Obituary for Anne Kroeker (Friesen)
Anne (Schritt) Kroeker (nee Friesen)
February 8, 1921 – November 1, 2022 (101 years old)
Anne passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long and fulfilling life. Left to treasure her memory and legacy are her children, Al Schritt, Edna (Norm) Jagger, Stan (Sue) Schritt, John (Shirley) Schritt, stepson Clarence (Barbara) Kroeker, step son-in-law Don Dyck, step daughter-in-law Nancy Stoddart, sister-in-law Anita Kroeker; 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Abram and Anna Friesen, seven siblings, husband Jacob E. Kroeker, daughter Verna, daughter-in-law Dorothy Schritt, stepdaughter Gloria Dyck, stepson Harold Kroeker, and granddaughter Christie Wiebe.
Anne was born in Altona, Manitoba on February 8, 1921. She was the second youngest of seven children. At age thirteen she stayed home to help her mother. In 1943 she married Henry Schritt. They bought a big two-storey house in Winkler and rented the four upstairs bedrooms to young women attending high school or Bible school.
Mom was a warm, caring, loving wife, mother, grandmother, Oma, great great grandmother, aunt, and friend; always thinking of others before herself. It was her family who was most important to her. She shared our joys, sorrows, and successes and kept us all in her daily prayers. Her calendar was filled with birthdays and anniversaries and she remembered and acknowledged every one of them. She kept in touch with a large network of people by phone and email. Mom loved company and was a gracious hostess. Many of us have been recipients of a delicious Faspa, Kjielkje, or Werenikje.
She will be remembered as a woman of deep faith and was an active member of the Portage Avenue Church, participating in the worship service, Bible study groups, and singing in the choir.
Her hands were always busy; holding her Bible, embracing her children, greeting friends, kneading bun dough, canning vegetables, preparing scrumptious meals, sewing for family and friends, swinging a golf club, painting pictures, writing short stories, and knitting mittens and scarves for family and those less fortunate. Mom had taken up golfing and painting after the age of 60. Many family members have one of her paintings of scenery, birds, or flowers. Her last golf game at age 85 was played with her eldest son and grandson. Oma was 99 when she passed her secret cinnamon bun recipe on to her three great grandsons.
Music was her life. She sang in many choirs and more recently participated in a choir at the care home. At age 83 she secretly produced a CD of her favorite hymns and love songs with the help of son John in his recording studio. Mom loved to sing so much, she even sang solo at her own 90th birthday party. As recently as last week, Mom was singing hymns with a staff member from Pembina Place.
Between 1970 and 1981 Mom served as a cook at Eden Mental Health Centre and at Salem Home after getting a diploma in Dietary Supervision. In 1981 Mom married J.E. Kroeker and welcomed a new and large family with open arms. She and Jake enjoyed holidays in Hawaii and California and owned a home in Arizona for a short time. They lived in Winkler, Abbotsford, and Winnipeg where they met and entertained many friends. Mom loved going to concerts, movies, Folklorama, bus tours, and ocean cruises. Travel took her as far as South America in 2003. A month after Jake died in fall of 2001, Mom took a hot air balloon ride over Winnipeg with one of her granddaughters, using the tickets that Jake had bought. Later she got a tattoo of a hot air balloon on her shoulder to commemorate the occasion.
She enjoyed volunteering at CancerCare for ten years until age 90. This is where she learned about the computer at the age of 85. Until just a few years ago, Mom was leading Alpha group Bible studies in her apartment.
In May of 2019 Mom suffered a stroke and in October 2020 a fall which hospitalized her for a few months. Pembina Place became her new home in January of 2021. She enjoyed the many activities offered there, particularly the sing-a- longs. Having family contact limited by Covid 19 restrictions was very difficult for Mom and for us as well.
Our family would like to thank Pembina Place Care Home for the wonderful care given our Mom.
A private family interment will be held at a later date.
February 8, 1921 – November 1, 2022 (101 years old)
Anne passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long and fulfilling life. Left to treasure her memory and legacy are her children, Al Schritt, Edna (Norm) Jagger, Stan (Sue) Schritt, John (Shirley) Schritt, stepson Clarence (Barbara) Kroeker, step son-in-law Don Dyck, step daughter-in-law Nancy Stoddart, sister-in-law Anita Kroeker; 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
She was predeceased by her parents Abram and Anna Friesen, seven siblings, husband Jacob E. Kroeker, daughter Verna, daughter-in-law Dorothy Schritt, stepdaughter Gloria Dyck, stepson Harold Kroeker, and granddaughter Christie Wiebe.
Anne was born in Altona, Manitoba on February 8, 1921. She was the second youngest of seven children. At age thirteen she stayed home to help her mother. In 1943 she married Henry Schritt. They bought a big two-storey house in Winkler and rented the four upstairs bedrooms to young women attending high school or Bible school.
Mom was a warm, caring, loving wife, mother, grandmother, Oma, great great grandmother, aunt, and friend; always thinking of others before herself. It was her family who was most important to her. She shared our joys, sorrows, and successes and kept us all in her daily prayers. Her calendar was filled with birthdays and anniversaries and she remembered and acknowledged every one of them. She kept in touch with a large network of people by phone and email. Mom loved company and was a gracious hostess. Many of us have been recipients of a delicious Faspa, Kjielkje, or Werenikje.
She will be remembered as a woman of deep faith and was an active member of the Portage Avenue Church, participating in the worship service, Bible study groups, and singing in the choir.
Her hands were always busy; holding her Bible, embracing her children, greeting friends, kneading bun dough, canning vegetables, preparing scrumptious meals, sewing for family and friends, swinging a golf club, painting pictures, writing short stories, and knitting mittens and scarves for family and those less fortunate. Mom had taken up golfing and painting after the age of 60. Many family members have one of her paintings of scenery, birds, or flowers. Her last golf game at age 85 was played with her eldest son and grandson. Oma was 99 when she passed her secret cinnamon bun recipe on to her three great grandsons.
Music was her life. She sang in many choirs and more recently participated in a choir at the care home. At age 83 she secretly produced a CD of her favorite hymns and love songs with the help of son John in his recording studio. Mom loved to sing so much, she even sang solo at her own 90th birthday party. As recently as last week, Mom was singing hymns with a staff member from Pembina Place.
Between 1970 and 1981 Mom served as a cook at Eden Mental Health Centre and at Salem Home after getting a diploma in Dietary Supervision. In 1981 Mom married J.E. Kroeker and welcomed a new and large family with open arms. She and Jake enjoyed holidays in Hawaii and California and owned a home in Arizona for a short time. They lived in Winkler, Abbotsford, and Winnipeg where they met and entertained many friends. Mom loved going to concerts, movies, Folklorama, bus tours, and ocean cruises. Travel took her as far as South America in 2003. A month after Jake died in fall of 2001, Mom took a hot air balloon ride over Winnipeg with one of her granddaughters, using the tickets that Jake had bought. Later she got a tattoo of a hot air balloon on her shoulder to commemorate the occasion.
She enjoyed volunteering at CancerCare for ten years until age 90. This is where she learned about the computer at the age of 85. Until just a few years ago, Mom was leading Alpha group Bible studies in her apartment.
In May of 2019 Mom suffered a stroke and in October 2020 a fall which hospitalized her for a few months. Pembina Place became her new home in January of 2021. She enjoyed the many activities offered there, particularly the sing-a- longs. Having family contact limited by Covid 19 restrictions was very difficult for Mom and for us as well.
Our family would like to thank Pembina Place Care Home for the wonderful care given our Mom.
A private family interment will be held at a later date.