Obituary of Charlotte Klassen

Charlotte Helen (Lepp) Klassen Charlotte Helen Lepp was born on October 5, 1944 in St. Boniface Manitoba. She was the child of her mother's third pregnancy but the oldest in her family of four siblings that grew to adulthood. In her early years her father was rather restless and work was not steady and the family needed more care and financial help, so her father moved the family from Winnipeg to St. Catharines, back and forth, many times. When she was twelve the family had moved twelve times. Lastly they settled in St Catharines and her father had employment with General Motors. Many moves were during the school year so her school Grades jumped back and forth, as the Manitoba and Ontario school system had different Grade standards. Charlotte always talked about how small she was and this always played a big part in her school experience and other activities with her friends. Sports were never an enjoyable part of her life. Very rarely would she consent to playing a game of any kind, whether board games or other. School was not a favorite part of Charlotte's life. She always found other things like friends, TV or hobbies of more interest. Charlotte accepted God's gift, Jesus, as her Saviour in Bible camp one summer and was baptized on her confession of faith on June 24, 1962. She continued in her faith and was privileged to be one of the founding members of the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church in St. Catharines. Charlotte finished Grade 12 in Ontario with a business emphasis and her dad wanted every child to get into the work force as soon as possible. During High School and after school Charlotte helped in the kitchen of a Seniors Home where her mother worked. Charlotte's first real job in the work world was in a Credit Union, but she very soon found out that numbers and balancing books was not her talent. However secretarial work was much more to her liking and ability. She had many commendations and notes of appreciation for her work as secretary and relationship with the public in her work. Charlotte worked in the Land Titles Off ice in St. Catharines for a number of years where she was responsible for the drawing and filing of official maps and documents for Lawyers all over the Niagara peninsula. All her work was done in the big vault that contained all the documents. This vault covered a whole floor in the office building. Charlotte tells of the time she worked a little late and the vault doors lock while she was still working. Luckily there was a phone on her desk so she could phone her boss to come and release her from captivity for night. Charlotte chose to go to Bible School in Saskatchewan because there was no Bible School in Ontario that drew her attention. While in Bible School she met a man she learned to love and chose to share her life with him. That love was very evident and true for 48 years into her last days. John Klassen and Charlotte Lepp married on July 20th, 1968 in St. Catharines, Ontario. Charlotte was raised in the big city so marring a farmer was certainly a big change and an adjustment for her family to get used to. After marring Charlotte and her husband moved to Winnipeg for four years of schooling. John studied and Charlotte worked. During her first year in Winnipeg she worked at the Mennonite Central Committee office. She enjoyed the work very much but at the end of the year they ask her to leave the job because she was hardly able to keep up to the work. This was a great disappointment to her. She found out later that four secretaries were hired to replace her within one year. Little wonder she had difficulty keeping up to the work load. Charlotte also has worked with the Manitoba Government: one year in the Department of Education and two years with Department of Highways and Transportation. She liked her work and they liked her abilities. Back on the farm Charlotte became the mother to two wonderful children. April Lorrain was born in 1974 and Allan David was born in 1978. She loved her children and was dedicated to raising them as best she knew how. She spent many hours driving them to their respective activities. While the children were in school Charlotte worked in the Beechy Union Hospital as Medical Records Clerk for a number of years. During this time Charlotte had her first encounter with cancer (1994). While in Saskatoon for six month of Chemo treatments she met a person who would come to occupy the ample time the patients had between treatments. Here Charlotte latched on to the paper and art activities. She loved this activity and it became a passion for her for the rest of her years. Her well organized workspace now stands idle. When the hospital closed Charlotte was given a sum of money to re-establish her work activities. This grant was used to begin her card making interests, of which many of you have been the recipients. In the later years as her husband was Pastor the Mennonite Brethren Church in Glenbush, Charlotte supported him and kept busy with making and sending greeting cards. It was during this time that Charlotte's health continued to need more and more attention. She made very many trips to doctors, chiropractors and massage therapists just to be comfortable. In 2014 Charlotte was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. Surgery followed and things seemed to have been taken care of. BUT! In the fall of 2015 pain began to be a huge part of Charlotte's daily life and on January 3rd of 2016 she had an eight hour back surgery for a cancer tumor. She was admitted in to the Spiritwood Heath Complex January 22nd as a Palliative Care patient and spent the remainder of her days there. She lost her speech and walking ability so she could not communicate for the last five months of her life. Charlotte passed away quietly on October 18th, 2016. She is now at peace and rest and no more pain and suffering. Charlotte will be missed by her family and friends. The Funeral Service for Charlotte will be held on Friday, October 28th, 2016 at 2:00 pm in the Medstead Community Hall officiated by Pastor Monty Buhler. Charlotte is lovingly remembered by: her husband of 48 years, John Klassen; her daughter, April (Dean) Stephan of Edmonton, AB and their son, Lake Stephan; her son, Allan (Joan) Klassen of Stewart Valley, SK. Her aunt, Katie Weinberger of St. Catherines, ON; her uncle, David (Marie) Lepp of St. Catherines, ON; her sister-in-law, Ivie (Mike) Parker of Calgary, AB and their children, Matthew and Catherine. Numerous other relatives and friends. She is predeceased by: her parents, Peter and Helen Lepp (nee: Enns); her brothers, Ronald, William and Arnold and her sister, Linda (Bob) Smith. Those wishing to send the family private email condolences ware invited to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations in memory of Charlotte may be made to the Gideons or Spiritwood & District Health Complex. The family entrusted the arrangements to Edward Beaulac of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home Ltd. of Spiritwood 306-883-3500.