ASA GISLINA FJELDSTED (FREEMAN)

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ASA GISLINA FJELDSTED (nee FREEMAN) May 12, 1917 - August 31, 2013 With sadness we announce the passing of Asa Gislina Fjeldsted of Lundar, Manitoba, at the E. M. Crowe Hospital, Eriksdale, Manitoba, on August 31, 2013. Asa was born May 12, 1917 on the family farm at Reykjavik, Manitoba to Asmundur and Gislina Fjeldsted. With her parents she later moved to Siglunes where she spent a childhood filled with wonderful memories. She met her husband Johann in 1929 when he came to work for her father. Asa married Johann Axel on October 22, 1938 at the home of Rev. Valdimar Eylands in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Joe and Asa resided with her parents in Siglunes after their marriage, and later moved with her parents to Gypsumville, Manitoba. In 1945, Joe and Asa bought a farm near Lundar, Manitoba, where they raised their three sons; Asmundur Freeman, Johann Edmund and Richard Gisli. Asa loved life. She loved to tell her stories and laugh, laugh, laugh. Asa loved to do all kinds of handiwork, especially knitting, crochet and embroidery. She sewed many a patch and darned many a sock. Asa's yard looked like a park. She was outside wearing her son Rick's jacket so nobody would know it was her, she thought, raking, weeding, and generally cleaning up the yard. You could not visit Asa without having coffee and something to eat. The eats were usually her ponnukkur or some of her wonderful truly Icelandic secret recipe (no recipe) doughnuts. Asa was a very hard worker all her life. At the age of 90 years she was still going strong but did admit that things needed to change. When the snow was too heavy to shovel, she asked for a lighter, smaller shovel. If there were no leaves to rake, she poked her rake into the branches and shook the leaves. When she found that raking leaves was taking too much energy, she asked for a lighter rake. It was not until Asa turned 96 years that she had to finally admit that her "working days are over." While living in the Lundar Senior Coop, Asa could never figure out why there seldom was anyone in the sitting room, why nobody was up in the morning and doing something. On Tuesdays, she loved going to the kitchen area "to have coffee with the old people." Asa was not one of the "old people" in her eyes. Asa remained remarkably healthy until the very end. At around 90 years of age, the doctors told her that she needed to start slowing down. She really wanted no part of this but she tried. Asa made a conscious effort to lie down after lunch for maybe half an hour. If you happened to come to visit during this time and caught her lying down, she would jump off the bed and tell you that she was "practising slowing down" and that she didn't really need a rest. Asa was predeceased by her parents, her six brothers, her husband, a son, a grandson and a great granddaughter. Asa is survived by two sons Freeman (Lily) and Johann (Kathy), many grandchildren, great- grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating Asa's long and healthy life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at the Lundar Lutheran Church with Pastor Terry Throndson officiating. A private family burial will take place immediately following the service. Urn Bearer will be Allen Merrithew. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the E. M. Crowe Hospital Guild Palliative Care Fund, c/o Irene Sigurdson, PO Box 474, Eriksdale, MB R0C 0W0, would be gratefully appreciated. "I'll see you when I see you." Arrangements by: ARNASON FUNERAL HOME Ashern - Lundar 1-204-768-2072 1-866-323-3593

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 03, 2013