We Remember

FRIESEN, Esther Agnes

October 19, 1937 — June 18, 2026

Esther Agnes Friesen, age 88, of Kelowna, BC, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026, at Kelowna General Hospital with family at her side.

Esther was born on October 19, 1937, in Schoenfeld, SK, to Abram and Agnes Penner, the younger of their two daughters.

Raised on a small mixed farm near Wymark, SK, growing up, Esther had lots of chores from tending livestock to gardening and food preserving.  Those were lean times.

Esther loved school.  She attended Grades 1-8 in a one-room schoolhouse in Schoenfeld.  She went on to earn her grade 12 diploma at the Wymark School in 1956, something uncommon in farm communities of that time.

Her first job was working at the Elmwood Corner Grocery store in nearby Swift Current.  The store is still there today.

On October 20, 1957, Esther married Isaac J. Friesen of Schoenfeld.  They were happily married for 66 years until Isaac’s passing.

Together they had 3 sons: Marvin born in 1958, Terry in 1960 and Brian in 1962.  Nothing brought her more joy than spending time with them.

The young family farmed in Schoenfeld for a couple of years before leaving farm life and moving to Swift Current, SK.  A job promotion for Isaac took them to Yorkton, SK in 1962.  In 1971 they returned home to Swift Current, where they lived until their final move in 1997 into a brand-new house at the Sandalwood Resort Community in Kelowna, BC, where both Esther & Isaac resided until their passing.

Esther was a stay-at-home mom caring full-time for her 3 sons until they were old enough to look after themselves after school.  While still in Yorkton, Esther began working part-time at Safeway.  Back in Swift Current, she became a full-time employee at Safeway, working there for more than 15 years.

She loved to garden and grow flowers – she always kept a large backyard vegetable garden, and flowers surrounded her home.

Esther kept her hands busy crafting.  She enjoyed crocheting, cross-stitching, needlepoint, hand-stitching greeting cards and more.  In Kelowna, she enjoyed Sandalwood Resort Community’s craft club, always looking forward to the weekly club meetings with the friends she made there.

From 1991 to 2007, Esther and Isaac wintered at the Viewpoint RV Resort Community in Mesa, AZ doing snowbird things – Esther joined the crafting club there, made many friends, and learned new crafts.

Esther attended the Mission Creek Alliance Church regularly with her husband until 2018 when Isaac could no longer attend for health reasons and Esther stayed home to care for him.

Esther was predeceased by her husband Isaac in 2024; her mother Agnes in 1977; her father Abram in 1994; and her sister Anne in 2008; and by 16 brother- and sisters-in-law.

She is survived by her 3 sons, Marvin (Lake Country, BC), Terry (Cranbrook, BC) and Brian (Lake Country, BC), and one sister-in-law, Anne (Red Deer, AB).

Esther was committed to her family.  She was a loving wife, devoted mother, cook, educator, counsellor, friend, and so much more.  She always had a smile for everyone.  She was kind and gentle and wanted everyone to be happy.

We all loved her so much and will miss her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation.

A Funeral Service, with Pastor Arnold Downey officiating, will be held on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM (PDT), at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC.  Burial will take place after the service at 2:00 PM, at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery 1991 Bernard Ave Kelowna. A reception will be held following the interment back at Springfield Funeral Home Family Centre.

If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service, a recording will be made available to view in 3-5 days.

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.

LIVESTREAM provided by Springfield Funeral Home:

Service
Monday, June 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM (PDT)

Location
SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME

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Service Information

Service Details


The service for FRIESEN, Esther Agnes is scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM (PDT). Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME

2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC

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None.

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Testimonials

They took care of me like family.

Judith Szabo

Everything was so organized and pertinent to what we needed. Everyone we met was kind, courteous and very helpful during our emotional and challenging time. Thank you so much.

Heather Mayne

They were so prompt on answering any questions and changing things. They were prepared and respected any religious decisions. The process was so seamless and made easy in such a high stress situation.

Tanya Kohar

In the past 2 years Springfield has helped us through the death of my Mother and my Father. Their response and help allowed us to focus on the remaining family rather than worrying about details of the funeral and all the notifications that are required upon a death.

Terry Eldridge

The atmosphere has been nothing but professional during times of grief.  After the passing of my mother, the staff coached me on the next steps and looked after filling in all the government forms that I needed to sign, which took a huge burden off my mind at the time.

Donald McClure

Everyone was so helpful and kind.  There was no pressure.  They provided exactly what we needed.

Diane Greenwood

From the time I called to the completion of all the services, I received compassionate, attentive and professional care.  There was a sense of caring from each staff member.  I was turning over my Mom to their care and I felt very comfortable with everyone.  I felt heard and never felt pushed into any decision.

Katherine Lewis

I have always found the team at Springfield Funeral Home to be VERY caring, kind, considerate and helpful.  I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone who asks which funeral home would I suggest they use.  No other funeral home I have dealt with even comes close to Springfield Funeral Home.

Ethna Tutt

Right at the onset, I was made very comfortable, there was no pressure.  I was made to feel as if I was the only one they had to serve.

Frances Baum

Everything that was arranged for us was perfect.  Our loved one, husband, father, brother was treated with respect.  Thank you for making this difficult time a little more acceptable via your staff’s obvious caring and respect.

Jacquelene Bluschke

I liked the personal treatment given to my mother who is 97 years old. As her representative, I found Springfield employees pleasant and sincere, helpful and knowledgeable. Something I didn’t know, was that the funeral home would help me get through the paperwork need at this time. I am very thankful for that.

Janice Cornell

Genuine concern, excellent service, very professional. Since this was my first experience (with a funeral home), everything was above and beyond what I expected.

Randy Hatanaka

Thank you to your team for your kindness to me at a very challenging time.  You have now taken care of both of my parents with professionalism and care.

Nancy Farran

Springfield Funeral Home is always professional, caring and very knowledgeable.  We appreciate that you have dedicated staff for all needs from planning the service to completing government paperwork.

Timothy Morio Tahara

I am not sure there was anything you could have done to make a very intense emotional time less stressful.  Although we hadn’t expected Ken to want a service, when he said we needed to have one for us not him, it was true.  Your sincerity and compassion meant everything to us.  Thank you.

Gwen Harvie

David Henseleit, your compassion and professionalism is truly amazing!  The entire staff were courteous, super professional and caring as each guest arrived.  Everything was done to perfection!

Myra Neuman

Keep up the good work that you do as it is such an important service you provide.  It is still the most difficult time in a person’s life.  Your kindness is so appreciated.  We appreciated the peace of mind that everything was being looked after.

Gloria Couture

You provide a wonderful service for people going through a traumatic time.  Thank You.  The kindness and professionalism shown by the staff at Springfield Funeral Home was exemplary.

 

Kim McCaveney