Cecilia Friesen

Cecilia M. Friesen, age 84, of Faribault, MN, passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019, at Oak Hill Assisted Living in Grand Rapids, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 11, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault.  Interment will be at the St. Lawrence Cemetery in Faribault.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. at the church.

Arrangements are with the Parker Kohl Funeral Home of Faribault.

Cecilia Margaret Friesen, the daughter of Michael and Mary (Purfeerst) Karp, was born on April 24, 1934 in Faribault, MN. She graduated from Bethlehem Academy with the class of 1952. She was united in marriage to Gerald (Jerry) Friesen on May 15, 1954 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Faribault.

Ceil lived life by example, she valued lifelong learning and cherished all forms of artistic pursuit. She was selfless and generous, always placing other’s needs above her own.

As a graduate of St. Mary’s School of Practical Nursing, Rochester, MN, she worked as a LPN for over 50 years working primarily at Immanuel St Joseph’s Hospital in Mankato, MN. After moving back to Faribault, she worked at District One Hospital and at the In town Assisted Living. An entrepreneur and business woman, she also worked as a real estate agent and property manager. Along with her husband Jerry, they owned and operated Second Inning, a second-hand sports shop and Hollow Oak Used Bookstore.

She encouraged her children to work hard and instilled the love of books and reading.  As children, asking questions, they would be instructed to “look it up” in an encyclopedia knowing that they could learn much more by working for the answer rather than it being given.

Ceil grew up on a farm developing a love of horticulture and nature.   At her hobby farm in Amboy, MN, she and Jerry spent hours gardening and raising raspberries for local markets.  A great day was planting seeds or pulling weeds.  The sight of a wild flower or an oak tree brought her immense joy.

Everything good came out of her kitchen.  There was always a lunch ready for you, no matter what time of the day. Creative in her kitchen, a recipe was a mere suggestion. One never left her home hungry or empty handed.

Ceil was known to be thrifty beyond compare. She was a pioneer at recycling and reusing. Nothing in her home was wasted.

Above all faith was important. She was a devout catholic. She and Jerry made it a priority to send their  children through 12 years of catholic school.  Cecilia encouraged her children in their faith, understanding the individualism her children expressed in their own faith lives.

Ceil’s faith was simple ‘You must love and respect every person even though you may not agree with what they do’. She knew that the world would be a better place if we all lived our lives with this philosophy.

She is survived by her children, Rhonda (Tony) Meyer of Northfield, MN, Denise Friesen (Steve Gahm) of Mankato, Keith (Pam) Friesen of Grand Rapids, Kevin (Terri) Friesen of Grand Rapids, and Christine (Tim) Caron of Faribault; her grandchildren, Nick (Laura) Meyer, Andy (Erin) Meyer, Peter (Lauren) Meyer, Catie (Mike) Brady, Lea (Stephen Sebestyen ) Friesen, Stacy (Garrett) Holl, Sam (Alli) Friesen, Hannah Friesen, Natalie Friesen, Jacob Caron, Zachary Caron, and Cole Caron; her great grandchildren, Alex, Sam, and Ben Meyer, William and Anna Meyer, Cullen Brady, James and Franklin Gutoski, Christopher and Charlotte Sebestyen Friesen, and Katherine, Theodore, and Maya Holl; her brothers, Richard and Mike Karp and sisters, Catherine Mino and Mary Lou Pluemer; sisters-in-law, Carol Karp and Shirley Karp; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years Jerry Friesen; her parents, Mary and Michael Karp; brothers-in-law, Bill Friesen and Roger Friesen; sister-in-law, Jeanette O’Neil; mother and father-in-law, Rose and Ed Friesen; sisters-in-law, Margaret Friesen, Sharon Friesen, and Mary Friesen; and brothers-in-law, Jim O’Neil, Les Mino, and Bob Pluemer.