Tina "Teenie" (Friesen) Funk

We mourn the loss of our mother and grandmother, Teenie Funk, on April 25th, 2022 at the age of 98. 

She is survived by son Eldon (Willie), grandsons Eric (Ilona) and Gregory, sisters-in -law Margaret Funk, Hilda Funk, Betty Friesen, and Marie Friesen, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Born at Cuauhtemoc, in the Chihuaha Region of Mexico, she was the first of eight (5 brothers and 3 sisters) children born to Isaac and Helena Friesen. Of the eight only one, Marie, did not survive to adulthood.  

She only found out in recent years that her real name was Tina (although one of the 4 documents from Mexico even said Katerina) and said that she liked it much better than Teenie! Perhaps grandmother used Teenie because mom had 3 cousins named Tina!

The family moved back to Manitoba when she was three and settled on a farm near Rosenfeld. 

Her childhood spent on the farm was filled with hard work. Being the eldest, and a girl, the household duties including care of a large family fell on her shoulders on the occasions when her mother was ill. Of course, as money was tight, the children had to help with adult chores on the farm as soon as physically possible. 

The walk to Reichenbach School was 2 miles long on the open prairie; the walk to town nearly 3 miles.

Church was a big part of family life and mother loved singing in the choir. She seemed to have high standards as she abruptly stopped singing when she deemed her voice had deteriorated and, to my knowledge, she never sang again. She was baptized into the Sommerfeld church on May 25th, 1945 and her faith was the cornerstone of her life.

In her late teens/early twenties she also worked in Winnipeg with her cousin Ann Zacharias in winters to earn money. She did clerk at Eaton’s; this may have been then.

She married William H (Bill) Funk in Rosenfeld on July 27th, 1947, not long after his return from service in the Second World War, and, utilizing a VLA loan, they purchased farmland 7 miles north of Rosenfeld. They spent the first few years in a small old house on the home quarter but after Eldon was born the house was deemed too cold to raise a small child and they spent winters upstairs at Bill's parent’s house until they were able to build what came to be their permanent home 5 miles north of Rosenfeld (9-4-1W) utilizing much wood from the old barn on the original home quarter. She had nothing but good to say about the experience of living with the in-laws although it couldn’t have always been easy.

Life on the farm was busy as she cooked, baked, gardened, and sewed. On the weekends, they visited, oh how they visited! This was a complex process involving whose turn it was, when, and whether there should be “faspa” involved. Sunday was church and even though Bill's service in the army made things difficult, Eldon always went to Sunday school. Bill shared machinery with his brother Ed in the early years and Mom’s brother Abe was a great help in the early years as he helped out on the farm. Farming also required faith, as it was often tested by excessive rain, hail, frost, and fields too soggy to harvest but through it all her faith shone through. It cannot have been easy; she often spoke of the day that sister Helen and husband Peter visited and they toured the farm looking at the bountiful crop ready to harvest and the trauma of waking up the next day to total devastation; hail. She still spoke of that event to the last days.

She loved the nieces and nephews and many times was able to have them over for extended visits. 

Near the end of their farming career, they spent a number of winters in Winnipeg where Bill worked at Grey Goose and she did alterations at Eaton’s.

Eventually, they moved to Winnipeg and continued a busy social life there as well. After Bill passed away in 1988, she formed a special bond with so many people, Erna Friesen and Mary Manning come to mind, became involved at 'Pilgrims' in Westwood Church and counted the people there as good friends.

Her bond with her sister Helen was special and it was such a blessing for her to live in the same complex as her at Lions Manor when she moved back to Winkler in later years. Aunt Helen arranged for them to get rides to the Sommerfeld Church on Sundays and they attended many special dinners together. They were so close!

Her giving epitomized the “widow’s mite” as Eldon counted 18 separate charities that she gave to in one year alone.

A funeral service will be held at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 3rd at the Westwood Community Church, 401 Westwood Drive, Winnipeg, MB, with live streaming on the church website. It is kindly asked that those in attendance at the service are vaccinated, and you are welcome to wear a mask if you choose. Please note that proof of vaccination will not be required to enter the building.  

To leave messages of condolence for Teenie’s family, please visit our website at www.ronaldmoffitmemorialservices.com

Ronald Moffit Memorial Services of Portage la Prairie in care of arrangements.

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