Freda Heilman (Schreiber) passed away on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at the age of 93 years. She leaves to cherish her memory her two daughters, Sharon (Walter) Regehr and BeverleyAnn (David) Jeggo; her five grandchildren: Trevor (Tina) Regehr, Todd (Jill) Regehr all of Medicine Hat; David Jeggo, Jr. of Brockville, Ontario, Chris (Veronique) Jeggo of Ottawa and Melanie (Craig) Weigel of Toronto. Also mourning her passing are her great grandchildren: Nicholas Regehr, Avery and Owen Regehr, Zachary, Maya and Noah Jeggo and Freda’s sister Evelyn (Carlo) Paccagnan as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her in-laws: Marie (Ewald) Schreiber, Lillian (Don) Schreiber, Margaret (Peter) Derringer, Balzer (Dorothy) Heilman of Medicine Hat, and Lorraine Bowes of Calgary as well as Albert’s nieces and nephews.
Freda was predeceased by her first husband, Jack Heilman, her partner Albert Pomreinke, her parents, Frederich and Katherina Schreiber, three brothers, Ewald (Marie), Otto (Dorothy) and Don (Lillian) Schreiber; three sisters Hilda (Bill) Kanewischer, Marie (Fred) Schuetzle , and Laura (Gordon) Schneider; her sisters-in-law Emily Herman, Betty Andreas, Lydia Rathwell, and Mary Sailer; as well as her four brothers-in-law Andrew, Anthony, Stephen and Nels Heilman (and their spouses).
Freda was born on February 25, 1925 in Bessarabia, Romania. The family immigrated to Canada via Pier 21 in 1930 and then made their way to a farm in the Hilda/Schuler area. Frederich was a successful farmer in Bessarabia, but sadly had to start over once he came to Canada, like so many other immigrants. Freda, Hilda, Laura and Lydia (Jack’s sister) started working at the hospital in the kitchen when they were 16 years old. They all lived in the nurses’ quarters and on their days off, all but Hilda, would go dancing. It was at these dances that Freda met her future husband, Jack. Jack was an orderly and after a brief courtship, they began their life together. Freda was not afraid of hard work. When her daughters were young, she worked in the fields on the Sakamoto Farm, at the National Fruit Company, and at the National Bakery decorating the most amazing doll cakes. Soon thereafter, she went back to work at the hospital in the laundry department and later in the sewing department. In total, she had worked 35 years at the hospital before retiring at the age of 60. A shy lady, Freda would prefer to be in the background cooking, sewing, and looking after her garden. She left the socializing up to Jack. She was very fond of children and our family would often look after a variety of children throughout the years. She was an extremely creative person. She could take an empty apple crate and make it into the loveliest piece of furniture. Each year during the months leading up to the Medicine Hat Stampede, Freda would make Stampede costumes for her daughters to be worn in the Kiddies Parade. They were beautiful with lots of embroidery and most often the girls would win 1st and 2nd place. Freda was 48 when Jack passed away and after a few years of being alone, she joined the Minus One Club. It was here that she met Albert Pomreinke and they spent many years together going to the Club, camping and fishing. Freda was kind and loving. She was the very first resident of Meadow Ridge/Park Plaza and enjoyed the staff and the residents. She was very happy in the Memory Care unit, where she could be observed spending many hours with crayon in hand doing her colouring. Those who wish to pay their respects may do so at the PATTISON FUNERAL HOME on Friday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Saturday from 12 noon to 12:55 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Victory Lutheran Church (2793 Southview Drive SE) on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. with Diaconal Minister Lila deWaal. Interment will follow in the Hillside Cemetery.
Freda loved flowers, however, those who would rather make a donation to a Romanian orphanage may do so through CARO (Canadians Reaching Out to the Worlds’ Children Foundation) #301, 278 Park Meadows Drive S. E. , Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4J1. To e-mail an expression of sympathy, please direct it to: pattfh@telusplanet.net subject heading: Freda Heilman, or you may visit www.pattisonfuneralhome.com and leave a message of condolence.

• Date : 2018-07-07
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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