Bernettie Louise Loewen

Bernettie L. Loewen, 90, passed away Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Oakwood Manor in Brooksville, MS. A service is planned for Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. Southern Star Mennonite Church in Geiger AL. Interment will follow in Souls Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church Monday, May 8, 2023 from 6-8 p.m. Memorials may be made to Oakwood Manor, 55 Oakwood Drive, Brooksville, MS 39739. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

Bernettie Louise Friesen Loewen, our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was born to Bernhard and Helen Fleming Friesen on August 15, 1932, at Lehigh, Kansas.  Mom passed away May 6, 2023, after suffering complications due to a stroke, at Oakwood Retirement Community in Brooksville, Mississippi.

Her formative years were spent in Hillsboro, Kansas. In September of 1945 she moved to Winton, California with her parents. It was here, in 1946, that she gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by Minister Dave Dyck.
She married Abe Spence Loewen on July 31, 1949, in Winton, California.  Dad and Mom moved quite often in their early married life.  Ken was born in Turlock, California. Anne was born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Patricia was born in Willows, California, and Louise was born in Sandpoint, Idaho. We lived and thrived in Bonners Ferry, Idaho for about 20 years.
In 1974, Dad and Mom moved to Geiger, Alabama. Mom always had a big garden and loved to can and freeze all the produce. She enjoyed baking and making things for others.  She made friends easily and found fulfillment in working at various jobs in the surrounding communities.
She encouraged us, as children, to be Christians.  She had a special relationship with each one of her grandchildren.

In 2015 they moved to Oakwood. Dad passed away March 2, 2017, leaving Mom lonely.  She enjoyed a special friendship with the nurses at Oakwood. We as a family appreciate the loving care and special attention she received there.

She will be missed by her children, Ken and Della, Geiger, Alabama; Anne and Galen Dirks, Gainesville, Alabama; Patricia and Roger Wedel, Mayfield, Kentucky; Louise and James Pendergrass, Fayette, Alabama;  eleven grandchildren; thirty-one great grandchildren; One sister-in-law, Nora Friesen; a special friend, Mary Unruh.

Preceding her in death were her husband, her parents, two infant children, one great grandchild, one brother and four sisters.