We Remember
HEINRICHS, Verna Joyce
July 22, 1937 — December 17, 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Verna Heinrichs, 84, on December 17, 2021. However, we are happy that she is now with her Lord, whom she loved and served. She passed away peacefully with her husband and many of her children at her side. She leaves to mourn her husband, John, to whom she was married for 62 years; her children: Garry (Darlene), Eldon (Verda), Glen (Barb), Joan (Erik), Carolyn (Terry), Brian (Jaclyn), Diane (Karl), and Kevin (Terri); 21 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; her brother Art (her only surviving sibling); and many cousins, in-laws, and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Peter and Agatha Friesen, three brothers and two sisters, as well as many close friends. She will be greatly missed.
Verna was born in Saskatoon, and was raised on a dairy farm near Hepburn, SK. She attended a one room country school at Newhome, SK and High School in Hepburn. After high school, she attended Bethany College where she met her future husband, John.
Verna and John were married in the Hepburn M.B. church in 1959. After a brief stay in Saskatoon, SK, they moved to Winnipeg, MB, where she worked at Ogilvie Flour Mills while John attended College and University – after which he started his teaching career. In 1970, John and Verna and their seven children moved to Manitou, MB where John taught High School and Verna stayed at home with the children – one more being added in Manitou. Verna was a stay-at-home mom, raising eight children, and when they were grown, she took a healthcare aide course and worked in a care home for 15 years. She was loved by those she served.
Every summer Verna would grow a huge and beautiful flower garden – enjoying the compliments of passers-by.
In 2017, John and Verna moved to Kelowna, BC, downsizing from a huge, heritage house in Manitou to a 2-bedroom apartment in Kelowna. They soon had many new friends and enjoyed an active social life. She especially liked sewing blankets for MCC with her “sewing club” at the Willow Park Church.
Verna was bubbly and joyful; she was a people-person with an infectious laugh and a trusting smile. Her college yearbook described her as being full of “vim, vigor, and vitality, with a grade A personality”. She loved talking to people – personally; it was never enough to just post a “like” online – she needed to hear their voice. She made friends easily and had a way of bringing out the best in people.
Memorial donations may be sent to MCC Canada, mcccanada.ca.
A Celebration of Life will be on January 14, 2022, at 1:00 pm, at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, with Reverend Levi Simpson officiating. Unvaccinated friends and family are welcome to attend, masks will be mandatory.
If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream (see below), a recording will be made available to view shortly thereafter.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
Service
January 14, 2022, at 1:00 pm
Location
Springfield Funeral Home
Share with Others:
MCC Canada Link: mcccanada.ca
Service Information
Service Details
The service for HEINRICHS, Verna Joyce is scheduled for January 14, 2022, at 1:00 pm. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Address & Contact for Service Location:
Springfield Funeral Home
2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
My condolences to the family. Verna was a wonderful lady and I have fond memories of time spent in the Heinrichs home. ❤️
Our sympathies on the passing of Verna. Always a smile and caring lady.
Condolences to Mr Heinrich and family. Hugs and prayers to all!
My condolences to you all. I have such lovely memories of Mrs. Heinrichs. Such a fun, cheerful lady.
So sorry for your loss. I worked with her in Manitou and she always had a smile on her face and found something positive to share with others. She will be missed.
So sorry to hear of the loss of Verna. Mr Heinrichs was of the best teachers I ever had.
Very sorry to hear of Verna’s passing. Memories of John and Verna’s yard and times in Manitou. Our condolences
Sympathy to all the Heinrich’s family in the loss of Verna . She was a terrific person . Always with a smile and a kind word.
Our deepest sympathy to you John & all the family in the loss of your loved one. She was great lady & will certainly be missed.
My sincere condolences to the family of Verna She was a beautiful lady and a kind soul
beautiful picture of verna sure will miss your baking cooking playing lots of love and hugs Agatha
I will always remember Verna’s many kindnesses. My condolences to John and the family.
Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Verna was a woman with a joyful attitude in life and a big heart. I will remember her smiles and encouragement.
Sorry for your loss. Verna and I travelled to Morden to take the health care aid. She was a kind and generous person, always with a smile on her face.
Our sympathy to John and family as Verna departs to heaven. Her loss will be missed in the good deeds she was involved with. .Eldon was in Natalie’s grade, Carolyn in Stephen’s grade, and Diane played ball with Susan. Each of them joins us in remembering Verna, and her wonderful sense of humor. and her strong alto voice on Border Line Singers.
Condolences to the family. Thinking of you all. Verna was an avid supporter of the Honey Garlic Maple Syrup Festival in helping where needed and also enjoying in the festivities. They came back for visits in time for the festival and it was so nice to see their happy faces.
Fond memories of singing with Verna and John at Apple Valley Songsters. John you are in our thoughts at this time.From Rose and Mike
Our condolences, Verna will be dearly missed, especially her infectious smile and laughter.
Dear John and family, we want to tell you that we appreciated you and Verna so much as you became one of our mom’s (Helen) best friends and supporters. She so much appreciated the car rides through the Pembina Valley and the games played either at her home or yours. Verna was a special friend and we want to express our love and support during this time. We will be praying for you as you celebrate Verna’s life this Friday. Wishing you God’s comfort and strength and we send our love to you all. The Klassen Clan
To Carolyn Terry and family
Sending our deepest love and sympathy, from Queensland Australia, on the passing of your dear Mum , Mother in Law and Grandmother .
May your wonderful memories bring you joy in your sorrow, And may the Love of God, and of your family and friends ,bring you peace and comfort
With much love Jane ,and Anthony Tipper
Verna was larger than life, and she brought joy into the room with her every time she walked in. She was a 2nd Mom to me taught me so much about love, and family, and being a Mom. My condolences to the family.
Sending my deepest condolences to you Uncle John and to all my cousins for your loss. Thank you for letting me share in the service. It was beautiful!
John and family, may you be comforted knowing that Verna is present with
her Lord and Saviour. The memorial service was beautiful and so inspiring.
Thank you for the lovely memorial with stories of love and joy and laughter. That was just as we remember Aunt Verna. May you be surrounded by the love of your family and faith.
What a lovely service. Verna would have loved the laughter! She was a very special neighbour and I’ve missed her. One memory…when we moved here in 1976 we were surprised one night at 11pm to the loud creaking of the clothes line outside our window. Chalked it up to having a large family, little time and maybe needing clothes for school in the morning. It got to be a comforting sound.
Wishing your family my deepest condolences. Hers was a life well lived.
Our hearts go out to my Uncle John and family for this great loss. Aunty Verna set the bar and her legacy will live on. Until we meet again, much love and blessings from the Friesen’s in New Zealand.
Just finished watching Verna’s funeral. It was so appropriate for the life she lived. So many memories and I’m sure I shared the feeling with most others that each of us were her best friends. We had some great laughs when we were chosen as two of the three best athletes in high school. (competition was scarce) May you and your family experience the Peace of God as you face life without her.
Condolences to Mr, Heinrichs and your family. I truly enjoyed the service of memories filled with joy and humour! Brian and Jackie and family, may your memories of your mom and grandma bring you comfort. Sincerely Leanne Sprung