Freda Schroeder

Private Family Interment

Blumenort Community Church Cemetery
HWY 311
Blumenort, Manitoba, Canada

Obituary of Freda Schroeder

Freda Schroeder of Steinbach, formerly of Kleefeld, passed away at Bethesda Regional Health Centre on Friday, November 20th, 2020, at the age of 85.

She is survived by her loving husband David; five children: Elaine (Jeff) Fast, Sandra (John) Toews, Roland (Lisa), Marles (Franc) Cyr, Sheldon (Kerri); nine grandchildren: Justin (Cindy) Fast, Lisa (Jonathan) Alphonsus, Josh (Kaisley) Fast, Corey (Felicia), Kaidra, Jennifer (Jordan) Zetterstrom, Christina (Miguel) Penner, Tiffany Cyr, Lacey; and 11 great grandchildren: Gracelyn, Amy, Jacob, Luke, Silas, Olivia, Violet, Franklin, Lucy, Macy, Levi. 

Freda is also survived by one sister, three sisters-in law, one brother-in law, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her infant daughter Lucille, son Kenton, her parents, five brothers, and four sisters.                                                

Mom was born at home in Greenland, Manitoba on October 23, 1935. She was the third youngest of eleven children in the Abram R. Plett family. Mom got her education from Grade 1 to 8 at Montezuma School in the Greenland area. She loved the school, learning, and the teachers. We recall Mom telling us of a special trip to Winnipeg that she and Grandpa Plett made during her school years.  On that trip, she got a gift of a beautiful pair of Sunday patent leather shoes. She was so excited and danced all over the place.

In her early teens, her parents and younger siblings Mary and Abe packed up the half ton truck and moved to Mexico to a Mennonite colony. This move was hard for Mom because it dashed her dreams of furthering her education to become a school teacher. On the family farm, she worked with her Mom, Dad, brothers, and sisters. One of the chores she often talked about was hauling water from the community water tank for their farm. She told us she loved working alongside her brothers doing farm chores.

Mom’s parents taught her at an early age about the salvation of Jesus Christ. Mom started her church life in the Kleine Gemeinde Church and was baptized in Mexico. She was a lifelong member of the EMC conference, attending churches throughout Manitoba.

Mom found a young handsome bachelor named Dave Schroeder working as a farm hand in the community. They were married on June 28, 1959, and had 61 years of marriage with many blessings and valleys. Mom and Dad walked together hand in hand through the good times and the bad.  While living in Mexico, they were blessed with their three eldest children, Elaine, Sandra, and Roland.  In the spring of 1964, Mom and Dad moved from Mexico to Blumenort, Manitoba. There they were blessed with three more children, Marles, Kenton, and Sheldon.  From Blumenort, they moved to Fisher Branch, Otterburne, Kleefeld, and finally settled in Steinbach in 1999.

In their life together, Mom and Dad built two new homes, farmed, trucked, and worked through life’s journey raising 6 children. Mom went through stages of running her own cleaning business, selling Tupperware, and working as a homecare attendant.

In Blumenort in 1970, Mom and Dad went through the loss of a stillborn daughter Lucille Grace, and in Kleefeld they lost their son Kenton in an accident in September 1984. Our Mom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1998, and had several rounds of treatment in the years after that. Mom was a strong woman with a lot of courage and fought to become a cancer survivor. In these times of hardship, Mom and Dad trusted in the Lord for comfort and guidance and the love of Jesus.

Our Mother loved sewing, quilting, knitting and crocheting as well as cooking and baking. Mom loved her sewing circle groups, and she made many blankets, bandages, mittens and hats for MCC. She volunteered as a clerk at the local MCC Thrift Shop and spent many years as the food convenor at her church in Kleefeld. Her favourite activities were working in the garden, tending her flower beds, and spending time with her children, teaching and training them to go through life joyfully. She would often treat her children to a trip to the beach or an ice cream on a hot day. She was a fantastic hostess and taught us how to host others as well.  She taught us how to pray and live for Jesus, trusting in God and building our faith.

 Her grandchildren were so special to her. She loved the opportunity to babysit and spend time with her grandchildren, and always had a special treat waiting for them.  She always tried to connect and enjoyed interacting with them on every visit. As her grandchildren became parents, she loved meeting and holding her new great-grandchildren.

When Mom and Dad moved to Bridge Park Manor, Mom was initially hesitant about the change.  Despite this, she embraced the cooks, the meals, and the fellowship in the dining room, making many friends there. Mom had a talent to love other people just the way they were and she was loved by all who knew her.

Thank you to Bethesda nursing staff for their excellent care of our mother in her last days.

We love you Mom, and will miss you very much.

~ The Schroeder Family.

 

A private family service will be held on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

 

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