Obituary Overview
Franziska (Frances) Derksen
Franziska (Frances) DERKSEN
(nee FROESE)
Franziska
(Frances) DERKSEN (nee FROESE) passed away with family at her side on May 4,
2018 at the age of 88 years in Winnipeg, Canada. Always independent, she chose
to leave hospital and finish her fight with cancer in her beloved home of 58
years.
Frances
was born on August 14, 1929 in Ekaterinoslav, Ukraine. She was the first born
of 9 children. Her mother died when she was 7 years old. Her formative years
took place under the brutal oppression of the Russian regime which gave way to
the horrors of the Second World War. She watched Dresden burn as her family
fled across Europe. At war’s end she was 15 years old and found herself living
and working in the small German village of Hagedorn. They were hard times, but
she considered it home and didn’t want to leave when her family immigrated to
Canada in 1948.
Two
months after Frances arrived in Manitoba, she got a letter from an admirer she
had met in a German Immigration camp. She had been too shy to give him her
address but the letter had found her. The admirer was Abram Derksen and
he had copied her address from her luggage. His ingenuity worked as they were
married in 1950 in Winnipeg. Frances was also baptized in 1950 in the
Mennonite faith. Four children followed: Rudy Derksen (Irene), Marianne Toews
(Peter), Frank Derksen (Rita) and Peter Derksen (Shannon). Her grandchildren are
Caroline, Laura and Christine Derksen; Christopher, Nathan and Joel Toews;
Frank, Mark and Colin Derksen; Quinn, Serena and Tess Derksen, along with 5
recent great grandchildren.
Tragically,
her husband Abram died at 48 years of age of the same cancer that would take
his loving wife 44 years and 2 days later. Frances never remarried and times
were tough but she was dedicated to raising her children and earning a living.
The war had ended her education early so at the age of 55 she went back to
school and then college and was very proud of her career as an administrative
assistant with the Provincial Government. After she retired, she dedicated even
more time to her ever growing family. She was still canvassing her neighborhood
for the Cancer Society well into her 80’s. Right up to a few months before her
passing, she was living independently in the house her husband built, shoveling
snow, driving her friends to doctor appointments and teaching grandchildren how
to use Facebook. She had a busy schedule but she always made time for family,
friends and those in need; they were number one! Despite all the tragedies that
her life encompassed, she did not feel sorry for herself. Instead, she
believed: “God has blessed us more than I could have imagined”.
Celebration
of life, internment and reception, Saturday May 12, 2018 10:00am Glen Eden
Funeral Home, 4477 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB.
Memorial
donations may be made in her name to Cancer Care Manitoba. Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenedenmemorial.ca
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Franziska Frances Derksen 2018.source
Décès pour la Ville: West St Paul, Province: Manitoba
