Ann Friesen
August 28, 1924 – August 3, 2022
Ann Friesen was born August 28, 1924 to Peter & Nettie Fast in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan, Canada. She and her twin sister Mary were number 7 & 8 in a family of 10 children, 3 boys and 7 girls. She grew up on a farm 7 miles outside the town of Dalmeny. Ann & Mary were forever known as the Twins.
Ann graduated from high school in 1943 and attended Tabor Bible School in Dalmeny. July 1, 1946, she married her high school sweetheart, Harold Friesen. They lived in Saskatchewan for one year where Harold taught School. In 1947, Ann left her twin sister and the rest of her family behind as they emigrated to the United States and lived in Fresno, CA where Harold’s family had settled a year earlier. They felt there would be better economic opportunities there. Ann was able to return and visit her family in April of 1950. In October 1950, Mary, her twin sister, passed away after battling cancer.
Ann’s first pregnancy ended in a still birth in September, 1949. Harold and Ann’s next three children were born while living in Fresno, Larry (1950), Charlene (1953) and Valerie (1956). In 1960, Harold was transferred to San Francisco and they moved to San Leandro where their fourth child, Rick (1963) was born. Harold and Ann missed the warm summer evenings of Fresno, so they decided to move to Concord in 1965.
Wherever they lived, family and friends were important to Ann. Holidays were spent in Fresno with the Friesen family and every 3 years the long drive was made to Saskatchewan to visit the Fast Family. She was a wonderful wife, mother and friend. She was an accomplished seamstress, played the piano and sang and took great care of her family. She was always there to help her children even when they were grown, babysitting, bringing meals when they were ill and visiting wherever they lived even travelling to Mexico, Austria, Bulgaria, and Greece. If a couch needed recovering, she took a class to learn how and did it herself. She was always busy and learning new things.
Her faith was most important to her. She was raised in a strong Christian home and gave her life to the Lord at age 12. She used her gifts in the local church wherever they lived, serving as a deaconess, in children’s ministries, and singing in the choir. She believed that prayer can change things and prayed daily for her children and grandchildren. She had a deep faith that made her a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
At the age of 80, Ann began showing signs of Alzheimer’s. That was the beginning of a slow mental decline that she fought bravely, trying to continue doing as many things as possible. Harold became her primary caregiver, a role he embraced. Eventually, she didn’t know those who came to see her including her children. In 2018 Harold and Ann moved to a board and care home together. On July 1, 2021, they celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary before Harold passed away on September 4, 2021.
On August 3, 2022 Ann’s body and mind were fully restored as she left this earth and entered the presence of Jesus Christ her Savior.
In memory of Ann, donations can be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Online: www.Wycliffe.org
Mail: Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862