September 10, 1928 - August 21, 2024
Helen (Helene, Leni) was born in the Mennonite village of Ebental, Caucasus, Russia/USSR on 10 September 1928. She was the fifth surviving child of Abram and Helene Rempel. The family left the USSR in the winter of 1929, and arrived in Canada in the spring of 1930. After one summer in Manitoba, they moved to Yarrow, BC, and in 1932 to their new home on Huntingdon Road, Abbotsford, where Helen spent much of her childhood.
After graduating from MEI in 1947 Helen attended Normal School, and then taught for two years. In 1950 she married Walfried Klassen and, after living one year in Vancouver, they made their home in Abbotsford, where they raised their family of six sons and three daughters.
While Walfried taught for thirty-eight years in the Abbotsford School District, Helen was a stay-at-home mom and a wonderful and consistent support to her husband and children. Helen actively served in Crisis Line, Birthright, and Abbotsford Right to Life, and helped her husband as the sponsor-teacher of ISCF at school.
For much of her life Helen attended at South Abbotsford MB Church; at the time of her death she was the oldest member who had attended the church at the time of its founding in 1932.
Helen passed away on August 21, 2024. She was predeceased by her parents and nine siblings, her husband Walfried and son Timothy, one grandson and one great grandson. She is survived by her children: Neil (Rebecca), Fred, Lenora (Stan Wiens), Berny (Jan), Rachel (Dave Wall), John (Kimberly), Judy (Scott Foster), and Jeff (Elena), 25 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.
The Memorial Service for Helen Klassen will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 10:30 in the morning at South Abbotsford Church, 32424 Huntingdon Road, Abbotsford, BC. Donations in memory of Helen Klassen can be made to: Advokate Life & Education Services, www.advokate.ca
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Service Details
10:30 AM