first house.

Dad started working with the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool in 1966 and they moved to Hoffer ,where they lived for eight months in a house that didn't even have running water. In 1967 they moved to Horizon to yet another house that didn't have any running water. Dad fixed that and installed it. They stayed in Horizon for three years and it was while living there that I was born on December 27,1969.

Six months later, in 1970, we moved again to Ceylon into a much newer and modern Sask Wheat Pool house. We stayed in Ceylon for five years and Mom even worked for Sask Wheat Pool helping Dad! She laughs because there was an old bachelor in Ceylon who used to bring her whiskey to the elevator and tell her not to share it with daddy! They made several life long friends while living there that they have remained close to throughout the years.

Next we moved to Kipling, where we stayed for only a year and a half. It was while living in Kipling that Mom returned to her love of health care. She worked as an aide at the Kipling hospital and loved it. When we moved to Radville in 1975/76 it didn't take long before Mom started working at the Marion Home. She continued working there for the next nine years. When it was time for Mom to need palliative care, it was the Marion Home she returned to. She felt blessed to be able to spend her end time in a facility that she felt so comfortable in and where she still knew many of the staff caring for her, including her dear friend Dr. Oberholzer.

It was also while living in Radville that Mom and Dad built their first new house and moved into it in 1976. Oh how Mom loved her new house. If you ever drive by it, you can see her green thumbs work in the beautiful trees she planted that are now full grown.

November of 1982 was both a joyous time, as my sister Laurie got married, and a sad time as Mom lost her dad to cancer just one week before the wedding. Mom was so happy that Laurie put on her dress for Grandpa and he got to see her in it before he passed away. Three years later ,on the exact day grandpa took his last breath,Mom's first grandchild Brandy drew her first breath, November 15,1985.

Their decision to move to Humboldt in the fall of 1985 was a difficult one because they loved Radville and being close to their families. Humboldt was attractive because Mom and Dad both loved the proximity to the northern lakes and the ability to provide better educational opportunities for me was also appealing. Mom again continued to work in health care at St. Mary's Villa and while working there completed her Special Care Aide course. They spent seven years in Humboldt before moving back down to SE Saskatchewan.

Dad took a posting in Pangman to be back close to loved one. After a very brief stint in the Sask Wheat Pool house they bought a house of their own in town. Two years later Dad retired and they moved the house to its current location on the farm. Moms love for growing is clearly evident on the farm and together they have created a property of beauty envied by all who pass by.

Mom continued to work in health care; three more years in Radville and twelve at Weyburn Special Care home until her retirement in 2005.

In 1999 Mom gained a son in law when I married my best friend ,Jake. In 2001 and 2003 her first grandsons Conor and Cody were born. They were the first boys on moms side of the family since her nephew Randy (34 years in-between I believe). Mom and Dad never missed a Halloween with the boys. It became our family tradition. Mom loved and looked forward to it each year. She also loved coming out to Alberta to watch the boys play hockey in the winter and she quickly became a part of our "rink family." We also shared a love of the North and of fishing. We are blessed to have many cherished fishing adventures under our belts. From now on when the boys catch fish they will know their grandma is lending a helping hand from heaven.

Mom loved having the boys at the farm during the summer. We had swimming parties with bonfires down at the dugout and the boys learned how to bake apple and cherry pies with their grandma.

Growing up, we were blessed that our parents were close with their siblings because we then got to be close with our cousins. We enjoyed many holidays to Waskesui with both sides of the family. Unfortunately Auntie Carole never did quite catch the northern bug like the rest of us ( not for Mom's lack of trying).

Mom's love of the North did rub off on my sister Laurie however. She lives in Terrace, BC and in 2003 married Rob giving Mom another son in law. Mom had several wonderful trips out to Terrace. She tried skiing for her first time in Terrace. Unfortunately she had shingles at the time! She discovered she really liked quadding when Laurie took her out into some pretty remote spots. At least until she started spotting bear poop! Mom's love of gardening is a gift she passed down to my sister, Laurie. Laurie inherited my mom's green thumb and loves growing beautiful flowers. When Mom visited Laurie in Terrace, they enjoyed going to all the garden centres together.

In May of 2009, Brandy married Ryan at the RCMP Chapel in Regina. They have blessed Mom and Dad with two beautiful great grandsons; Gavin and Nathaniel. Mom was so very very happy when Brandy and Ryan got posted with the RCMP to Bengough from Yorkton. She loved having them so close and built up quite a toy box for the boys for when they came to the farm for visits. The beautiful portrait of my mom was drawn by Ryan. Mom was touched and honoured beyond words and wanted him to know how very special that was to her. She called it a timeless keepsake.

Just as my mom was my very best girlfriend, so too was my grandmother my moms. They enjoyed many vacations together over the years and shopping trips galore. They visited often and were as close as a mother and daughter could possibly be. Grandma , God willing, will celebrate her 100th birthday on March 9,2014 and I know how very much Mom wanted to be here for that.

Mom and Dad were blessed with 52 wonderful years together. They are my inspiration. We had planned a trip to Hawaii to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary but were instead in a surgeon's office in Calgary on their anniversary. Through that surgeon, God blessed us with a significant amount of more precious time together which kicks butt over Hawaii any day.

Mom had to spend every second Wednesday in Regina for chemo during her last nine months and typically on chemo Wednesdays she felt pretty good. Mom often commented how her day was always so much better because she knew Auntie Sharon would be there to keep her company and Dad and Earl could have coffee together. She joked about "The Hennie Hotel" and not knowing how in the world she could ever repay them for always being there for all our health crisis over the years. After chemo and her visit with Sharon they then became routine visitors at Howard and Rosemary's. At least I always knew where to find them on chemo Wednesday! Mom always needed to drop in to see what good deal Belliveau got at Sears bargain center this week. Once she was so thrilled with the deal Howard had got on some chairs that she sent Dad and Howard back to get her four too.

I could stand up here all day sharing happy memories of how Mom touched everyone in this room. She was an amazingly special woman who right up until the end was always the most selfless person I know. Always asking about others worries above her own. She has earned a special place in heaven. My sister Laurie will now share with you a poem in honour of our mom.

A Mother’s Crown

Heaven lit up with a mighty presence,

as the Angels all looked down.

Today the Lord was placing the jewels

Into my mother’s crown.

He held up a golden crown,

as my darling mother looked on.

He said in His gentle voice,

‘I will now explain each one.’

‘The first gem,’ He said, ‘is a Ruby,

and it’s for endurance alone,

for all the nights you waited up

for your children to come home.’

‘For all the nights by their bedside,

you stayed till the fever went down.

For nursing every little wound,

I add this ruby to your crown.’

‘An emerald, I’ll place by the ruby,

for leading your child in the right way.

For teaching them the lessons,

That made them who they are today.’

‘For always being right there,

through all life’s important events.

I give you a sapphire stone,

for the time and love you spent.’

‘For untying the strings that held them,

when they grew up and left home.

I give you this one for courage.’

Then the Lord added a garnet stone.

‘I’ll place a stone of amethyst,’ He said.

‘For all the times you spent on your knees,

when you asked if I’d take care of your children,

and then for having faith in Me.’

‘I have a pearl for every little sacrifice

that you made without them knowing.

For all the times you went without,

to keep them happy, healthy and growing.’

‘And last of all I have a diamond,

the greatest one of all,

for sharing unconditional love

whether they were big or small.’

‘It was your love that helped them grow

Feeling safe and happy and proud

A love so strong and pure

It could shift the darkest cloud.’

After the Lord placed the last jewel in,

He said, ‘Your crown is now complete,

You’ve earned your place in Heaven

With your children at your feet.’

A Mother’s Crown – By Author Unknown