Loreen Funk

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Loreen Funk this past Tuesday evening.  Loreen had been a member of Hope for many years, always a cheerful fixture in the back pew!

Please hold Loreen's two sons, Don and Brad, as well as those closest to her in your heart and prayers at this difficult time.  She was predeceased by her husband Jerry. 

Memorial Service details will follow at a later time.

May God Bless our memory of Loreen Funk.

A Reflection:

I first met Loreen Anna Funk (or LAF as she would laughingly point out to me) through our church family at Faith Lutheran, Calgary in 1980.  Loreen and her husband Jerry were faithful members of that congregation and warmly welcomed newcomers, especially if they joined the choir! Over the years Loreen and Jerry hosted choir get togethers at their home in the Brentwood community. Loreen and Jerry attended the baptisms of 2 of my children, which were held at a Catholic Church.  I was invited to join them at some of their New Year's Eves parties and so the camaraderie grew. Our friendship deepened after Jerry passed away. 

Loreen and I spent many an afternoon driving to Bragg Creek to visit the art shops or Cochrane for an ice cream cone and we did a weekend "retreat" in Banff to celebrate her 60th birthday.  It was a beautful sunny weekend so imagine our surprise when we returned to Calgary and found our recently planted bedding plants buried under snow. 

Loreen and I spent many an afternoon chatting - she sat in her green glider chair and I sat in a green velvet high back arm chair.  I learned many things from my friend. She was the youngest of 10 children raised on a farm in southwestern Saskatchewan. 

She had many different careers over the years including being a LPN and a bank teller.  She was quick with numbers, that is for sure! She and Jerry loved taking trips to Hawaii and she enjoyed a bus trip with her sister in law through the Maritimes to view the fall colours.  In her leisure time Loreen loved to paint plates, which she always signed with her initials LAF.  She had artistic talent.  She also enjoyed her flower gardens in her backyard and lovingly watered 2 birch trees in her front yard. Loreen's favorite flower was the pansy and her favorite colour was green.  She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed hosting big family dinners at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.  I was fortunate to have been included in many of these feasts.

But most of all, Loreen was a woman of faith.  She read the bible and devotional books daily.  Being active in her church community was an important part of her life.  Whether it was singing in the choir,  counting the offerings, opening her home to newcomers or simply praying for those that she knew needed support, Loreen was there.

In her early retirement days Loreen also volunteered at the local elementary school to support children learning to read.  She also drove older seniors to appointments.  Loreen worked quietly in the background, always living out her faith with her actions.  Loreen always ended each of our conversations with the words "love you".  These were the last words she spoke to me.  I am blessed to have had such a loving friend.

Lovingly, Joyce