Donalda (“Donni”) Ann Friesen, a resident of Grande Prairie, Alta., passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018 at the Prairie Lake Seniors’ Hospice at the age of 76.
Donni was born in Fort Frances, Ont. on Dec. 12, 1941. She was raised on a farm in Stratton, Ont. with five brothers and a sister.
As the young age of 17, she met her husband-to-be, Harvey Robert Friesen, and they were married on Feb. 14, 1961 in Greenwood, N.S.
They travelled overseas with the Canadian Air Force. After many years of travel, they settled in Grande Prairie with their four daughters and their families.
Donni was generous, family-focused, faith-filled, and a fun-loving wife, mother, nana, sister, and aunt.
She began her fastball career at the age of 39 and loved her Toronto Blue Jays, playing her slots in Vegas, painting, baking, cake decorating, and beating her grandkids at cards.
She will be sadly missed by her husband, Harvey (“Bob”) Friesen; children, Sharon Gill, Linda Friesen, Carla (Greg) Mercier, and Tamara (Mike) Bannister; grandchildren, Scott, Todd, Derrick (Amanda), Nicole, Brendon, Troy, Sean, TJ, Colby, and Zach; and great-grandchildren, Jackson, Jordan, and Avery.
She also is survived by her sister, Judy (Phil) Redwood; brother, Lynn Oster; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, Evelyn and George Oster; and brothers, Gerald Oster, Terry Oster, Mike Oster, and Lornie Oster.
A funeral mass was held on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grande Prairie (10404 102 St.)
In memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Liver Foundation at 309, 1010 1 Ave. NE, Calgary, Alta., T2E 7W7 or www.liver.ca
DONALDA (‘DONNI’) ANN FRIESEN
