Evelina (Friesen) Hrappstead

Our beloved wife and mother, Evelina (Friesen) Hrappstead, was born to Cornelius and Helen Friesen on June 12, 1954. On February 3, 2021, after suffering complications following an aneurysm, she peacefully passed away.

Mom gave her life to the Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, when she was fourteen years old. She loved Jesus as her personal Saviour and remained devoted and faithful unto the end. She was often found reading her Bible in the evening.

Evelina married me, Barrie Hrappstead, on November 1, 1987, and we were blessed with two sons. Family was so important to her, and she loved nothing more than having all of us around her. One of her dreams was to show her family her birthplace in Mexico, which we did in 2009. Mom was an ambitious, vivacious lady. She loved to reminisce about her life: growing up in Mexico, moving to Canada, and treasured memories of family and friends. She would often tell us daughters-in-law stories of Dad, Trevor, and Carlos from before we joined the family. She was always thrilled when we accomplished things, and her friends often heard about them, too. Dad and Mom were very hospitable and loved to have a table full of company.

She taught for eight years, starting in Whitemouth, and then going on to Texas before coming to teach in Swan River, where she met and fell in love with Dad. As a farmer’s wife, she was full of endless energy and determination. She would drop all work, whether it was half made burritos or a canner full of green beans, to run whatever errand was needed. We would often hear Mom’s voice on the two way, asking production-based questions such as, “How many acres are left?” and “What time will you be done?”

Mom was passionate about gardening and grew many vegetables. Her family and friends often benefited from her surplus produce. She loved her flowers and anyone who came on her yard in summer will remember her bubblegum petunias, begonias, and gladiolas. We, her children and siblings, will miss Mom’s phone calls. She loved to tell us news and hear what was happening in our lives.

Those left to cherish fond memories are her loving husband Barrie; and her children: Trevor and Sierra, Gretna, Manitoba; Carlos and Janalyn, Swan River, Manitoba. Her siblings: Leonard and Marilyn Friesen, John and Velma Friesen, Mary and Dan Friesen, Ed and Rowena Friesen, Leona and Norman Toews, Roselyn and Darryl Toews, Millie Jantz, Kathy and Sheldon Toews, Levina and Matt Warkentin, and sister-in-law Wilda and Ken Watts. Welcoming Evelina to heaven are her parents, parents-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Evelina (Friesen) Hrappstead, please visit our floral store.