Frieda Wallace
1933 - 2018
Frieda Wallace, our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully in Taber on Monday, January 15, 2018 at the age of 84 years.
Relatives and friends were invited to Prayers at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, January 19, 2018 at 7:00 P.M.
The Funeral Service was held at the Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church, 320 - 9 Street North, Vauxhall on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. Burial followed at the Hays Cemetery.
Frieda is survived by her children Alan Wallace of Forestburg, Randy (Andrea) Wallace of Baltimore, Maryland and Robert (Joan) Wallace of Hays; her loving grandchildren Amanda (Lincoln) Sipko, Heather (Christopher) Ehnes, Jillian (Matthew) Vanden Dungen, Christel (Cody) Todd, Jennifer Wallace, Brenna (Fabian) Pahl, Megan Wallace, Russell Wallace, Brittany (Dan) Bastian, Noelle (Ryan) Meier and by thirteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by her twin sister Hedwig "Hedy" Griffiths of Calgary and sisters-in-law Elsie Pipke, Helen Wallace and by numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband George Wallace; parents Heinrich and Hulda Pipke; brothers Ewald Pipke and Bruno Pipke; brothers-in-law Alan Griffiths, Peter Wallace, Garth Matkin, Jim Harbaugh and Russ Davidson; sisters-in-law Lyla Davidson, Thelma Harbaugh and Violet Matkin.
Frieda was born in Poland on October 2, 1933 to Heinrich and Hulda Pipke. She was not expected to live so her grandmother and aunts took her home with them and incubated her in a wood stove. She lived with them until she was about five years old and then she went back to live with her parents and siblings. At first, Frieda did not care for this arrangement as her grandparents and aunts spoiled her rotten. At her parents’ home, the girls had to learn to share their clothes and the few toys that they had.
As the country was being torn apart by World War II, Hulda decided it was time to get the family to Canada. One son was already lost to the Russian army and she wasn’t about to lose the second. Sadly, after making all the arrangements to immigrate to Canada, Hulda passed away. Around 1948, Frieda, her twin sister, Hedy, brother Bruno and father Heinrich arrived in Canada and settled near Edmonton.
Frieda and her sister soon learned English and became nurses’ aides or LPN’s. Her work soon took her to Cardston where she met Violet, one of George’s sisters. She took a liking to Frieda and thought she would be a good match for her little brother George. George and Frieda were married September 24, 1955 and lived in Hays. Over the next few years they had three sons, Alan, Randy and Robert. After Robert started school, Frieda went back to nursing at the hospital in Taber. She worked there for twenty seven years. Frieda and George lived on the farm until 1996 when they moved into a house in Taber. In 2005, due to health issues of both Frieda and George, they decided to move into a condo in Taber. After George’s passing in 2015, Frieda moved into Clearview Lodge in Taber where she lived until the time of her passing.
Frieda was a very social person and enjoyed nothing better than knowing what was going on all around her. She and George made every attempt to attend every family function and especially enjoyed the visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Even in her declining health, she still tried to come out to the farm for Christmas and birthday celebrations. She was also still remembered by some for the kind care she showed to various patients while she was nursing.