Eunice Amanda Friesen

Eunice Amanda Friesen, 96, died April 24, 2023 at Fowler Residential Care (Fowler, Kansas), her home for the past two-and-a-half years. She was born to Cornelius K. and Anna Suderman Brandt on September 14, 1926, in Reedley, California. She grew up on a small farm outside of Reedley with her two sisters, near her beloved Suderman cousins. The vineyards and orchards of her youth near Reedley were the source of many legendary stories of fun and adventure told by her and her sisters.

Following her graduation from high school, Eunice enrolled in Reedley College for nurses training and later attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA). She enjoyed the opportunities the city provided, such as playing violin in orchestras and singing in radio choirs. During this time, Mennonite Central Committee was involved in mental healthcare reform in this country and looked for young people like her willing to serve. This adventure took her across the United States, from Pennsylvania to Mississippi to Newton, Kansas.

While working for Prairie View, a new Mennonite-run mental health facility in Newton, Eunice met Elmer B. Friesen, who was also working with MCC constructing the new Prairie View facility. After finding a shared love of playing tennis, the two became a couple. They married on December 10, 1955, at the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church, eventually making their home in Meade, Kansas, for many years. They had three sons, Dan, Don, and Duane.

Eunice was a hard worker. She worked as a nurse at the local hospital as well as manning the phoneline for her husband’s business, in addition to the tasks of keeping a house and raising three sons. She also found time to be creative. She created many paintings, ceramic dolls, embroidered items, and quilts in her years, earning her many blue ribbons at the county fair. Working in her yard and garden was another favorite activity, especially after adding a water garden in the 1990’s. A Saturday seldom passed where there wasn’t a pan of cinnamon rolls and maple bars on the table for morning coffeetime until just a few years ago. Elmer and Eunice loved to travel, from annual road trips to visit family in California to enjoying many bus tours in their retirement. They travelled to every state except Alaska, and also visited Canada and Mexico.

Over the last years, dementia slowly changed her reality. Clarity turned to confusion, familiar faces of loved ones became strangers. Despite this, her spirits remained generally positive. She delighted in making new friends, which becomes a daily occurrence when facing severe memory loss. While the thought of living in a nursing home was originally a difficult one, she enjoyed her time there being with her friends all day long, playing board games and bingo, putting together puzzles and adult coloring. In her later years, she spoke often of looking forward to heaven. Her smile, generosity, and kindness will be deeply missed.

Eunice was preceded in death by Elmer, her husband of nearly 65 years, in 2020, her son Don in 2016, her parents and siblings, and many beloved cousins and friends. She is survived by her sons Dan and Duane, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be sent to Fowler Residential Care or Mennonite Central Committee in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary. Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Countryside Bible Church, rural Meade. Interment will follow in the Graceland Cemetery, Meade.