Protodeacon Wilhelm Friesen of Holy Resurrection Sobor here fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, the result of an embolism as a result of the leukemia from which he had been suffering for several years.
Born into a Mennonite family in Fraser Lake, BC, Canada April 9, 1944, he was a graduate of the Miller Bible School, Pambrun, SK. He was employed in the construction and maintenance field prior to his retirement.
After his conversion to Orthodox Christianity, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace, Bishop Antoun of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America at Saint Vincent Church, Saskatoon, SK. In 2004, he was received into the Orthodox Church in America’s Archdiocese of Canada and assigned to Holy Resurrection Sobor, where he served faithfully. The following year, he was elevated to the rank of Protodeacon, serving as a steady resource and support for the other clergy serving at the Sobor and in the province.
Protodeacon Wilhelm and and his wife, the former Agnes [Aggie] Phillipy, were the parents of three children, Mary, Gabriel, and Anna. Although he and his family certainly had to suffer with leukemia, they always kept their hearts focused on the Lord. He never complained about his suffering, bearing it with grace. As a result, he has always been a steady sign of hope and confidence in the Lord to all with whom he came into contact.
While due to his illness he was unable to attend services for some time, he did attend this year’s Paschal services at the Sobor.
On Sunday, May 15, a Panikhida will be celebrated at Holy Resurrection Sobor, 2202 Lorne Ave., Saskatoon, at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be celebrated at the Sobor on Monday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m., with interment at Hillcrest Cemetery, Saskatoon.
May Protodeacon Wilhelm’s memory be eternal!