December 25, 1935 - February 24, 2025
It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of Elsie Klassen on February 24, 2025, in Chilliwack, BC. Elsie was born in Emerson, Manitoba and was the best gift that her parents, Walter, and Elizabeth, could ever have hoped for on December 25, 1935. After spending much of her childhood on the family farm in Emerson, Elsie and the family moved to Chilliwack BC in 1948. While in Chilliwack, Elsie attended Central School and Chilliwack Senior High, graduating in 1952. After graduation she worked at BuyRite Market, and it was while working there that she was frequently visited by a patron who went by the name of Jack. The quiet, unassuming Elsie couldn't resist Jack's persistent but sincere advances, and she agreed to date and ultimately marry the man who became the love of her life for over 60 years. Jack Klassen and Elsie were married in July 1956 and enjoyed a beautiful life together raising their three children. They spent the first three years of their lives together farming in Saskatchewan in the summers and wintering in Chilliwack. In 1959 the family moved to Chilliwack full time. No matter where the family lived, Elsie always worked her magic and established a stable, supportive, and loving home for her family. Elsie was a member of the Eden Mennonite Church family and over the years, participated in various functions associated with the church. She also enjoyed bowling and was involved in the hospice society. She was a wonderful seamstress and loved to cook as well, but her greatest love was working with and being surrounded by children. To this end, she started a daycare service in 1967 which she ran out of her home. She operated her daycare for 33 years until retiring in 2001 after guiding and nurturing over 200 children, many of whom became adult friends! It's likely that all of the children that were in Elsie's care will remember her baking, particularly the baking of the buns on Friday afternoons which to some became affectionately known as "Lorna's Mom's Buns". Elsie's calm and accepting nature will be remembered by those who knew her and if they knew her well, they'll also remember that she had a subtle way of making her opinions known, sometimes in a quietly cheeky way. Elsie was predeceased by her husband Jack, her brother John Warkentin and grandson Mitchell Klassen. She is survived by her sister Leona Jones (Jim), her children, Lorna Phelps (Stu), Gord (Brenda) and Mike (Rosalind) as well as her grandchildren Andrew Phelps (Nicolle), Brendan Phelps (Emily), Meighan Murdock (Alex), Sharayah (Rachel), Nikola Edge (Tim), Troy (Chal), Rachelle Kraul (Tyson) and Taylor (Courtney). Elsie is also survived by her great grandchildren, Beau, Jack and Josie, her niece Lisa, nephew Brandon (Christina) and grand nephew Kaleb. The family would like to thank Dr. Gord Enns and the nursing staff at Chilliwack General Hospital as well as the staff at Lynnwood Retirement home for their concern and care of Elsie. A celebration of Elsie's life will be held at a later date.