Obituary for Anne Unrau (Froese)
Anne Unrau
January 22, 1921 – January 11, 2018
Anne Unrau, daughter of Gustav and Anna (Siebert) Froese, was born on January 22, 1921 in Lysanderhoeh, Russia. She immigrated to Canada with her parents, three brothers and one sister in 1927. During the voyage across the Atlantic Mom fell down a flight of stairs and was unconscious for several days. She survived the accident but permanently lost the hearing in her right ear.
The family landed in Montreal and travelled to Rosthern, Saskatchewan where they lived in an immigration house with many others. They lived for a time in Hawarden where Mom’s father worked for the railway and then eventually in 1936 they settled on Sheldon farm, near Hanley, Saskatchewan. Here they farmed the land, had some good crops and some poor ones. When the crops were good neighbors came to help with the harvest. Mom’s mother had a large garden to feed the ever-growing family. Along with the vegetables there were long rows of gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries and rhubarb. In the winter Mom’s brothers would flood the garden patch and it became an ice rink where they had fun skating with family and friends. Mom attended a school that was three miles away. They walked to school in the summer and in winter went by horse and sleigh. She attended school only until 8th grade, as she was needed at home to help with her younger siblings. As the eldest she was required to help with field work, butchering, canning, milking cows, gardening and cooking.
She attended Sheldon church where she was a member of the choir and was baptized there on May 28, 1939. The church was the social center of rural life and it was here that she met John Unrau. They courted and were married October 17, 1942. Several years were spent farming the land near Hanley and Outlook and four children were born; Trudy, Lily, Harry and John. After enduring some crop failures the decision was made to move to Winnipeg on Minto Street. Dad went to work at Monarch Industries and Mom cleaned homes so she could be around when the kids came home from school. Rene and Art Jones rented the 2nd floor of the house until another baby (Ruth) came along.
As the kids grew up, moved out and married, Mom and Dad moved to a home on Harcourt Street, and then into an apartment in the Courts of St. James. Dad loved to drive so they travelled far and wide…from B.C. to Maine to visit relatives, friends and especially grandchildren! As Dad drove, Mom knitted numerous afghans, sweaters, mittens and hats. There were also trips to the U.S., Hawaii, Mexico and Germany.
In later years they moved to Autumn House where Dad’s health declined and he passed away on May 8, 2007. Mom lived there until the fall of 2016 when she moved to Arlington House.
Mom passed away peacefully January 11, 2018 at the Health Sciences Center. Leaving to mourn her passing are her children: Trudy, Lily (Ted) Barg, Harry, John (Kathleen) and Ruth (Michael) Kepron, seven grandchildren Darryl (Krista), Andrea (Kelly) Guenther, Karen (Mark Maurice), Kristopher (Jodie), Marla (Tim) Grovo, Jared and Nicole and seven great-grandchildren, Lukas (Melissa), Mikayla, Arik, Joshua, Natasha, Noah and Addie-Anne, the newest great-granddaughter who was born on the day Mom passed away.
She was the eldest of 14 children and is survived by brothers, David (Marlene) and Helmut, sisters, Louise Falk (Walt), Mary Krause, Frieda Ebbert, and Marlene Hoeppner (Don); sisters-in-law, Anita, Mary and Kathleen. She was predeceased by her husband John, daughter-law Darlene, brothers Jake (Elsie), John (Agnes), Arnold (Helen), Art, Ben and Gus Froese; sister, Selma (Glen) Dromerski; brothers-in-law: Harold Krause, Ernie Ebbert.
Anne grew up in a loving family with many friends and relatives, some of whom remained close friends for life. The First Mennonite Church was a big part of her life. She served the church in many ways especially as a member of the Edelweiss Women’s Group. She lived a vibrant life, had a strong faith in God and a deep love for her family.
A celebration of her life will take place on Friday, January 19, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at First Mennonite Church, 922 Notre Dame Avenue. Flowers gratefully declined. Donations may be made to MCC Manitoba, 134 Plaza Drive, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Anne Unrau Froese 1921 2018.source
Décès pour la Ville: Winnipeg, Province: Manitoba
