Memory Eternal to Protodeacon Wilhelm Friesen

Please pray for the newly-departed Protodeacon Wilhelm Friesen of the Holy Resurrection Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. May the Lord keep him in Eternal Memory! He fell asleep in the Lord in the afternoon of 11 May 2011 in Saskatoon, rather suddenly, the result of an embolism, which was a complication of the leukemia from which he has suffered for some years. He was at the time in the midst of another treatment.

Protodeacon Wilhelm was born into a Mennonite family in Fraser Lake, BC on 9 April 1944. He is married to Matushka Agnes (Aggie) (née Phillipy) and they have three children, Mary, Gabriel, and Anna. Besides this, there is a very large extended family, all interconnected around the world in Christian formation and love. Our Archpriest Daniel Guenther of Saskatoon is a part of this large network. Protodeacon Wilhelm graduated from Miller Bible School in Pambrun, SK. He began his Orthodox service at St Vincent's Orthodox Church in Saskatoon, in the Antiochian Archdiocese. It was Bishop Antoun who ordained him to the Holy Diaconate. Then, in 2004, he was received into the Archdiocese of Canada, and he was assigned to Holy Resurrection Sobor in Saskatoon, where he has served faithfully since then. The following year, Deacon Wilhelm became a Protodeacon, the first of the deacons serving at the Sobor, and the senior deacon of the Province of Saskatchewan. As such, he was a steady resource and support for the other clergy serving at the Sobor, and in the province.

Protodeacon Wilhelm was usually and affectionately called "Willy" by many of us. A truly loving husband and father, he has been for us all a good example of how a Christian lives. Protodeacon Willy worked mostly in construction and maintenance-work before retirement, and he has always been a "regular person." That is, he has always been a "what you see is what you get" person, with no presenting of pretence. His hobbies were connected with his formation: reading, wood-work, repairing, and also photography. Although he, along with his family, certainly has had to suffer with leukemia, he along with his family has always kept his heart focussed on the Lord. Protodeacon Willy never complained about his suffering, but bore it gracefully. As a result, he has always been a steady sign of hope and confidence in the Lord. He has always been ready to joke, to make quick, humorous responses, and to see the good in those around him, to see the Lord in those around him. A steady, peaceful man, it was always good to be in his presence, because one could feel this peace and this steadiness, and have them refreshed in one's own heart. The Grace of the Holy Spirit has been active in this man, who lived as a deacon should live — serving others, caring for others as Christ.

Because of weakness, Protodeacon Willy had not been able to be present in Church for some time, but he did make it to Paschal services at the Sobor. Although he could not serve, he was sitting just outside the iconostasis, as near as possible to the Altar, and he was behaving as usual as "big brother" to the other deacons, and the others serving there. It is usually understood by Orthodox Christians that to be called Home during the Paschal Season (in the midst of which we are) is a sign of special blessing for the one who is called Home then, and therefore an extra source of hope for those who remain behind. Our sorrow is mixed with the joy of the Resurrection of and in Christ, and for this reason we heartily proclaim: Christ is risen!

Protodeacon Willy will be buried Monday, 16 May, 2011.

For those who asked, and those who haven't asked, but are nevertheless not too far away, the services themselves will be as follows:
- Sunday 15 May at 7:00 PM: Panikhyda (Prayer service) at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, 2202 Lorne Ave, Saskatoon.
- Monday 16 May at 10:30 AM: Funeral service at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, followed by the burial at Hillcrest Cemetery of Saskatoon.

If you can participate by being present, you are welcome; but if you are not able to be present, we fervently ask for your prayers.

A much fuller reflection on the life of this remarkable man will, God willing, be appearing in the near future.