Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta

Cornelius Friesen (1914-2010)

Cornelius Friesen was born in Russia, to Kornelius and Katherine Friesen. The family immigrated to Canada in 1925, settling in eastern Alberta. He had fond memories of growing up in the short-lived Mennonite community in the Provost/Macklin area, and loved to tell stories of those days. The family later farmed in the Lacombe area.  However he spent most of his adult years in Calgary working as a finishing carpenter. There he met and married Helen Pauls, who had immigrated after WW2. Both of them were interested in the Mennonite people and their history, and saved and recorded much of what they remembered. Even after he was hampered by his loss of hearing, Cornie loved to tell the stories of his childhood.

They have one daughter, Laura Hawthorne, one granddaughter, Arabella and one great Granddaughter Caelen.

Last Updated 12 Aug 2010

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