Skip to content

(nee Friesen)

June 8, 1920 – Dec. 1, 2012

Loved, honoured and respected. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marion Newman. Our Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin and Friend left this world quietly surrounded by family.

Born in Marienberg, Germany the 2nd of 8 children of Heinrich and Helen Friesen, the family settled in Saskatchewan in 1923. In difficult times with very little assistance, the family struggled thru the early years in Canada followed by the Great Depression and its recovery.   Marion married Henry Newman in July 1937, and after a time in Saskatchewan and Alberta the young family relocated to Greendale in 1943, where they raised seven children.

Marion met all of life’s challenges with remarkable strength and courage. Her first home in BC was destroyed by fire. Her second home was nearly demolished in the 1948 flood. Through all of this Marion showed great resourcefulness with her legendary baking, canning, gardening and fishing skills, sewing, knitting and nurturing. With a no nonsense attitude, Marion always showed wonderful hospitality and generosity. She and Henry travelled every summer for nearly 30 years and Mom travelled to Australia twice.

Caring and kind, Marion was a hard worker both within and outside of the family circle, and still found time to volunteer her time in many ways including many years with the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary and later at Heritage Village.

Marion is survived by her children, Richard (Bonnie), Edward (Grace) Betty (Ed) Wilson, Lynda McDowell, Sandra (Barry) Bennett, Patricia Newman and Dianne Newman (Brad Copeland), 9 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, her sisters Hester, Mart and Elsie; brothers Art and Ed. Marion was predeceased by her husband Henry after 60 years of marriage; her brothers Hank and Al, and son-in-law Don McDowell.

Our thanks to the staff of Chilliwack General Hospital and Eden Care Centre for their caring of Marion in her last difficult days.

Peace at Journeys End.

Funeral service will be held at Henderson’s Funeral Home, Chilliwack at 1pm on Friday 7th December, 2012.



Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.