Obituary of Frieda Turigan

Frieda Turigan, dearest Mom and Gramma, passed on to a better life on Monday, July 8th, 2013. She spent 84 years 10 months devoting her life to God, to her family and to her friends. Frieda was born at the Castor Hospital on September 29th, 1928, the fifth child of Jacob and Matilda Gebhardt. Frieda lived a full and rewarding life. She was a hard worker and was happiest when she was busy. She grew up on a farm near Castor and often worked outdoors with her Dad and other siblings. On April 16th, 1947 she married Carl and moved to the nearby Turigan homestead. To this union three children were born: William (Bill), Shirley and April (who was stillborn after full term). Many happy years were spent there as a family. Frieda was a loving and wonderful Mom. She was a great cook and her family always looked forward to sitting around her table. Our favorite dish was her homemade strudel and roast beef. Her lemon jelly rolls always made mouths water. Carl and Frieda remained on the farm until 1970 at which time they moved into Stettler. During her years in Stettler, Frieda worked for Hugh and Nora Charles at their meat shop, operated a day care home and then worked for Home Support caring for seniors in the community. She also worked for a number of years at Stettler Auction Mart where she did the daily banking, mail and other tasks around town. She was faithful in this and loved to visit with bank staff and those whom she had contact with. Frieda loved to quilt, sew and make a variety of handcrafts, but perhaps her greatest passion was nurturing her yard and garden. Her neighbors (the Beiers’ and the Duncans’) kept an eye out for her and also saw how she loved to see things grow and bloom. Her hostas were gigantic and lush. She also supported the seed companies as she fed her beloved birds. She loved nature, and saw God’s handiwork in His creation. Faith and love for God was her highest calling. She looked forward to Sunday services and Bible studies and being together with her church family. She was a prayer warrior on behalf of her family and friends, and spent much time in the Word, which she loved. She will be sadly missed and forever remembered by her loving family: son Bill (Alice) Turigan of Ponoka, daughter Shirley (Doug) McKay of Stettler, grandchildren Jason Turigan, Sarah-Lee (Steve) Koleyak, Kenton McKay, and Joel (Miranda) McKay, and great-grandchildren Jayla and Eli Koleyak, and Carson and Heath McKay. She will also be missed by numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbours. Frieda is survived by brother Helmut (Emma) Gebhardt of Stettler, sisters Molly Kuefler of Wetaskiwin and Esther Trefz of Stettler, and brothers-in-law Paul (Ruth) Turigan of Oliver, BC and Otto Straub of Eckville. Frieda was predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Matilda Gebhardt, her beloved Husband Carl, infant daughter April, sisters Annie and Lily, and brother-in-laws Robert Trefz, Clements Kuefler, and Fred Straub. A funeral service for the late Frieda Turigan will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Stettler, Alberta. Donations in memory of Frieda are gratefully accepted to St. Peter Lutheran Church Building Fund or Stettler Health Services Foundation.