Obituaries

Charlotte Corinne Friesen (nee Kogan)
   On Friday, July 14, 2017, with husband, John, and daughter, Lianne, at her bedside, after a short but brave fight, Charlotte Friesen lost her battle with cancer at age 74.  True to form, she retained her sense of humour until the very end.    Left to mourn are her beloved husband, John Friesen, and daughter, Lianne Perry.  She also leaves sister-in-law, Frances Kogan, and nieces, Haanita Seval, Robin Kogan, Zoë Kogan, and Lizabeth Kogan.  There are also many cousins, and their families, who will miss her dearly. She is predeceased by her parents, Sam and Betty Kogan, her brother Alvin (Boomy), and her sister Annette.    Born and raised in North End Winnipeg, Charlotte married Kenneth Perry in New York in March of 1964.  They then worked and lived in various places including New York, Sudbury, Greater Vancouver, and Peguis, MB.  While in the greater Vancouver area, daughter, Lianne, was born.  This marriage ended in 1986, and Charlotte then moved to Winnipeg.  In June, 1986, she was employed at The University of Winnipeg as a Secretary in the Admissions Office and, later, as Secretary to the Chair of Sociology.  She retired from the University in 2006.  Her work at the University gave her much joy, and she made many lifelong friends during her time there.  There, she also met John, and they married on August 5, 1990.   Music was central in Charlotte’s life.  She was an accomplished cellist and pianist.  As a pianist, she was particularly skilled as an accompanist.  Many vocalists would comment on her uncanny ability to move with them and anticipate their musical phrasing.  For similar reasons, many professional pianists requested her as their page-turner, a role that she relished and enjoyed.   In their retirement years, John and Charlotte continued to reside in Winnipeg, but spent winters at their condo in Abbotsford, BC.  She became an avid walker, enjoying the trails around Mill Lake on an almost daily basis.  These walks became particularly enjoyable after they adopted a plucky, little Pomeranian named Jacie.  Charlotte and Jacie engaged in a lot of obedience training. It was often hard to determine whether it was Charlotte or Jacie who got the most enjoyment out of these sessions.     Being Lianne’s Mom was the most important role in Charlotte’s life.  There was truly nothing she wouldn’t do for her.  Charlotte was an enthusiastic cheerleader for Lianne, and took great pride in her scholastic, and other accomplishments.  Lianne will always cherish her Mom’s devotion to her, and finds comfort in the knowledge that they will one day share laughs, love, and stories once again.    John and Lianne would like to thank Dr. Garcia and the entire Palliative Care Unit at Riverview Health Centre for their excellent and compassionate care.  We also express deep appreciation to Sandi Kirby for being such a special support to Charlotte, and to us.    A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Sargent Avenue Mennonite Church, 926 Garfield Street North on Monday, August 21, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba or the charity of your choice.        Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com