Friesen, Genevieve Yoder (1914-2002)

'Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Jul 1 p. 7

Birth date: 1914

text of obituary:

Longtime India missionary dies at 88

By Mennonite Mission Network

GOSHEN, Ind. — Genevieve Yoder Friesen, a Mennonite mission worker in India for 51 years, died June 12 at Goshen after a short illness. She was 88.

The daughter of Edwin J. and Mollie Mae Yoder of Topeka, Ind., Friesen graduated from Goshen college on June 12, 1939. The next day she married John A. Friesen.

A few weeks later, the couple sailed for India, where they served from 1939 to 1981, including in Dhamtari, Madhya Pradesh. Their work included pastoral ministries, rural evangelism, literature distribution and leprosy care. Leprosy patients and their families called her "Mama Ji."

"A departed saint," said Paul Gingrich, president of Mennonite Board of Missions from 1980 to 1994. "She was a mother to all, generous and kind. . . . She modeled the Christian life at its best."

In addition to her husband, six sons survive: J. Stanley of Fresno, Calif., G. Weldon of Middlebury, C. Richard of Tiskilwa, Ill., G. Delbert of Huntington Beach, Calif., and D. William of Olympia, Wash. Another son died in infancy. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two sisters and two brothers.

The Friesens served in interim ministerial assignments after their return from India. Friesen was a member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen.