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Obituary of Helen Fast
Helen Fast, aged 97 years, of Steinbach, MB., formerly of Kleefeld, MB., passed away on Monday, November 9, 2020 at Rest Haven at the Cedarwood Care Home, Steinbach, MB.
Helen Fast was born February 25, 1923, to Jacob and Anna Klassen in Gnadenthal, Russia. She was the third of seven surviving children. When she was six months old, her family, along with a number of other families from the area, immigrated to Canada. The Klassen family settled in the village of Blumenort near Gretna, Manitoba, now known as Blumenort South to distinguish it from the Blumenort that is located north of Steinbach, MB.
When Mom was 13, her mother passed away leaving a grieving father and seven children. Her father remarried three years later and the children embraced a new stepmother.
Mom completed her high school education at the Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna when she was 20, having not had the opportunity to finish school earlier.
Mom became a school teacher in the 1940’s and this led her to expand her geographic horizons to places such as Ste. Rose du lac, Dauphin, Kleefeld and Winnipeg, MB.
As a teacher in Kleefeld, Mom met an eligible bachelor named Frank Fast. Frank was nine plus years her senior and busy farming and looking after an aging father. For eight years, mom prayed for Dad to find the Lord and start attending church. Ultimately he did find the Lord, it was only after Mom completed her teaching assignment at Kleefeld and had moved on to a new job in Winnipeg that Dad called her one day wondering whether he could take her out for dinner. Mom accepted the invitation and a beautiful courtship ensued. On July 5, 1958, the two were married and they made their home in Kleefeld for the next 27 years until Dad’s passing. They were blessed with five sons, one of whom passed away in infancy in 1965.
People were always important to Mom and she loved others for who they were. She was most pleased with having coffee or a meal with friends and family. She would often say, "it was nice being together and eating together". Mom would sometimes drive to Steinbach three times in the same day to go to McDonalds and pick up a coffee. She would sit in the car and just watch people.
Mom was a fabulous cook and her fruit pies were delicious due to her “secret ingredient”. One secret that was revealed was that she put a carbonated drink like sprite into the pie crust. We remember one time when she had family over for a meal and the pie crust was definitely pink in color. Mom nonchalantly said, "oh, that's because I ran out of sprite and just used cream soda". Mom wasn't afraid to try different things when it came to meal preparation. She was always pleased when she could serve a meal and the guests enjoyed the food. Mom also loved baking bread, and used flour that she had milled herself.
Mom's children and grandchildren were a great joy to her. She prayed regularly for all of them as well as for other people in the church and community. In our own family, all the children and grandchildren have a love for God and we believe this is because of mom’s prayers. This is a legacy she left with her life of faith and trust in God.
Mom was diagnosed with terminal tongue cancer only two and a half weeks before her passing. Our prayer as a family was that she would not suffer but pass away peacefully. We are thankful to God for answering our prayer. Mom passed away peacefully on November 9, a minute before midnight, with Don by her side. Some of her last words were a prayer to God, “Thank you Lord for making me whole. Thank you Lord for making me better. I love my children. They are very important to me.”
Mom was pre-deceased by one son in infancy in 1965 and by her husband Frank in 1985. She is survived by sons Jeff (Elaine), Reg (Lois), Don (Wannetta) and Rod (Bev); grandchildren Justin (Cindy), Lisa (Jonathon), Josh (Kaisley), Lyndol (Coralie), Katie (Chris), Eric (Sarah), and Mandi; as well as 10 great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff at Resthaven Care home, the Cedarwood Homecare staff, Debbie Krahn from the Palliative Care Team and Dr. Krahn for the kind and compassionate care shown to Mom especially in her last days.
One of the verses that was meaningful to mom all her life is Joshua 24:15 “...as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
A private family funeral service will be held on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Kleefeld Evangelical Mennonite Church, Kleefeld, MB., followed by the interment at the church cemetery.
The family wishes to invite you to join the service via live stream by clicking HERE.
Donations in memory of Helen may be made to Roseau River Bible Camp, Box 110; Roseau River, MB R0A 1P0.
