LENA DRIEDGER

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LENA DRIEDGER Peacefully, our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was finally able to pass into the hands of her saviour, Jesus Christ on May 13, 2016. The family was blessed to have her in our lives for so long. It was not an easy life for her as she developed Parkinson's in her early 50s, and spent the last 14 years of her life in the Eastview Personal Care Home, where she received excellent care. Lena was born on November 11, 1927 to Cornelius D. and Eva (nee Harder) Giesbrecht. She was part of a family of four boys and six girls. She spent her early years in the Kronsgart/Steinfeld area, and then at age 10 moved with her parents to the village of Neuhorst. She married our father, Peter J. Driedger, on November 6, 1947 as part of a double wedding with Ed and Lena Penner. Lena was predeceased by her husband, Peter on September 16, 1997, her parents, three sisters, one brother, eight sisters-in-law, 11 brothers-in-law, and one great-grandson Jaxon. Even though she battled serious health issues for so many years, God gave her more years of life than any of her immediate siblings that predeceased her. Lena is survived by brothers, Frank Giesbrecht, Surrey, BC, Ben (Susan) Giesbrecht, Altona, MB, and Neil (Doreen) Giesbrecht, Winnipeg, MB, sisters Nora Jones, Gibson, BC, and Edna Peters, Winnipeg, MB, sisters-in-law Susan Janzen, Winkler, MB, Lena Penner, Macgregor, MB, Marie Dueck, Winkler, MB, Annie Driedger, Winkler, MB, Lilly Driedger, Winnipeg, MB, Sara Driedger, Altona, MB, and brother-in-law Abe Driedger in Altona, MB. Children John (Donna) Driedger, Gimli, MB, Edna (Abe) Wall, Chortitz, MB, Betty (Dave) Reimer, Miami, MB, Ron (Kathe) Driedger, Saskatoon, SK, and Larry (Barb) Driedger, Altona, MB. Grandchildren Mathew Driedger, Allison (Jordan) Hollins, Julie (Tim) Kornelson, Tammy (Abe) Wall, Lewis (Jen) Wall, Darryl (Ashley) Wall, Chris Reimer, Cheryl Reimer, Stefanie Driedger, Marissa Driedger, Myra Driedger, Nathan Driedger, and Heidi Driedger. Great-grandchildren Annabelle, Josiah, and Joshua Hollins, Jordan Kornelson, Abigail and Cassidy Wall, Levi, Cora, and Aaryn Wall, Ethan, Rylan, and Jayden Wall. During her early married life, she worked very hard on their farm firstly in Neuhorst, then in the Rudnerweide area. She then took a job at Friesen's in Altona making those famous blue Birk's boxes till her health forced her to retire. Mom and Dad moved into Altona to their Westwood home initially in 1981. Then they moved to their Centre Courts apartment where they were when Dad passed away in 1997. Mom then moved into the Eastview Personal Care Home in 2002 due to her declining health. The family would like to thank the excellent home care professionals when Mom was in her apartment, and all the staff at Eastview who went over and above their job duties to make Mom's life comfortable. The family would also like to thank the volunteers from the Altona and District Palliative Care who were with Mom when the family was unable. A celebration of Mom's life will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sommerfeld Mennonite Church in Altona, MB. Viewing will be held at Wiebe Funeral Home in Altona on Monday, May 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Eastview Place Chaplaincy Fund would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to: Morris Funeral Home 204-746-2451 www.morrisfuneralhome.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 16, 2016