March 6, 1932 – January 30, 2015

It is with profound sadness that the large and extended family of Freda announces the passing of the matriarch of the family.  Freda was born in Edmonton to Carl and Lillian (Woolley) Jensen, second eldest of 4 children.  The family farmed in Peavine, Alberta until 1942, moved to Calgary and White Rock before finally moving to Westsyde in 1947, settling on Westysde road to farm.  Freda soon met the tall, dark & handsome neighbour across the road, Mike Bebek and they married in 1949. In 1950 Mary was born, Michael followed in 1951. In 1953, Mike’s family relocated to the Lethbridge area with Mike, Freda and kids moving into what became the Bebek family home for the next 58 years.  In 1958 Walter was born and in 1960 Christina followed.  The Bebek family was one of the original 16 families that farmed in Westsyde. Mike worked various jobs at the sawmill and CNR, while raising cattle, pigs and chickens and a very large garden to feed the family, Freda raising the children and working as a farm wife.  The Bebeks’ were known in the valley for the Golden Beauty corn they grew for sale.

Freda took a secretarial course once the children were on their own, and she worked for the Ministries of Environment and Highways and loved working and the close knit group of people. During this time Mike and Freda continued to farm, mainly alfalfa and many a school child used to cut across the farm land to reach Westysde Secondary School.  Freda continued working for ten years, until Mike became ill and she retired to spend his last days with him.  It was around this time that Mike and Freda stated developing the farm land into residential lots and Bebek Road is still considered one of the best streets to live on in Westsyde.  Many of the people that originally built homes still live in them today and were great friends to Freda over the years.  In retirement she discovered lawn bowling and spent many years at the McArthur Island Lawn Bowling Club in which she was considered one of the best; she traveled to events in the Lower Mainland and once to Hawaii. Freda volunteered many hours in the Administration office for the Canada Summer Games, and was a member of the BC Retiree Association, spending many volunteer hours as Secretary. Painting was a big part of her life and we have discovered a huge cache of treasured paintings from over the years. Travel was also a love of Freda’s – to Fiji, many trips up the BC coast on various boats, Mexico many times, and to the US to visit family members. Over the years, as the children married and grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, she was the one we all went to for advice and comfort. She was happiest when she had a pile of runners by her front door because she had grandchildren and their friends to feed and visit with. Gramma’s recipe box is treasured as it holds many of the grandchildrens’ favourite cookie and square recipes. Freda loved cats and often had more than one to warm her lap. Her garden was her passion in later years and she grew the best tomatoes and the flowers and fruit trees were the envy of the neighbourhood. She was a warm, sociable, loving woman who always put others before herself. She had unconditional love for all her family. Always loved and remembered; beautiful memories forever.

Freda was predeceased by her older sister Elsie, her parents, Carl and Lillian (Woolley) Jensen, her brother-in-law Wally, and her husband of 41 years, Mike.  Freda is survived by her brother Bob (Jasia) and their children Carrey, Jasia (Troy) and Bud (Nanette); her sister Carol and her children Tress, Tania (Clay), Carmen (Gord) and Christopher (Corina).  Left to mourn are children Mary (John), Michael (Rose), Walter, and Christina (Ron); 13 Grand Children- Debbie, Jason (Jodi), Dan, Brian (Devon), Geoff (Renee), Jake (Rebecca), Clay (Niki), Ryan (Renie), Mindy (Dan), Ashley (Curt), Wally, Randy (Caitlin) and Amber; 17 Great-Grandchildren- Mercedes, Joseph, Matthew, Corbin, Trinity, Billy, Julian, Jacob, Georgia, Rachael, Layne, Madison, Mackenzie, Michael, Tyson and Miley. Extended family and friends missing her are Freda, Dennis, Sheila, Christine and Marlene, her cousins in Minnesota, as well as Mike’s family in Lethbridge; the Bebek, Lukenda Ponjavic and Habijanic families.

The family would like to thank The Hamlets at Westsyde for their care of our Mom the last four years, there were so many care aids, nurses and recreation staff that treated our mom like she was theirs and the family greatly appreciates them. Special thank are also extended to Dr. Collier, who also remembered taking the short cut thru the Bebek property to get to school and Dr. Eccelston for his gentle and warm caring of mom in her final years.    Freda’s journey in this world is finally at an end and she is now resting peacefully. A Celebration of Freda’s life will be held later in the year. No flowers please – a donation on her behalf to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or the SPCA is appreciated.