Tribute

Frieda Weiss was born on April 26, 1939, in Friesland, Paraguay, the youngest of seven children of Abram and Margareta Bargen. Frieda had other siblings, eleven altogether.  Frieda loved school and walked one hour each way to attend, a routine she maintained until she completed high school. She dreamed of studying in the city, but financial limitations meant she attended a local community college, where she pursued nursing and lived for four years.

At sixteen, Frieda met Peter Weiss. Together, they began preparing for marriage and building life skills. They married when Frieda was eighteen and soon purchased Frieda’s parents’ home and farm, where they all lived together. While raising a family, Frieda practiced nursing in the community, learned to cook in the hospital kitchen, and sewed clothing for extra income. She also contributed to farm life, including milking cows, making cheese, and selling farm products. Peter learned farming from Abram Ziebert, raising cattle and cultivating wheat, corn, and soybeans.

Frieda’s parents remained with them until her mother, Margareta (nee Boshmann), passed away from breast cancer, a time when proper medical care was unavailable. Her father continued living with them until Hein Bargen encouraged the family to move to Canada. He even paid for Frieda’s father to travel first. After six months in Canada, he returned to Paraguay, urging Peter and Frieda to move for a better life.

On April 4, 1965, Peter and Frieda immigrated to Canada with their two children, Ingrid (born 1958) and Sieghard (born 1960). They arrived in Winnipeg and traveled by road to Vancouver with friends, the Jesses. Frieda fondly remembered sharing a homemade cake that had been accidentally baked with salt instead of sugar—an experience that became a treasured memory. They initially stayed with Frieda’s brother, Abram, before Peter began working with Dueck Construction, facilitated by Henry Dueck. Frieda cared for the children until the family was settled, then began working as a housekeeper, which she fondly called Domestic Engineer. They found a church home at Peace Mennonite Church on 52 nd , formerly First United Mennonite Church (FUMC).  Frieda and Peter had been baptized early in their marriage in Friesland and maintained strong church involvement throughout their lives.

After their first year in Canada, the family saved enough for a down payment on a Vancouver home, with help from Frieda’s brother Henry, and rented out the basement suite to assist with mortgage payments. After five years in Canada, the family returned to Paraguay for four months to determine where to settle permanently. During this time, it became clear that their hopes differed: Peter, along with Sieghard, preferred life in Paraguay and hoped to cattle ranch, while Frieda and Ingrid missed Canada and felt it offered greater opportunity. Ultimately, the family chose to return to Canada together and build their new life.

They rented a home until purchasing a lot on Windsor Street in Vancouver, where they built their first home. Peter worked as a finish carpenter with Henry Bargen and eventually established his own company, Arriba Construction, which he successfully managed for thirty years. During this time, two more children were born: Cornell (born 1968) and Jennifer (born 1973). The family later moved to Richmond, where they raised their youngest children and continued living.

Frieda and Peter built a cabin at Paradise Forest, Washington, where they spent weekends sharing meals, drinking mate, swimming, barbecuing, and enjoying family and friends. Frieda also loved traveling to Hawaii, Palm Springs, Penticton, Dutch Lake and Harrison Hot Springs. Other trips included Germany, Panama Canal and road trips along California coastline to Mexico. They were blessed with eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
In 1993, Frieda established Bed and Breakfast, welcoming guests from around the world, many of whom became like family. She was an incredible entrepreneur, having run a small independent florist business and attended night classes to pursue her different interests. Frieda regularly volunteered in the church kitchen, sewed blankets for MCC and her grandchildren, and devoted herself to hospitality and community service.

In the summer of 2025, Frieda’s breast cancer returned. Shortly after treatment, she resumed the activities she loved, including church, family gatherings, holidays in Penticton, and time with friends. By October, her health unexpectedly declined, and she returned to Richmond Hospital, where it became clear the cancer had not been cured.  Frieda was in the care of wonderful doctors and nurses who worked tirelessly to bring the right diagnosis, treatments and care in hopes that she would be able to once again heal and go back home. However, over time her battle became too difficult and her desire for Heaven became stronger. After two months of hospital stays and precious time with family and friends, Frieda passed away to be in the presence of our Lord and Savior on December 20, 2025.

Frieda was predeceased by her daughter Ingrid. She is survived by her husband Peter, 2 sons (Sieg and Corny) and daughter (Jennifer).