Obituary of Agatha Fuchs

In the early morning hours of Monday, October 2, 2023, Agatha Fuchs slipped peacefully through an opening in the clouds ploughed by her husband, Abe.

Agatha was the fifth of fourteen children born on the family farm south of Grunthal, MB to Aganetha and Cornelius T. Friesen on August 27, 1936. She began her career as a health care aid at the King George and Princess Elizabeth municipal hospitals, caring for polio and tuberculosis patients. She was very passionate about the individuals in care and recalled in detail the challenges they experienced. Deep friendships she made with staff have endured.

Her marriage to Abe Fuchs on September 10, 1955, sealed a 50-year bond of love and devotion. While he maintained the roads as a grader operator, she maintained the acreage in Kleefeld, MB. Having grown up during the Depression, she developed her super powers of gardening, canning, upcycling, and sewing.

As the years passed, her skills expanded to nurturing her son and daughter, followed by their children and great-grandchildren. Their home was a revolving door of fun times and sleepovers.

After Abe’s passing in 2005, Agatha was determined to remain in their home. Cancer had other plans. In March 2023 she moved to an Assisted Living apartment at Niverville Credit Union Manor. After the first night, she shook off her hesitancy and embraced her new “community”. She never stopped absorbing the love coming from those around her, and she returned it in kind.

Her favorite pastime of reading now became focused on her Devotionals and Bible. As her curly hair grew back in abundance, sadly, so too did the lymphoma.

Left with wonderful memories are her son, Jim Fuchs (friend, Marge), daughter, Beve (Norm) Curtis; granddaughters, Veronica Gagnon (Beau Downey), Kendra (Bryan) Williams, Rae-Dawn (Benj) Osis, adopted grandchildren, Victoria and Dylan Fuchs, and four great-grandchildren, Zane, Makinley, Presley, and Portlyn.

Also missing her are siblings Peter Friesen, Helen (John) Hiebert, Ike (Diana), David, Mary (Andrew) Friesen, Jake, Nettie Baschuk, and Betty (Henry) Smadella. In-laws Harry Ladyka, Viola Friesen, and Evelyn Fuchs.

She’s reunited with her husband and siblings, Tina (John) Funk, Marie, Jacob, Anne Ladyka, Johnny, and In-laws Fran Friesen, Bernice Friesen, Chris Baschuk, Minnie (Steve) Chomokovski, Dick Friesen, Carl Fuchs, Marianne (Walter) Begalke, Leonard Fuchs, Helen (Jake) Woelke, Waldo (Marge) Fuchs.

A Celebration of Agatha's life will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with interment at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB.  

Pallbearers: Jim Fuchs, Norm Curtis, Edward Friesen, Beau Downey, Bryan Williams, Benj Osis, Zane Osis.

Family extends sincere gratitude to the staff at Niverville Manor and Silver Lining for their exceptional care and compassion for Agatha.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Agatha may be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Inc  675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 9Z9 or Niverville Heritage Centre Projects 205-101 2^nd Ave S, Niverville, MB R0A 0A1 Attn: Jessica Beaupre.