Caroline Freier

Caroline Freier of Binscarth, Manitoba passed away peacefully at the age of 88 years and 6 months on September 16, 2022 at the Russell Personal Care Home after an extended battle with dementia. She was born to Emil and Anna Kihn on March 13, 1934 in Steinbach, Manitoba, Friedensfeld district. She was the 10th born in a family of 11 children. She left school early to tend to her sick mother and work on the farm. At age 18, she left home to work at a TB Sanitorium in southern Manitoba, then moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake to work at a Peach Factory. After that she provided homecare for families in need. At her brother Alfred Kihn and Ida Freier's wedding in April 1955, she met a handsome young man, Ida's brother Alvin. Two years later in 1957, they married and spent their first year on the Freier family farm near Russell, Manitoba caring for Alvin's ill mother. After that, they moved to their new farm home, which came to be known as the Curly Oaks farm in the banana belt district west of Binscarth, Manitoba next to the Assiniboine valley. She expressed her love of family and friends through cooking. The farm provided abundant produce from her expansive garden. She was a quiet, gentle person and loved the simple beauty of nature from rocks to birds to plants, sharing this love with her children and later her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Caroline is predeceased by her parents, 6 brothers; Martin, Joe, Leo, Alfred, Ted, and Edward Kihn and 2 sisters; Pauline Marshall and Helene Enns. Left to mourn is her loving husband Alvin Freier, one brother, Walter Kihn and one sister Rosina (David) Volkenant.

She is survived by her daughter Eileen (Darrell) Vion and children Chad (Gloria), Joshua (Maryann), Garth ( Angela), Faith (Matthew) Block, Hope Vion; her son Ken (Gail) Freier, and children Kaitlyn (Chris) Atkinson, Jayden, Levi; her son  Arthur (Teresa) Freier and children Jasmine (Troy) Lydiate, Riley (Mikaela) Freier; and her son Brian (Karen) Freier and children Cassandra (Nathan) Short, Sean (Ashlyn) Freier, and Lynea Freier. She also leaves 23 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held September 24, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Russell Alliance Church, lunch to follow and Interment at Freefield East Cemetery. Viewing and special preservice live music provided by Freier family musicians from 1:30-2:00 pm. All family, friends, and community members are invited.

Caroline served her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through serving others; walking humbly and teaching us how to love in word and deed; patiently, kindly, quietly and generously.