In loving memory of Grace Diana Neufeld who passed away peacefully at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at the age of 83.
Mom was born on January 2, 1937 to David and Elizabeth (Froese) Klassen in Steinbach, Manitoba.
Grace will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Brenda (Glenn) Patterson, Diane (Rick) Jacobsen of Dryden and Libby Helpin of Sylvan Lake, AB; by her grandchildren – Michael (Sarah) Patterson, Andrew (Angela Roussin) Patterson, Brian (Regan) Jacobsen, all of Dryden; Vicki Jacobsen of Hudson, Josh Helpin of Calgary and Shaun (Bianca Moses) Helpin of Sylvan Lake; and her great-grandchildren Nolan & Maria Jacobsen and Logan Patterson all of Dryden; siblings Richard (Maureen) Klassen, Sophie (Curtis) Baerg, Art (Grace) Klassen, Anne Klassen, Leonard (Marie) Klassen and Helen Wade as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
Mom was predeceased by her two sons Larry and Rob, her parents and her oldest sister and brother-in-law.
Mom grew up on a farm in the Steinbach area. She was the third oldest of eight children. She attended a one room school in Twin Creek which she left after grade 7 in order to help out at home. She later moved to Winnipeg and worked as a hospital dietary aid.
After getting married, they moved to Ontario (Amesdale, Oxdrift, Vermilion Bay) then to Calgary for a few years. In 1969 the family returned to Dryden and then in 1970 mom was left to raise her five children on her own. Until this time she had been a stay-at-home mom. She worked very hard, as a single mom, to support her family, a few jobs at a time until she obtained a fulltime job at the Dryden District General Hospital as a dietary aid. She worked in this position for ten years.
Mom was a very proud, hardworking and independent woman. Her family was very important to her. She had many talents that she was excellent at and taught us how to cook, bake, sew, knit, garden, just to mention a few. She would even do her own vehicle maintenance, including changing the oil. One of Vicki’s greatest memories was learning how to bake bread under her grandma’s tutelage.
Mom had a great appreciation for nature. She loved watching the wildlife outside her windows. In her earlier days she enjoyed camping and fishing with her family and friends. She would take her motorhome and go on some adventures. She loved road trips.
In her later years, she enjoyed having her children and grandchildren dropping in for visits and playing games. In the last few years you may have seen her out and about on her blue scooter.
Thank you to the nursing staff at DRHC for your care of mom. A special thank you to Dr. Moir for the loving care you gave to mom; and to Carolyn Hill for escorting mom to the TBRHSC, supporting, comforting and advocating for her there. There aren’t enough words to express our gratitude for always going over and above what a good neighbour could be; Army Armstrong you were mom’s special person.
There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held at a later date.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice through the Stevens Funeral Home, P.O. Box 412, Dryden ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca.
