Sandra (Warren) Friesen

Sandra (Warren) Friesen, 56, of Victoria, BC passed away peacefully at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC on February 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm.  Left to mourn her passing are: Don, her husband of 33 years, and an only daughter, Kathleen Marie (Katie), her mother, Cleo Warren of Spokane, WA, and an older brother, Bruce (Laura) Warren of Bellevue, WA, and children, Lisa, Brian and Linsey, and a younger sister, Wendy (Ed) Roberts of Maricopa, AZ  and children, Ryan, Kayce, Tyler and Sydney.   She was predeceased by her father, Lowell Warren (Major USAF retired) on February 8, 2001.  The family extends profound gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, care aids, and cancer care providers at Victoria General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Camp Imadene, c/o Imadene Foundation, 2736 Fernwood Road, Victoria, BC   V8T 3A4. A Memorial Service will be held at Oaklands Chapel, 2736 Fernwood Road, on Saturday, February 21, at 2:00 pm.  Condolences may be offered to the family below. McCall Bros. Funeral Home www.mccallbros.com.       Tribute below Sandra (Warren) Friesen having been fearfully, wonderfully and skillfully formed by her loving Creator in the cradle where all human life begins, first saw the light of day on Sept 30, 1958, born to her parents Lowell and Cleo Warren in Laon, France where her father served in the U.S. Air Force.  A year later, in 1959, the family moved to Spokane, Washington, where she spent her years from childhood to young adulthood.  In her childhood years she made a decision to follow Jesus whom she regarded as Lord, Savior and guide to her life.  In her teen years she enjoyed the youth group activities and singing in the choir at Fourth Memorial Church.  Significantly, at the young age of about 10, Sandy expressed an interest in cooking and began to prepare meals for the family as often as she could.  Cooking remained a vital part of her life and many friends have attested to her culinary skill over the years.  During high school, she was an active member in the drill team and the church baseball team.  Her artistic talent was evident in sketching and painting, and after graduation, she became employed as a seamstress in the production of custom draperies.  In 1979, she applied to study at Capernwray Bible School in Europe but was instead accepted at a new campus on Thetis Island in British Columbia.  It was there that she met her soul mate and future husband, Don, and they became inseparable ever since.  One and one half years later, on July 11, 1981 they were married in the beautiful Japanese Garden Park in Spokane, Washington.  Immediately after, they took up residence in Prince George, B.C. where Don had been employed in the construction trades.  A year later in the spring of 1982, they moved to Victoria in search of a healthier climate for Sandy and for new job opportunities for Don.  Here Sandy obtained employment in retail sales at Eaton’s and Art World, while serving in the Sunday school with Don at Lambrick Park Church.  In 1988, after a difficult pregnancy, she delivered a daughter, Katie, and thus began her career as a homemaker, or domestic goddess as she frequently joked.  During Katie’s schooling at Pacific Christian School, Sandy enjoyed volunteer duties that included laminating for the teachers and cooking and baking for school activities and fundraisers.  Many of Katie’s friends counted Sandy as their second mother, and her cheerful smile and warm hugs always brightened up everyone’s day.  By the time Katie had graduated from PCS, Sandy had actively begun swimming with a group of good friends at the West Shore Pool in the Aqua fit program.  In the years following, despite her best efforts a gradual decline in her health developed until by mid December 2014, serious symptoms of cancer required her admittance to Victoria General Hospital and subsequently Royal Jubilee Hospital.  To the end she remained cheerful and hopeful for recovery, and her positive outlook profoundly affected the nurses, care aids and doctors in both facilities. She leaves us with a notable legacy of artistic talent, outstanding homemaking skills, and most endearingly a genuine love for everyone she met along with her talent for getting troubled hearts to cheer up. Sandra, family and friends are looking forward to meeting you again soon in that better country called heaven where the roses never fade and we never tire or grow old.