Obituary of Louise Froese

The life and soul of a beautiful woman, loving mother and kind human, left us on April 15, 2008. Time and age did what tuberculosis; revolution, famine, war, ethnic cleansing and persecution could not. Louise (nee Rempel) was born east of the Ural Mountains in Siberia in the city of Dovlekanova, Russia on August 6, 1914. The 1917, Russian revolution caused the family to flee to the village of Molochansk in the Ukraine. It was here Louise met Fredrick Froese who years later, after losing his fist wife Anastasia Matz to typhoid fever would become her husband. Louise embraced Fred’s first two children Victor and Lily at ages four and two years old and loved and cared for them as her own. Life in the Ukraine challenged their humanity as the deep recession and famine of the 1930’s only accentuated the discrimination of their distant German heritage. The retreat of the Russians in WWII and German occupation of the Ukraine, found Louise abandoned in a hospital while giving birth. Death, no stranger in the times or her life, found the newborn baby. The family moved with the wave of human exodus from Russia. Her second baby Walter, born in Russia and third son Arthur, born in Czechoslovakia, accompanied the family as history saw her husband Fred drafted into a war he did not believe in. This event left Louise fending for four children and surviving by working at an agricultural estate and by having the children tend to a large garden, helping to raise chickens and rabbits for food. Her fierce determination for life, family and dignity rose above the turmoil and desperate environment of the times. It was a Canadian Air Force jacket worn by Fred, which was shipped for assistance by Fred’s cousin, that became the difference which allowed the immigration authority to let the family come to Canada in 1949. From the initial farm work to jobs in New Hamburg, ON; Kitchener, ON and later to Calgary, AB. Louise’s life centered on her family that she had saved during the endless journey out of the Ukraine. Somehow, she understood the pen to be mightier than the sword and encouraged and supported, with meager funds, the education of her children. Her beloved son Walter was killed in a senseless driver error, at the age of 9. Tears filled her eyes at the mention of his name for the rest of her life. In 1955, Fred and Louise had a great joy and surprise enter their lives on the birth of their youngest daughter, Helen. Helen and her family supported her parents as age and time began to take it’s toll. Louise’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will always remember her bright eyes, caring touch and sage but cautious advice. Her simple and flavorful foods and recipes that were born from necessity are parts of all their lives. All who knew her have felt her kindness, unselfishness and great inner strength. Her happiness for the successes, big or small, of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren has touched them all. Louise is survived by her children, Victor (Betty) Froese, Lily (Jacob) Braun, Arthur (Donna) Froese, Helen (Chris) Kolozetti; grandchildren, Jonathan, Paul, Eric (Cassie) Froese, Gary, Ron and Karl (Sharla) Braun, Kathy O’Neil, Kirsten (Robin) Loewen, Hannah (Mike) LaPlante, Adam, Katrina and Dean Kolozetti; great-grandchildren, Jesse and Kayla Froese, Niklous, Ryan, Jacob, Jessie and Erin Braun, Charla, Kaylin and Sean O’Neil, Sierra and Zephyr LaPlante. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, 2888 Shaganappi Trail N.W., Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Telephone: (403) 955-8818. In living memory of Louise Froese, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.