IRENE FROESE

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IRENE FROESE

April 18, 1938 – June 10, 2025

On June 10, 2025, our beloved mother, Irene Froese, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family's love.

Mom will be deeply missed by her daughters Lori and Beverly; her grandchildren Greg, Stephanie (Leyton), Mark (Carly), Andrea (Matt), Jonathon (Kassandra), and Nicole (Paul); and her great-grandchildren Aubree, Bella, and Lars. She will be lovingly remembered by her sisters Elfrieda (Leonard, deceased), Hildie (Bill), and Sylvia (Gary); her many sisters- and brothers-in-law; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.

Mom was predeceased by her beloved husband of 63 years, Ted; her cherished daughter Debbie; and her parents, John and Anna Reimer.

Born on April 18, 1938, Mom was the second of four daughters. Her early years were spent in Landmark before the family moved to Steinbach. Mom was a quiet, shy child, a homebody who often said her mom was her rock and her dad loved being surrounded by his four girls. The family took many memorable trips, especially to British Columbia. One of her fondest memories was collecting rocks in Yarrow - and her heartbreak when she couldn't bring them all back to Manitoba.

As a teenager, Mom worked at the family's McLeod's store in Steinbach. She'd often come home on breaks to mow the lawn and push baby sister Sylvia in her swing while mowing -always the multitasker. She carried that same hardworking spirit throughout her life, finding joy in both yard work and retail.

Mom met Dad at a wedding where they were both attendants. Dad's sister, Marion, was marrying Mom's uncle, Abe Banman, and that wedding united two families and created a lifelong friendship. Mom and Dad fell in love, perhaps helped along by Dad's fancy car, and were married on September 7, 1958. They settled in North Kildonan, Winnipeg, and raised three daughters.

For many years, Mom was a devoted stay-at-home mom whose beautifully tended, park-like yard became a gathering place for neighborhood kids. She was the mom with homemade popsicles, buckets of cookies, and endless creativity. She sewed the most elaborate collection of Barbie clothes for the towering four-story Barbie house she and Dad built - beloved by all who visited and played with it.

Though shy in her youth, Mom grew into a bold and adventurous woman. She got her driver's license later in life and re-entered the workforce, thriving in retail and connecting deeply with the people she met. She had a remarkable memory for people's stories and families and made friends wherever she went.

In 1979, Mom and Dad opened Froese's Food Fare. Mom ran the office with tireless dedication and quickly formed warm relationships with staff and customers alike. She loved the store, the hustle, and most of all, the people.

As her family grew, Mom poured her heart into being a grandmother. She was fiercely proud, enthusiastic, and endlessly loving - her cards and messages often filled with joyful exclamation marks to match her spirit. Cottage weekends were loud, fun, and full of love (despite no electricity or running water), and Mom made it all seem effortless.

When some of her children moved to B.C., Mom was right behind them. She and Dad split their time between Winnipeg and Osoyoos, a place she dearly loved. She took many solo road trips over the mountains, driving with joy and speed - making up for her late start behind the wheel! In Osoyoos, Mom continued to host with her signature generosity, serving legendary spare ribs, cabbage rolls, and an abundance of Christmas cookies and chocolates. She always made more than enough, just in case.

Mom was passionate about people, sunsets, flowers, biographies, and politics. She never stopped learning or engaging - following world events and she wasn't shy about sharing her liberal views. Her favorite music was classic country, and she especially adored Conway Twitty (seeing him in concert six times, often with sister Sylvia).

Mom and Dad traveled extensively after retirement, with cherished trips to Europe, Ukraine (visiting the villages where their families were from), Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Disney World with grandkids in tow. She even managed to bring her famous thin pancakes to the beach for breakfast.

Mom had one speed – fast - and a remarkable ability to make decisions quickly and confidently, whether buying a home or planning a family trip. She never did anything halfway. Through every challenge in life, Mom remained resilient, joyful, and full of gratitude. Her faith in God was simple and unshakable - she believed she was loved and protected, and that was enough.

Even into her later years, Mom embraced technology. Her love of Facebook was legendary, and for her 80th birthday, she toured Google and visited Facebook headquarters - thank you, Matt! Social media kept her connected to everyone she loved, and when she could no longer travel, she did so vicariously through her feed. She became quite the joker in her final years, delighting friends and family with silly jokes. And she never stopped loving a good car ride, especially along the scenic routes of Vancouver.



We will miss Mom's boundless enthusiasm, her fierce love for family, her humor, and her warmth. But we take comfort knowing she is reunited with her beloved Ted and her daughter Debbie, whose loss she never truly recovered from.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the palliative care team at Fraser Health and the Crossroads Hospice in Port Moody for their compassion and care.

A celebration of Mom's life will be held in Winnipeg at a later date. Details will be posted and shared with family.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 21, 2025